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Come join us this Saturday, January 25th for our trail stop at the Bear's Lair gas station on M-72 next to the parking lot! We will be serving bean soup, pulled pork sandwiches, coffee and hot chocolate from 11AM till 3PM. We will also have trail maps, hats and sweatshirts. Hope to see you there!
Please consider donating to our club. One of our three year goals is to build a groomer barn. A place where we can get our equipment and our volunteers out of the wind and snow when making repairs. All donations will go directly to the groomer barn. Any donation would be greatly appreciated!
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Please check out our new Facebook page at Kalkaska County Snowmobile Association. Just click on the link next to the current weather conditions button above.
Great news for snowmobilers riding through Kalkaska! The "designated route" has been eliminated and you may travel on any of the roads in the village except for "US" roads ex. (US-131). Please pay careful attention to the following three notes.
(A) Speed limit. Snowmobiles traveling within the village shall not operate at a rate of speed
greater than is reasonable and proper having due regard for conditions then existing and
in no event in excess of 15 miles per hour.
(B) Traffic flow. Snowmobiles shall travel to the extreme right hand side of the plowed
portion of any roadway (with the flow of traffic).
(C) The wooden bridge South of 1st street is closed to snowmobile traffic. The concrete bridge between the wooden bridge and US-131 is open to snowmobile traffic
greater than is reasonable and proper having due regard for conditions then existing and
in no event in excess of 15 miles per hour.
(B) Traffic flow. Snowmobiles shall travel to the extreme right hand side of the plowed
portion of any roadway (with the flow of traffic).
(C) The wooden bridge South of 1st street is closed to snowmobile traffic. The concrete bridge between the wooden bridge and US-131 is open to snowmobile traffic
Caution urged as snowmobilers hit the trail south of Gaylord
OTSEGO COUNTY - With the snowmobile season underway, and since the completion of the Iron Belle Trail extension for hiking and bicycling from Gaylord south to the Crawford County line, the Department of Natural Resources, Otsego County and the Gaylord Area Snowmobile Trails Council are urging snowmobilers to use caution as they hit portions of Trail 7.
This area has been open to snowmobiling long before the Iron Belle work, but with the trail becoming a four-season, multiple-use thoroughfare and running adjacent to the active Lake State Railway track, a number of barriers have been erected to keep cyclists and pedestrians safe when they enjoy the trail in spring, summer and fall.
Now that snow has arrived, these barriers, which include boulders, wooden posts and metal fencing, may become hidden. Also, since the trail has been developed for hiking and bicycling, it has become narrower than in years past for snowmobilers.
Scott Thompson, Forest Fire officer at the DNR Gaylord Field Office, said there already are a number of objects marked along the trail south of Gaylord warning of telephone poles, utility boxes, and fiber and gas lines, but now the new barriers have been distinguished as well with yellow and black slashed signs.
"We're telling people to slow down," Thompson said. "If we put a sign on everything, people zone out (and don't pay attention to all the signage). Also, it is impossible to mark everything, but we feel confident that we have marked it well."
The trail is a 10-foot wide crushed limestone surface for hikers and bicyclists, but Thompson said is generally about 12 feet wide for snowmobiling. Where problems may occur is when the trail is being groomed and there is no room for passing the grooming machine, which makes a 10-foot, 6-inch swath, is about 60 feet long and unable to turn around especially where the trail narrows or there are congested areas, which are also marked by caution signage, Thompson noted.
If passing room is not available, Thompson said snowmobilers are "instructed to stop, shut down and wait" for the groomer to go by.
The groomer is hard to miss, he added.
"It is really well marked and there are lights all over the thing," Thompson said. "We just ask people to slow down, take their time and work around the groomers as they do their job."
The Gaylord Area Snowmobile Trails Council, which coordinates with the DNR, grooms and maintains the Otsego County trails.
Thompson also urged snowmobilers to use caution when crossing the streets in Gaylord, especially as the snowbanks grow.
"Sometimes you can't see who is on the other side until you get out on the road," he said.
Otsego County Administrator Rachel Frisch provided a copy of the notice regarding the county's snowmobile trails, which reads in part, "Snowmobilers should remain on the groomed trail, consider longer following distances, anticipate closer cross-traffic, and occasional difficulty passing grooming equipment. Please take extra care when snowmobiling through these areas and, as always, obey speed and safety requirements."
OTSEGO COUNTY - With the snowmobile season underway, and since the completion of the Iron Belle Trail extension for hiking and bicycling from Gaylord south to the Crawford County line, the Department of Natural Resources, Otsego County and the Gaylord Area Snowmobile Trails Council are urging snowmobilers to use caution as they hit portions of Trail 7.
This area has been open to snowmobiling long before the Iron Belle work, but with the trail becoming a four-season, multiple-use thoroughfare and running adjacent to the active Lake State Railway track, a number of barriers have been erected to keep cyclists and pedestrians safe when they enjoy the trail in spring, summer and fall.
Now that snow has arrived, these barriers, which include boulders, wooden posts and metal fencing, may become hidden. Also, since the trail has been developed for hiking and bicycling, it has become narrower than in years past for snowmobilers.
Scott Thompson, Forest Fire officer at the DNR Gaylord Field Office, said there already are a number of objects marked along the trail south of Gaylord warning of telephone poles, utility boxes, and fiber and gas lines, but now the new barriers have been distinguished as well with yellow and black slashed signs.
"We're telling people to slow down," Thompson said. "If we put a sign on everything, people zone out (and don't pay attention to all the signage). Also, it is impossible to mark everything, but we feel confident that we have marked it well."
The trail is a 10-foot wide crushed limestone surface for hikers and bicyclists, but Thompson said is generally about 12 feet wide for snowmobiling. Where problems may occur is when the trail is being groomed and there is no room for passing the grooming machine, which makes a 10-foot, 6-inch swath, is about 60 feet long and unable to turn around especially where the trail narrows or there are congested areas, which are also marked by caution signage, Thompson noted.
If passing room is not available, Thompson said snowmobilers are "instructed to stop, shut down and wait" for the groomer to go by.
The groomer is hard to miss, he added.
"It is really well marked and there are lights all over the thing," Thompson said. "We just ask people to slow down, take their time and work around the groomers as they do their job."
The Gaylord Area Snowmobile Trails Council, which coordinates with the DNR, grooms and maintains the Otsego County trails.
Thompson also urged snowmobilers to use caution when crossing the streets in Gaylord, especially as the snowbanks grow.
"Sometimes you can't see who is on the other side until you get out on the road," he said.
Otsego County Administrator Rachel Frisch provided a copy of the notice regarding the county's snowmobile trails, which reads in part, "Snowmobilers should remain on the groomed trail, consider longer following distances, anticipate closer cross-traffic, and occasional difficulty passing grooming equipment. Please take extra care when snowmobiling through these areas and, as always, obey speed and safety requirements."
We are really excited for the upcoming snowmobile season!
Let's all work together to make it a great and safe season!
Please keep in mind that our groomer operators are all volunteers and may be out on the trail at anytime, day or night. When you approach the groomer, please try to find a spot off the trail to park and wait for the groomer to signal you.
Do Not Attempt To Pass The Groomer While It Is Moving.
The Drag Can Slide At Any Time And Crush You!
*Remember the groomer has the right of way and can not backup or get off the trail*
Do Not Attempt To Pass The Groomer While It Is Moving.
The Drag Can Slide At Any Time And Crush You!
*Remember the groomer has the right of way and can not backup or get off the trail*
Welcome to the 2019/2020 season
This summer has seen a huge amount of activity for our club. We started early this spring when the club formed a new board of directors. We moved our base of operation to the Blue Lake Fire Department. The fire department has been very gracious. They have allowed us to keep our equipment on site and gave us space to work inside. We were able to build a new trail through their property, so we can directly access the trail system.
We had a very successful ORV ride-in hosted by the Starvation Lake General Store. We had many riders stop by and enjoy great conversation, a hot dog, chips and treats. A great time was had by all. As the summer was winding down, we had our first ever pig roast! What an awesome time that was with great friends, delicious food and corn hole games.
Volunteer work continued through the summer doing maintenance, repairs and updates to our equipment. Volunteers also graded the ORV routes every other week throughout the summer. Brushing and signing took place through the month of October with many club and non-club members pitching in to make the trails safe for all riders. The trails have been inspected and approved by the DNR. The groomer drivers are excited to get back out and make the trails awesome once again.
We hope to see you out on the trail, give us a wave or stop and say hi!
We had a very successful ORV ride-in hosted by the Starvation Lake General Store. We had many riders stop by and enjoy great conversation, a hot dog, chips and treats. A great time was had by all. As the summer was winding down, we had our first ever pig roast! What an awesome time that was with great friends, delicious food and corn hole games.
Volunteer work continued through the summer doing maintenance, repairs and updates to our equipment. Volunteers also graded the ORV routes every other week throughout the summer. Brushing and signing took place through the month of October with many club and non-club members pitching in to make the trails safe for all riders. The trails have been inspected and approved by the DNR. The groomer drivers are excited to get back out and make the trails awesome once again.
We hope to see you out on the trail, give us a wave or stop and say hi!
