Trails Damaged by Off Road Vehicles in Ideal

Paul Boblett

Trails maintained by the Ideal Sno Pros snowmobile club were damaged this fall by offroad vehicles. The damaged trails, which include several miles of new trails, now have big ruts, some as deep as 18-20 inches.

This is disappointing news to many area snowmobiling enthusiasts as these trails are part of a much larger system that reach from the Pelican Lake area to Outing and Longville.

Trail coordinator Dick Wilske and club member Tom Hecker surveyed the damage in a remote area near Stewart Lake, and each pointed out several areas that could be hazardous to drivers this winter.

The damage done to the trails could ruin the blades on the club’s grooming equipment. Their hope is that with enough snow, the grooming equipment can flatten out the damaged trails.

Wilske said the trails were damaged during this year’s deer hunting season, and was quick to point out that this was not the work of ATV riders.

“The trucks that did this are big, and many of them are pulling heavy trailers through these woods,” said Wilske, who coordinates approximately 120 miles for the club.

Last year, the club applied for and received matching Grant in Aid for trail creation and maintenance. The club contracted local earth-moving equipment and operators for about a week in October to construct the trails.

“We spent over $20,000 in heavy equipment work alone, it’s really sad.” said Wilske.

Heavy rains during hunting season contributed to the trail damage done by the vehicles.

Hecker said, “There are also spots where these trucks slipped in the mud and the ruts run perpendicular to the trail. A rider gets a ski on that, and they could flip over very easily.”

They agreed that snowmobiles are an economic boom for this area during the winter months. “The restaurants, bars and gas stations stay alive from the money spent by people who come for winter recreation, its their livelihood,” said Wilske.

The two men made the point that much of the damage was done to some of the few woodland trails the area has to offer riders. It is their belief that by bringing this issue to light, that future damage might be avoided.

Source: http://www.northlandpress.com/ITdamagedtrails121608.html

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