JohnnyJ
October 12th, 2004, 09:42 PM
I recently traded some messages with someone who was asking what GL is doing for Michigan wheeling. I compiled this list of what MSG as a member of GL has been doing in regards to our participation with Drummond Island, and how we are being responsible with our use of it.
We did a cleanup of the Marble Head area in May 03 as part of our prerun, and this year it was still in good shape as of August this year. We have cleaned up other illegal trash dumps on the trails, most notably around the Corned Beef Junction area.
On our prerun and official run this year we were looking for other areas that could use a clean-up; but did not see anything. We always pick up trash as we go, including many beer cans left along the trail. This is important point since GL doesn't allow alcohol on its rides, so we are cleaning up for someone else; not our trash from a previous year.
We limit the size of our overall run to 50 vehicles. We split that into smaller groups, running about 10-15 vehicles with 4 groups spread out over the available land. I've seen larger non-permit holding groups on the trails on Drummond, as well as other State land areas. We are trying to use the land responsibly, and to show others how to use it responsibly.
We have been talking with the DNR to try and determine the best way to limit and turn back the widening of the clay pits. We will provide manpower to this operation if the DNR allows it and choses not to do it on their own as they did with Glenn Cove. Either way, we are working with them on how best to do it.
We worked with the DNR to try and keep the old Glenn Cove bypass open, rather than using the not exciting at all snowmobile bypass that is currently being used. We worked to educate people on local message boards and that attended our trail ride about not entering the beach to play in the mud and to only use the bypass. It fell on deaf ears, and the DNR closed that area down.
We have tried to educate people to stay out of the water at Pilot Cove so that it does not face the same fate as Glenn Cove. I still see pictures posted of people driving in the water and giving lame excuses about it. As a result of this and pressure from the greens, the DNR is now trying to more strictly enforce the minimum distance from beaches rule that is in place, even when it's a stoney beach. I have spoken about this on local message boards and at our ride. We respected this tougher stance on our trail ride this year.
We have talked with the DNR about how to stop any new bypasses on Marble Head. The current bypass was not put in place by GL or any of it's members. I'm not sure if the new bypass was granted permission to be put the bypass in place by the DNR.
Every year on our run we have a number of "newbies" on their first run, with some of them having never put it in 4-lo before. Each of our trail guides helps these people, as well as anybody on the run, attempt any of the obstacles. If they are having a tough time, we will reset their line to prevent them from destroying something; be it their vehicle or the obstacle. We create a lot of radio chatter about what we have learned from the DNR about the issues the Island is facing, and what they can do to help.
If anybody on our trail rides breaks, we clean up after it. This year we even cleaned the antifreeze out of a puddle that a non-participant was about to leave behind. One of our members even towed him into town to get replacement parts, so that he wouldn't do any more damage to the trail with his broken vehicle.
To try and create goodwill between organized four wheeling and the local community we have donated money from our 50/50 and buck-a-stuck we have at our dinner to the community. This year we gave about $375 to the DI fire department to buy a long distance radio for their truck that we helped them raise money for over the past two years. Our first year we donated to the local library fund and the rescue fund to help fund a rescue snowmobile. Our dinner is put on by the DI Lions, so all proceeds of the dinner go to them. Not to mention the money infused into the economy as people descend upon the Island for a weekend.
On a side note, this list does not mention any of the work that Steve and friends have done over the past years to watch over the Island on a daily basis. They joined GL this year as the Drummond Island Offroad Club.
Steve's club has stepped up to the DNR trail maintenence, which entails signing the trails. I can tell you that in the past year the number and quality of the signs has improved. Steve Walker's map that he gives away free at his restaurant also shows these markers to try and help reduce the amount of illegal trespassing from people getting lost using the DNR maps.
So, what are some other good stories? This is not a story to brag, but to show that people *are* doing work in the name of Great Lakes. I know there are other stories out there from both clubs and the Indy members.
We did a cleanup of the Marble Head area in May 03 as part of our prerun, and this year it was still in good shape as of August this year. We have cleaned up other illegal trash dumps on the trails, most notably around the Corned Beef Junction area.
On our prerun and official run this year we were looking for other areas that could use a clean-up; but did not see anything. We always pick up trash as we go, including many beer cans left along the trail. This is important point since GL doesn't allow alcohol on its rides, so we are cleaning up for someone else; not our trash from a previous year.
We limit the size of our overall run to 50 vehicles. We split that into smaller groups, running about 10-15 vehicles with 4 groups spread out over the available land. I've seen larger non-permit holding groups on the trails on Drummond, as well as other State land areas. We are trying to use the land responsibly, and to show others how to use it responsibly.
We have been talking with the DNR to try and determine the best way to limit and turn back the widening of the clay pits. We will provide manpower to this operation if the DNR allows it and choses not to do it on their own as they did with Glenn Cove. Either way, we are working with them on how best to do it.
We worked with the DNR to try and keep the old Glenn Cove bypass open, rather than using the not exciting at all snowmobile bypass that is currently being used. We worked to educate people on local message boards and that attended our trail ride about not entering the beach to play in the mud and to only use the bypass. It fell on deaf ears, and the DNR closed that area down.
We have tried to educate people to stay out of the water at Pilot Cove so that it does not face the same fate as Glenn Cove. I still see pictures posted of people driving in the water and giving lame excuses about it. As a result of this and pressure from the greens, the DNR is now trying to more strictly enforce the minimum distance from beaches rule that is in place, even when it's a stoney beach. I have spoken about this on local message boards and at our ride. We respected this tougher stance on our trail ride this year.
We have talked with the DNR about how to stop any new bypasses on Marble Head. The current bypass was not put in place by GL or any of it's members. I'm not sure if the new bypass was granted permission to be put the bypass in place by the DNR.
Every year on our run we have a number of "newbies" on their first run, with some of them having never put it in 4-lo before. Each of our trail guides helps these people, as well as anybody on the run, attempt any of the obstacles. If they are having a tough time, we will reset their line to prevent them from destroying something; be it their vehicle or the obstacle. We create a lot of radio chatter about what we have learned from the DNR about the issues the Island is facing, and what they can do to help.
If anybody on our trail rides breaks, we clean up after it. This year we even cleaned the antifreeze out of a puddle that a non-participant was about to leave behind. One of our members even towed him into town to get replacement parts, so that he wouldn't do any more damage to the trail with his broken vehicle.
To try and create goodwill between organized four wheeling and the local community we have donated money from our 50/50 and buck-a-stuck we have at our dinner to the community. This year we gave about $375 to the DI fire department to buy a long distance radio for their truck that we helped them raise money for over the past two years. Our first year we donated to the local library fund and the rescue fund to help fund a rescue snowmobile. Our dinner is put on by the DI Lions, so all proceeds of the dinner go to them. Not to mention the money infused into the economy as people descend upon the Island for a weekend.
On a side note, this list does not mention any of the work that Steve and friends have done over the past years to watch over the Island on a daily basis. They joined GL this year as the Drummond Island Offroad Club.
Steve's club has stepped up to the DNR trail maintenence, which entails signing the trails. I can tell you that in the past year the number and quality of the signs has improved. Steve Walker's map that he gives away free at his restaurant also shows these markers to try and help reduce the amount of illegal trespassing from people getting lost using the DNR maps.
So, what are some other good stories? This is not a story to brag, but to show that people *are* doing work in the name of Great Lakes. I know there are other stories out there from both clubs and the Indy members.