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~ ~ ~ ORV-Snowmobile Trails
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Snowmobile and ATV/ORV trails criss-cross the Upper Peninsula. They can be nice hiking trails at certain times of the year. Winter snowmobile trail condition reports can be found at: www.uptravel.com/recreation/snowmobile-trail-report/ These reports (listed by county) can also be helpful when trying to determine snow conditions in an area for other trails. |
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When there is enough snow to turn the cross-country ski trails back to the skiiers but not enough, or barely enough, snow for snowmobiling the snowmobile trails can be great for hiking without needing snowshoes, especially if the groomers have been through. But even if not there is sometimes an intrepid snowmobiler and many ORVers to pack the trail, yet not enough traffic to interfere with hiking (or hikers to interfere with the motorized traffic). In the no-snow months it depends on conditions of the trail (snowmobile trails may go through very wet areas) and how much ATV traffic there is but on low-use trails they can make for convenient hiking. And these trails go for miles! |
January 9, 2021 -- Is it a Hike or a Walk The new year begins, and the hiking continues. No new snow so we're still in boots, the snowshoes left hanging on the wall, waiting. But it will come. Maybe. It's quite a change from the last two Januarys with 3-4 feet of snow! We enjoy it all, and this year are enjoying still walking on almost bare ground. We go out daily, together or separate, do a few chores, go to the mailbox, go for at least a short walk, sometimes longer. So I got to thinking - when is a walk a hike? Sometimes we'll head out for a short walk down the road but keep on going and end up coming home 2 hours later. But that's still a walk. It's from home, it's casual. We may or not have taken backpacks, or water. Certainly not snacks or sandwiches. But if we're going to the "big city" (Gladstone or Escanaba or Marquette) we usually plan to include a hike on one of the trails, so we head out with appropriate gear and clothing, water, snacks, sandwiches, for a 2 or 3 hour hike. Manistique is just "going to town", it doesn't get such planning though we often walk the boardwalk along the Lake. It's funny how we categorize things, and how we think of them. But hike or walk, we're enjoying this can-do-just-about-anywhere activity. Though we haven't much snow there is just enough in this area for the skiiers, and the groomers, to get out on the ski trails so the cross-country ski trails are now off limits for hiking. But both Days River and Rapid River have short snowshoe trails so on a trip over that direction earlier in the week we decided to check out the Days River Pathway Snowshoe Track. It was a mild, barely freezing (so not slushy), calm day - beautiful weather for a hike. The ski trails did indeed have snow so no walking there. So we took to the designated 1.8 mile "snowshoe" trail which was definitely not appropriate for snowshoes! But they did make an effort to provide a track in an effort to keep walkers off the ski trails. It was lumpy, bumpy, stump and brush strewn and well beat down. But it was there and so were we so off we went, figuring we'd stop at Rapid River on the way home and check out their snowshoe trail. Between them getting in a little hike.
January 10, 2021 -- Back to Days River to the Snowmobile Trail
This time we knew where we were headed -- the short Days River Pathway
hike/snowshoe trail to
the ORV/ snowmobile trail where we turned south instead of north over the
bridge as we'd done last week. A There were snowmobile and ATV tracks, though there wasn't enough snow for the former and too much for the latter, but they flattened the trail nicely. Quite a bit of foot traffic and a few bicycles, along with the many deer and usual coyote/fox/dog. As usual it was quiet on most of the trail. The farther south we went there were more houses and we were walking near back yards. Not as "off-in-the-woods" feel as other trails, and the track was pretty rough with ruts and not very flat at this end. But we had a bicyclist come along who stopped to chat which was nice. He had a beautiful fat tired bike with studs and an electric assist to help him up the hills. It wasn't the best conditions for biking but he lives somewhere near the trail and said he goes out nearly every day for exercise. Just as we were parting along came another regular fat tired bike going at a pretty good speed considering the conditions, but he wasn't having any trouble. We quickly stepped off the trail and he nodded as he sped by. Two different styles but both enjoying the trail their own way, as were we. We didn't see anyone else on the trail. We soon arrived at a "rough" area with piles of dirt, some dumped furniture -- the beginning of the industrial park. Quite a contrast to the beautiful woods we'd been walking through. Though we'd planned to walk longer we decided to turn around there, and had a very nice walk back. When we got to the cut off to go back to the snowshoe trail we decided we weren't ready for the hike to end so instead headed on north for a ways. So it was about 3 hours when we got back to the parking lot, sun heading down and starting to cool off, to find a fairly large group gathered and chatting, with fat tired bikes sticking out of pick-ups and SUV's. I don't know if they were heading out or had already been but it was good to see folks enjoying the day and each other's company. There is a separate bike trail at the Pathway which is apparently quite popular. January 23, 2021 -- Sunshine and a New Trail Section - Rapid River Snowmobile2
When we drove into the rough and rutted parking lot it was indeed empty, but with a fair amount of ATV and truck tracks. It was still overcast but there were hints of blue sky. So on with our packs and off up the trail. The ORV's don't make nearly as nice of a track to walk on as a groomed snowmobile trail or one packed down by snowmachines, but we appreciated the packed trail none-the less.
The beginning wasn't the most aesthetic as it started out through old jack
pine plantation, then some red pine, more jack pine. It was obvious this
would be an ankle-exercise walk over the frozen tracks and ruts but
there was enough snow and it was a nice day. And
The woods changed from hardwoods to evergreens to a very young poplar
regrowth area, back to hemlock/pine, occasional cedar, a scattering of
oak. The track was plenty wide as it's a Forest Service two-track road.
Though we often enjoy single track hiking trails through the woods,
today we appreciated more space for the sun to reach us, and walking
side by side. It would have been well worthwhile with no other
highlights. But there was... We had started out seeing five deer cross the path and, not surprising, there were deer tracks off and on the whole way. Along with fox tracks, and periodic mouse crossings. Someone had walked, up and back, this section of the trail a few days ago. It was nice to have (distant) company. But the highlight was recent tracks of a pair of wolves, off and on trail, likely appreciating the easy traveling as much as we did. They kept us company until we left the road track. After about an hour the trail turned east along a pipeline, more open, higher terrain, but still through high and low growth and some wet (when not frozen) areas. We lost the wolves as well as the person tracks, but soon picked up a fox that we followed the whole way. Not too many curves here but enough light roller coaster, and a bit of icy tracks, to keep us occupied. The sky had cleared and the sun , though low in the sky, was shining and we soaked up as much as we could. The woods to the south did block it some but thankfully there was often deciduous trees with patches of lower growth. After a half hour along the pipeline we came to a marsh with cattails and rushes and small bushes - beautiful in the snow, and wonderfully clear for sun seekers. Perfect timing and perfect place for our "turn-around" lunch.
After that beautiful break in the sun we gathered ourselves and our gear and headed back along the trail, following our own tracks, picking up the wolves as we turned south. We were now facing the sun, soaking up as much vitamin D and rosy cheeks as we could, always stopping for a drink in a patch of sun. We arrived home before cat dinner time and just in time to get the fire rekindled as the sun dropped behind the trees, having warmed the house and filled our batteries all afternoon. We felt good after a very nice three hours on the trail. Next time maybe we'll check out the snowmobile trail near home. It doesn't look like much new snow in the forecast. And in-between the longer walks we make good use of our own home trails for shorter forays January 29, 2021 -- Clear Blue Sky and Beautiful Sunshine -- Revisiting SnoMo2 True 100% sun this time, right from the get-go. What a boost. Of course, we had to go hiking. It was a bit cool at 15 degrees when we left home but it was heading up and was in the low 20's for the hike, with hardly any wind. What a beautiful day! We'd planned to check out the west Gladstone snowmobile trail from the Brampton cut-across road, hoping there might be a small trailhead to park, then we'd walk south toward and over the (yellow) section we'd hiked before. But we had a last minute need to go the Escanaba and it was getting late to get on the trail so decided to just go to the Days River Pathway parking lot, get right on the SnoMo2 trail there and walk north again, which we did.
We had a comfortable break and lunch sitting on the snow along side the trail, then headed back, without seeing anyone or any ORVs. What a wonderful day for a walk. A little more than 3 hours later, as the sun was dropping behind the trees and it was cooling off, we were back at the car. There were more cars in the Pathway parking lot so others were likewise enjoying the day outside. * * * * * * Copyright
© 2021 by Susan Robishaw and Stephen Schmeck |
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Have you read "Frost Dancing - Tips from a Northern Gardener"? A fun short read. or "Homesteading Adventures" Creating our backwoods homestead--the first 20 years.
and
"Growing
Berries for Food and Fun"
A journey you can use in your own garden. |
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updated 10/06/2019 |