2/18/2010

Dear Big Lake Community,

Within the last week, I have received a few complaints from prominent citizens of this community in regards to the condition of trails. Some have inquired if any grooming activity has occurred this winter. In an effort to inform, give you the straight story and control the rumor mill, I feel it necessary to address you directly.

 I agree that area trails are not in optimal shape. They are very rough. By far, the weather is the number one root cause of that condition. Since January, Big Lake has received 7 inches of new snow. That amount of snow simply will not groom into a great trail despite the amount of effort, the equipment we use or the amount of money we throw at it. Fact is this winter has had the least snowfall of the last 5 winters.

The second largest root cause is the limitation placed on Big Lake Trails (and all other trail groups) to only groom those trails that have legal easements. These limitations are placed on us by State Parks, DNR and SnoTRAC in order to protect landowners and managers from trespass by groups using State money to groom trails. Unfortunately, these limitations have created a barrier to our serving the entire established trail system. The only trails approved by DNR for grooming at this time are Trail 6 (the Iron Dog Trail), Trail 11 (the Crooked Lake Trail), the Lakes Trail (a trail across Big Lake beginning at the Northshore Campground and proceeding to the end of Flat Lake), the Big Swamp Trail and the SVWT connector trail. All other trails including Trail 1, Trail 2, Trail 3, Trail 4, and Trail 5 do not have legal status and therefore cannot be groomed using State funds.

Big Lake Trails is almost 1 ½ years old. Prior to developing this organization, several of us recognized the fact that our entire trail network was in danger of being lost specifically because it was not protected. In short, our trails were not legal and could be taken away or blocked at any time. Developing an organization dedicated to obtaining these legal easements and taking care of the trail system became our vision. To this day, it remains our primary mission. Very early on we discovered how much of a challenge our mission would be because of the new verification of legal trail status demanded by the State. We knew that the Big Lake community was accustomed to having all of our trails groomed and that we would not be able to do that without the immediate cooperation of all the land owners and managers in the community. That immediate cooperation was not forthcoming. Since then, we began a very methodical effort to obtain easements, letters of non-objection or Land Use permits for the land that our trails cross. This effort is slow going and may take longer than any of us will like. Nevertheless, the effort is worth the time. With each success our vision will become a reality.

During this winter season, Big Lake Trails purchased two snowmachines and two drags to service area trails. We began grooming trails out of our own general funds even before our SnoTRAC grant was ready to be signed. Our Trail Plan was to groom approved trails on alternating weeks and to utilize the services of Tim McGhan’s groomer once per month as needed. Grooming of the Lakes Trail and the Iron Dog has been done 6 times in December and January and two times in February by our snowmachine/drag combination. Other trails have been groomed without billing to the State.

The weather this season has not cooperated to an extent that I felt it was financially responsible to utilize Mr. McGhan’s services at a premium rate to groom a trail that was bare to the ground in many areas. I understand that this decision may have upset many as it was a departure from the past. While it can be argued that the heavy groomers may have improved the trail, the opposite argument holds just as much merit. Undoubtedly, any improvement made would have been temporary at best and serve the needs of only a small handful of users. The very next group of riders would never know that any effort was made to improve their ride.

It is our intent to utilize the heavy groomers provided by Mr. McGhan once we determine that will add value and sustainability to the condition of the approved trails.

As with any non-profit organization, integrity and conservative financial responsibility are keys to success and longevity. I will remain true to those ideals while moving this organization and our trail system forward. I ask for your support and partnership in that mission.  

If you have any comments, questions or concerns about area trails that has not been addressed, please contact me at any of the phone numbers listed below or directly by email at biglaketrails@gmail.com. Please feel free to attend a regularly scheduled meeting of Big Lake Trails at 7 PM every 2^nd Friday of each month held at Big Lake Family Restaurant or visit us on our website at www.biglaketrails.org. We welcome community input and appreciate any volunteers who want to help Big Lake be a success.

Sincerely,

Dan Mayfield

President, Big Lake Trails

Cell: 907-223-2447

Alternate Cell: 907-227-5077

Big Lake: 907-892-7406