Washout

By DAN SCHNEIDER, DMG Writer
MASS CITY — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is cautioning users of the Bill Nicholls trail to avoid a stretch of the former railroad grade north of Mass City.

A major washout caused a portion of the grade to collapse last weekend north of the northernmost trestle bridge over the West Branch Firesteel River. DNR personnel have blocked off the grade, which is a designated ORV trail.

“It’s barricaded there and it is very dangerous,” DNR Baraga Unit Manager for Forest Mineral and Fire Management Don Mankee said.

He said the height of the grade at the location of the washout is about 50 feet. A trail user reported the washout over the weekend.

“Apparently over the weekend here, a big chunk of it just slumped, it just slid down,” Mankee said.

Mankee said repair of the grade will take place after DNR officials in Lansing decide how to pay for it. He said they must decide what mix of ORV and snowmobile fees should be used to fund the repair.

“If it was me, it would be done this week, but first part of summer we should have it in hand, I think,” Mankee said.

However, the size of the washout precludes local remedies.

“We’re not even sure if we have the equipment to handle this ourselves, because it’s a pretty major slump,” Mankee said.

He said more rain may cause more of the grade to wash away, and cautioned trail users to be aware of trail conditions as they ride. “The snowpack is just leaving some of these snowmobile grades so we’re just starting to get to them now,” Mankee said. “We’ll probably have more reports as we get more rain. If anyone in the public comes across any washouts on any of these grades, we’d be interested in knowing about it.”

The number for the DNR’s Baraga Operations Service Center is 353-6651.



Dan Schneider can be reached at dschneider@mininggazette.com