Photo courtesy of Ann Gasperich Joe Schneller (left) and Keweenaw County Sheriff Curt Pennala, stand next to one of the newly posted emergency trail location signs in Keweenaw County. The new signage system will drastically reduce the time first responder need to locate the scene of an emergency when called into 911.

KEWEENAW COUNTY — An ongoing project to place Emergency Trail Location signs on snowmobile trails in Houghton and Keweenaw counties will drastically reduce the time emergency response personnel spend locating the scene of an emergency call. When the project is completed, the signs will be posted on trials from the north end of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge to Copper Harbor. The signs will be located on trails 135, 134, 3, and 17 and are being place in half-mile intervals, each marker having a number. Dispatchers will then match that number to matching GPS coordinates pre-set to correspond with the trail marker number.

Bootjack resident and 20-year EMT veteran Joe Schneller has been spearheading this project in memory of his wife, who passed away last summer, at the age of 58, said Keweenaw County Zoning Administrator, Ann Gasperich.

“He’s been wanting to do this for a long time,” said Gasperich, who is involved in the project, working with GIS mapping.

Gasperich said Schneller’s wife, Linda Kay (Corrigan) Schneller, passed away a year ago, and we wants to dedicate the project to his wife. Linda passed away on July 3, 2020 after a battle with cancer.

“He’s been raising money through (social media),” she said. “It’s all by donation.”

While some of the trails in Keweenaw County are currently closed for logging, Gasperich said the project team and TRG, which owns most of the lands on which the trails run, have been working together. Three years ago, TRG closed off the trail from Lac La Belle to Copper Harbor, but volunteers were permitted to place signs on that trail, which they wanted to do before the trail re-opens in the fall.

“They’re getting to the end (of logging that area), and they do open it up for winter snowmobiling,” said Gasperich,” so, we were able to get in there and get it signed.”

Schneller’s initial goal was have the signs placed on the snowmobile trails, said Gasperich, because it is more difficult in the winter to find access points for people to discern where they are, it is darker earlier, and the temperature is more of a problem than an ATV.

“Now, he’s realizing how important this is, and he wants to do more and more and more,” she said.

Project Number 1 is to get the snowmobile trails signed, she said. Number 2 is (to) sign the ATV trails, then Number 3 is the other trails that are commonly used. However, she said she is not sure if the next project will be 2 or 4.

Gasperich said both the Houghton and Keweenaw sheriff’s offices fully support the project, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has already approved it.

“You’re up here. You hike. You bike. You know, you do that stuff,” she said. “And the more trails that we can get marked — if you twist your ankle, you can go, ‘okay, wait a minute: I think this is about where I am.’ and it’s easier to get people out to you.”

Keweenaw County Sheriff Curt Pennala said Schneller has been conducting the fundraising campaign himself, creating a gofundme account.

“When you see these signs on the trails in Houghton and Keweenaw Counties,” Schneller said on the account page, “you will know because of your support we are making progress and that the trails are safer for everyone. We hope you will support this project as we are expanding to more trails. Emergency trail location signs are a critical part any trail system.”

1 1/2 hour delays to find injured people is going to be a thing of the past.

Each sign has a cost, which includes posts, and the project is funded by donations, either through the account, or donations are being accepted at the Houghton and Keweenaw County sheriff offices. Checks can be made out to Joe Schneller or Keweenaw County Sheriff or cash can be donated, the envelope should be marked “attn: Trail Marker Project.”

For those wishing to donate, the gofundme link is: gofund.me/6bc8589d. Any amount is accepted. For those who prefer checks or cash, the mailing address is:

Keweenaw County Sherriff

5105 4th St

Eagle River, MI 49950

Note: Trail project on the envelope.