Photo courtesy of Keweenaw ATV club Millions of dollars of damage resulted from the Fathers Day Flood on June 17, 2018. ORV Riders will see contract work being done this summer. The KATV club intends to complete repairs on existing trails before winter.

While at times it doesn’t look or feel like spring and time to get the side by side (SXS) ready to ride, it is time for off road vehicle clubs to get ready for the riding season. That means it is time for the Keweenaw ATV (KATV) Club to set their priorities as to where the trail work is needed.

“Repair work has begun on the Lake Linden trail. The goal is to open the trail before (next winter) snowmobile season begins,” explained Daryl St. John of the KATV Club. “However, there was another washout at Lake Linden from the recent snow melt. I just received a reply from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that this not will affect the repair schedule.”

The KATV has the list of the repair sections and the Contractors involved.

The initial damage goes all the way back to the Father’s Day Weekend Flood of June 2018.

What does have an effect on trail work is getting volunteers to help get the trails ready. It’s the ‘age-old’ problem that both Snowmobile and ORV Clubs have, that is getting members and/or volunteers to help.

The KATV Club has two new trails that will be open for riding this year “First is from Vansville to the ‘snow gauge’ to Gay. The second is from Lac La Belle North to the main Trail ‘B.’ this is the lower Mandan Trail.” St. John adds, “We are continuing to work on developing other trails. (But) We need people to join us and help maintain the trails.”

St. John expressed his appreciation to the cooperation and help the Club and ORV Riders are getting from The Nature Conservancy with their purchase of 30,000 acres in the Keweenaw. “They (The Nature Conservancy) are working with the Club to protect and develop the trails. They purchased the property to keep it intact.”

Once a ‘Governing Board is developed and installed, The Nature Conservancy will turn it over (trails) to be under local control. “This will take a year or two to organize and get operational. Many clubs, ATV/ORV, snowmobile, mountain bikers, sportsman clubs, are working on this together. Along with the Keweenaw Off Road Commission.”

The club is also working on getting the trail designation for the ‘High Rock Trail.’ “Then we will start repairing and upgrading that trail. Hopefully this summer.”

The date has been set for the KATV ‘Ride-In Picnic.’ The date is July 8. It will be at the Ahmeek Village Park.

“We’ll have food and lots of paddle prizes. Folks mark your calendar,” concluded St. John.

Please help the KATV with maintaining the trails, being a member, or having your business be a club sponsor.

My calendar is marked. However can someone contact Mom Nature and let her know that it’s spring? Or was spring and summer combined for those 2 days of temps in the 70’s a few weeks ago?