[wryjoker]

You know I must say building a trail can be hard work. My hat is off to anyone who helps build or maintain trails.
Five of us spent the better part of Thursday nov 1 opening a trail clearing brush Moving stones and grinding stumps. It was awsome we made great progress and I am excited (sore too) to get back out there today.
I think the best part is the talking about how we are going to ride this certain trail, What makes a good corner, how long strait-aways should be,and other misc. stuff.
If you ever ride a trail that makes you wonder why did they do that? It is because it was humerous at the time and that was exactly what we wanted you to think when rideing. I believe it makes people think someone made this trail like this on purpose. Atleast they know someone made the trail and don't take it for granted.
Love to hear stories or jokes that happen along the trail making process.

"Meaningless Ride"

 

[niceorange]

Thats awesome wry,

How do you get the permission to clear the land, and how do you know who owns what? Most the trails I ride seem to be put there for logging purposes, or for hunting. I dont know if they were built for snowmobiling, but they sure do the trick!

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88 Saffari 377
89 Saffari Saga 377

 

[Burnin2StrokeOil]

The easiest way is to go to the town hall and get a lot map and see who has property rights to that section.
My parents own 14 acres i believe and the lady behind us... another 1000. I asked for her permission and every fall me, or a few friends go through the woods and clear the trails. During the winter when im on my sled i carry a small chainsaw, branch saw and some pruners... just lashed on to a milkcrate on the back of the sled and i drive up and down trails bored and trimm low lying branches, spin my track to get rid of pain in the ass bumps, cut trees, and other such maintence. In school, since I attend a vocational HS we made over 300 marker stakes for the local club for the trails for us sledders. I have made a few new trails on my property to cut into other trails and to get to larger main trails... its a bunch of fun

Duct tape much like the force... it has a light side, a dark side.... and it holds the world together!

 

[steve]

I have no idea who's land I'm on most of the time.We do alot of tresspassing, but I always stop for the land owners to yell at me if they see me(especially when they're wielding a snowshovel).

 

[niceorange]

Haha, I usually run away from those ones!! Actually, the trails I ride are state trails (NH Trail 22) My property does not abut the trail, so I do not know who owns the land, but noone ever bothers me.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Originally posted by steve:

I have no idea who's land I'm on most of the time.We do alot of tresspassing, but I always stop for the land owners to yell at me if they see me(especially when they're wielding a snowshovel).

[/quote]


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88 Saffari 377
89 Saffari Saga 377

 

[wryjoker]

Niceorange to ride trails in Mass you have two options.
(1) go to every land owner besides state property and recieve written permission to cross thier property on a snowmobile. Which must be carried by the operator at all times.
(2) Join a sams club and place a sticker on you're sled. The law is the club is responsible for having the written permission on file and you now are free to assume they have such permission even if they do not. You must still stop for all landowners and law officers and abide by thier will. This still leagaly gives you alot of options you might not have if you were to go ask land owners by you're self.

As far as building massive trail systems I would not even think of asking larger companies and land owners if I was not backed by a club. It is hard to convince people that noisy ATV. and sleds are a good thing to allow on thier property.
The number one question is what if someone becomes hurt. I know the law states no rider can sue a landowner for injury while crossing thier property, But it happens. At least with the club you can provide large sums of insurance $,$$$,$$$. to passify if the land is crutial to you're trail.
burnin2stroke said it correct go to the town hall to find out who owns what. They all pay TAX on thier property. Look at the map most will even give you a copy with names and numbers. This makes it easy to plan a trail before you contact people. If the land owner has not paid tax over 7 years and you can't make contact just use the property. I would explain why but that is another book. Make as few contacts as possible and plan trails away from homes as much as possible. Avoid younger dr. lawyers as much as possble. The older people surprise even me how helpfull they are and supportive.

Thier are two types of trails access and main.
The main trails are easy get good solid agreement from the land owner or state. Then carve a 8'-16' path strait cutting trees and moving walls, Bobcat and dozer come in handy.
Access trails are more economical but are hard to get permission. To access homes, food, gas, ....... So you tend to never cut trees only nippers and you wind back and fourth. Under and over bridges. dealing with lots of land owners and lots of opinions and requests such as fencing sighns .....

"Meaningless Ride"

 

[wryjoker]

Almost done with our new paths for the 2002 year if we recieve snow they will be great. I would say by thursday of this week. We are already discussing future trails and options. Excited to ride!

"Meaningless Ride"

 

[niceorange]

I think I will stick to my NH trails. I have never ridden in mass, and dont really want to.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Originally posted by wryjoker:

Almost done with our new paths for the 2002 year if we recieve snow they will be great. I would say by thursday of this week. We are already discussing future trails and options. Excited to ride!

"Meaningless Ride"[/quote]


95 XLT Special
88 Saffari 377
89 Saffari Saga 377

 

[wryjoker]

The boys just do not want to stop. I kind of agree things are moveing smooth. We'll keep going.

"Meaningless Ride"

 

[xltman]

thats so cool that your involved with something like that, wryjoker! i wish i could get my buddies to help start a trail here in iowa, sure we have a few, but mostly ditches along the roadways, and that just gets old. there are so many wooded areas we could clear a trail in here, but i cant seem to get anyone motivated enough to help. shit id even bring home a skid loader to aid in the process.

 

[wryjoker]

If you start on the trail by you're self others that see it will become enthused and want to be part of it. I believe it is human nature to want to creat and progress.

"Meaningless Ride"

 

[ACG]

i wish i lived in a wooded area to build trails in. HW ditches get pretty old after awhille, i only use those to go to different places....i dont usually ride on em for fun. we do have some good trails to the west bout an hour they say tho

Think Snow...hell...might as well think lots of snow!

 

[xltman]

yeah we ditchbang to bust drifts, theres somthin bout havin the snow fly all around you, but mostly we ride the rivers. we like to stop and watch the deer we see. ahhh snowmobiling and nature go hand in hand, just wish we could get that trough the heads of those banning us.

 

[wryjoker]

We have been extreamly busy with our new trails. A few are a little bit not so leagal. I am sure plenty of others have experienced the areas while rideing that make you go (hmm I wonder who said this trail is ok). But as with most trails there are alternate routs if needed they just take longer and are not as easy to ride.

We have now completed a trail system that will be around a long time. This conects Millbury, Sutton, Oxford, Grafton, Auburn, Douglas with neighboring Charlton, Leicester, Spencer which run from there clubs into NH. NY. VT. and so on.

We feel comfortable even a novice can navigate these trails without danger. Also available is several fuel stations and food, misc. other stores too. This year alone we added over 13 miles of fresh trail to the 60+ miles we had. Not to mention no longer being locked in from major highways as we were.
This may not seem like much to some people but cutting trails in good sized towns is not easy, and getting local law support is even harder.

I would also like to mention about the blackstone valley Bike path. As it stands at this moment (uncompleted too). The Mass. Highway department who is with Gov. Swift. Reply to rules of use shall be no motor vehicles with wheels. As of now depending on how much dammage is caused by snowmachines they will be allowed pasage. It will be to the descretion of the operator as to how much dammage the skiis and track are causing to the pavement, weather or not it should be traveled at theat time. And of course the other normal laws apply. This will be a club only trail due to the amount of private and public land used.
The brighter side is when completed and with our new trails in place one can if wishing to ride from Providence RI. all the way to canada and beyond. Not that most people desire to go to RI. for thier snow, but they do have some great trails to ride.

"Meaningless Ride"

 

[Exjake]

Our club builds, cuts, maintains,grooms, over 68 miles of trails. Most are over 10 feet wide through forest, and some old logging roads. It takes a lot of work, and man hours to keep the trails in good shape. This year alone we built 3 bridges 25 feet long.

 

[wryjoker]

Wow that is impressive. As it stands right now we manipulate our trails to utilize car bridges as needed. The funding just is not there for us to build safe bridges. It would seem there is not enough time with good snow coverage in the area to have many supporters. The fourwheelers just don't seem to care they are content on going around in a circle day after day.

"Meaningless Ride"