A major washout on Forest Road 2269 (Trail #7) rendered the trail impassible… and dangerous!
A Word of Caution! BY JIM DUKE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
W
ith the winter’s snow melting away and several periods of torrential rains experienced in most locales across the Upper Peninsula, it’s little wonder that more trails and back roads haven’t been damaged in one form or another. In many cases the run-off has been significant enough for washouts and some dangerous hazards have developed. While it is true these washouts are fairly common in the late spring season, it is rare that an entire roadway, or trail, disappears and requires major repair to put it back to a safe and usable condition. As the snowmobiles are put away and the off-road vehicles are prepared for use, here is a word to the wise! Be extra cautious when heading out into the woods or using some back-
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roads for your adventures, even if you have traveled over that particular trail or two-track many times previously. Conditions change with the seasons and almost without fail, there will be a waterhole, a failed culvert, or a new beaver dam that wasn’t there the last time you were over that path. Like little children, many can’t resist the opportunity to go splashing through that new water puddle, even though they have no idea how deep it might be or what could be hidden under the surface of that muddy mess. One close associate grinning widely said, “that’s why we have a winch on it”, then adding “that’s part of the fun.” But that being said, it’s all fun & games until someone gets hurt, and then everything changes! Driving the same two-track for a
JULY • 2022 • MICHIGAN SNOWMOBILER + ORV
few miles to get to the main trail, it’s best to go slow and make sure the surface hasn’t become unstable. Even when riding on the primary trails in a designated system, it’s best not to be running at a speed where it’s impossible to stop in a short distance, should a hazard appear in front of you. What may appear to be a long straight stretch of trail with no obstructions could be hiding any number of pitfalls. Just such a condition occurred recently in the Hiawatha National Forest An inviting stretch of trail, hard not to drive a bit faster than allowed, but danger may lurk just ahead.
