TRANSITION… Easy or No? BY JIM DUKE CONTRIBUTING WRITER For many winter enthusiasts, the exchange of toys, snowmobiles to off-road vehicles can’t be too soon.
W
ith the snowbanks still as high as a two-story building in some locations as we close in on the final days of the snowmobile season, it’s hard to believe that some folks are already putting away their winter toys and prepping their summer ones. This is especially true for those who make their home in one of the many communities across the wide expanse of the Upper Peninsula where the snow remains well into the Spring and the ice hasn’t completely disappeared from the waters of Lake Superior yet. In the many conversations I’ve had with friends and family members, I’ve found that the real diehards will continue to press on and push the season well beyond its legal limits as long as snow remains on the trails and in the woods. The big issue, of course, is when does it become legal to put our wheeled vehicles in operation and how much grief is caused to those still enjoying the thrills of winter? According to DNR guidelines, the official designated snowmobile season runs from December 1st of each year until March 31st of the
same. Whether that first day begins at one minute past midnight on the last night in November is questionable but can be answered yes, if anyone is that anxious to start their snowmobile activities at the earliest possible moment. Whether snowmobilers still have legal use of the trails beyond the stroke of midnight on the last night in March or not can also be answered yes, but with some stipulations. Primarily, they must understand that they no longer have priority usage of the trails system regardless of how much snow remains, and more importantly, that trail access no longer exists as it did prior to the deadline so far as private lands are concerned. Legal passage during the season would now be considered trespassing, regardless of whether the rider is on a snowmobile and a designated snowmobile trail or not. To add to the confusion, there are many misnomers within the DNR regulations that were intended as guidelines for the ATV/ORV community, and cause for concern to those who wish to venture out into the great outdoors and follow the trails or two-tracks through the forests.
For example, it is written that all state lands are open for recreational use. Most folks would interpret this to say you can go and play anywhere within the state forest boundaries, but this is not so! There are specifics, sometimes quite vague, that prohibit any activity within, such as any designated wetlands, or areas where there might be growth of fragile plant-life. Certainly, there are some state campgrounds that allow ORV use, but the majority do not. It’s always a good idea to check beforehand to eliminate any misunderstandings and possible heartburn later. As a relatively new advocate of the summertime recreation activities known as side-by-side touring in the ORV community, or as some of my close acquaintances like to call “the old-timers woodlands adventures”, I joined a group of like-minded individuals, drove over some of the same terrain with the ORV that I had just recently been over with my snow machine, and was actually amazed that the excitement was almost equal to the previous ride, and although the pace was much continued on page 28
MICHIGAN SNOWMOBILER + ORV • MAY • 2022
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