The state of indiana will be out of funding for the trails in indiana in 3 years or less.The potawatomi trails already lost state funding but will remain open as a private trail system funded by snowmobilers and the local club.todd 1-260-316-2839

I'm not currently part of any club around here. I'm just east of Fort Wayne. What are we gonna need to do to keep em open? I don't ride the trails in Indiana, but I do not like the state dropping the ball on everybody else.

Bill

If the state is out of funding for the trail system I souldnt have to register my sleds anymore. Where is all that money going? My $0.02 is they can close the Heritage trail. Running across plowed fields that the land owners and the Blizzard Blazers get money to maintain is a joke. Kudos to Potawatami, its nice to see a club that takes pride in there trail system and there club.

Mark

What can you do to help? Make sure everyone you know in Indiana registers their sled in Indiana. With the new property tax reform personal property taxes on sleds and atv's is gone. The PPT is the main reason people register out of state.

The state in not dropping the ball.

Where does the money go?

The DNR takes in about $73,000 in registrations per year. After shutting off the Potowatamie trail the total cost per year to open all the other trails in Indiana is about $90,000. Hmmmmm. About $17,000 more per year is going out than is coming in. The current fund will be gone in another 2-3 years. Unless you take action and get your buddies who register their sleds in Michigan to register properly in Indiana the trails will be gone. It's that simple.

Also, Clubs DO NOT get paid to groom trails. Yes, we do get money for gas and maintenance, but not the time. Please do not bash a club for poor trail conditions unless you belong to a club that maintains trails. Because if you did belong to a trail club you would understand why it's in the condition it's in and would never complain. Last fall was very wet and most clubs were not able to get out and flatten the fields before the freeze. This made for some very rough fields. No one was happy about that, but we did the best we could with what was thrown our way.

My .02, Me, and about 12 other guys spent about 40 hours EACH getting our trail ready in the fall. Then, about 1000+ or so other guys ride it all winter long. During the season we constantly go back out and remove fallen trees and replace signs that were either run over or stolen (I had about 10 stop signs stolen in my section). What were you doing about 7-8pm on New Year's eve this year? Know what I was doing? Clearing fallen trees from our trail because a big snow storm was coming and I wanted to make sure the trail was clear for everybody to have some fun the next day. In the spring we spend about 8-10 hours each taking the trail back out.

I'm not complaining here. I'm not bashing either. I'm just saying that without seeing the entire picture you can't understand what's going on.

My club is the Michiana Trail Rider's Coalition/South Bend Snowmobiler's Club and my trail section is the northern-most section before you enter Michigan. Next winter, if you ride our trail please drop a note and let me know if you see a problem. I'll do everything in my power to correct it.

One last thing, there will be no "hotline" phone updates next winter. You will have to check the ISA website to see if a trail is open or closed. The hotline will be up for one more winter, but it will merely state "please go to www.indianasnowmobilers.com for trail information."

Thanks,

Tony

Tony, I'm not trying to sound like @$@hole, but the Heritage trail (which is 32 miles long) 27 miles of it are on friends ground. I live next to the trail system and I do help my friends clear alot of trails and help maintain them. The 5 or so miles that I dont know the land owners are the one's that suck but are major arteries so we have to cross them. Dont be fooled by the Blizzard blazers, there are alot of us that maitain that trail because they dont. I agree with being members of a club but not one that screws the system. I support Potawatami's system and I dont even ride it.

What was I doing New year eve: Sitting at home with my children enjoying them (not out getting sauced if thats what you think)(dont get me wrong I do like my beer)

What can I do to help: I go to every ISA snow show, support local dealers, dumped a #$^@ load of money in running grass drags for 12 years - where spectators would come watch and spend money which helps clubs, did a few swap meet booths at the snow shows (which I sat around wondering where all the snowmobiles are at) I register all my sleds in Indiana. I think I've done plenty

I not bashing either or trying to start an argument but I've seen the writing on the wall for some time down here.

Thanks,

Mark

Mark,

I didn't really think you were bashing. Perhaps the Heritage trail guys need a little reminder to take care of an issue. Not all club members are saints, that's for sure. And I'm not bashing them either. I just wanted to point out the entire picture and try to save our trails.

Looks like the real issue is are we gonna have enough money to buy gas this year!! 4 years ago we (the wife and I) always went "up north" about 4 times each winter. The last two years just twice plus a day trip to Cadillac. This year we're looking at one trip to the UP and carpooling. Looks like the home trails will used every chance we get again this year (living on the trail helps too)!

An update to the property tax, apparently it won't take affect until next year.

Tony

Lakeeffect
Not sure this is what you guys wan't but if you would link your system up with Niles then you could ride 4 Flags-Edwardsburg-Coloma-Hatrford etc... I think you could almost make it to Canada if the conditions were right. So tough for guys like me closer to Edwardsburg to join your club when it is basicly a closed loop!

You got a great website though, and if you need any help with the trails etc... just drop me a PM as I play golf at Elbel 3 times a week.

Here's a plug for your site

http://www.geocities.com/tsuddon/

Lakeeffect
Not sure this is what you guys wan't but if you would link your system up with Niles then you could ride 4 Flags-Edwardsburg-Coloma-Hatrford etc... I think you could almost make it to Canada if the conditions were right. So tough for guys like me closer to Edwardsburg to join your club when it is basicly a closed loop!

You got a great website though, and if you need any help with the trails etc... just drop me a PM as I play golf at Elbel 3 times a week.

Here's a plug for your site

http://www.geocities.com/tsuddon/

Airdoo, Thanks for the offer. Oh, how I wish it could be hooked up to Niles, but the St. Joe river is in the way. I lived on the Niles trail while in high school and my brother still does. Between Niles and the buffalo run I get in about 1000 miles. The rest are back at my original home in Gaylord or Cadillac or the UP.

3 times a week at elbel? You could spit on the trail from there!

I'll be dropping lines on all the message boards this fall looking for help.

Tony.

Is anyone planning a trip to the U.P. ? I'm interested in a Citation in Monroeville and hoped that someone might be willing to transport a sled to the "Bridge" .

Tom

If they had trail permits, they would have enuff money. The Michigan guy's ride our trails for FREE. In michigan you need registration and a trail permit. Indiana is relying on registration only. whitch is stupid seeing how there isnt that many sled in indiana.


P.S. Linking the indiana trails to the edwardsburg trail would be SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!