About Us
Reading our E Newsletter is a good way to keep current on trail issues in northern Michigan and around the country.
For archived copies of our newsletter Trailwise please click on the links below.
September, 2009 E News
Construction of the long-awaited final segment of the Little Traverse Wheelway will commence on September 14. The nearly three mile segment joins Little Traverse Township Park at the Harbor Springs Airport to the trailhead at the soccer fields on the east side of the city. The 23 mile LTW has been 37 years in the making.
In the past you may have golfed or bowled to help our organization but here's your chance to Jump for Trails. On Sunday, September 6 from 8:30 am until 5 pm you can jump ten thousand feet from a small plane onto a field near Harbor Springs. Then, from 5 pm until 8 pm you can join fellow sky divers and trail enthusiasts for dogs, burgers and the blue grass music of Scott Boss and the Horton Bay Band. The production will be orchestrated by Luther Kurtz and associates at Skydive Harbor Springs. To view their website go to www.skydiveharborsprings.com. Our events calendar also has more information on this exciting way to help trails.IMAGE1
Other Fall Events:
September 19, Adopt-a-Highway, call or e mail us to volunteer
October 10, Bicycle Ride, Fall Color Tour on Two Trails, more info at http://www.trailscouncil.org/inside/events_3/?month=10&year=2009&eventid=134
Events past, August 8 Loop Ride from Gaylord---Rained out,
August 22 Ride from Topinabee to Brutus to Mark the Route of the Proposed Burt Lake Trail, 15 enthusiastic riders on a cool and threatening day. Photo: Riders Pause at Bearsaw Creek near Burt Lake.IMAGE2
Disappointing News from Charlevoix County. The Road Commission is now supporting a wider shoulder rather than an off-road trail between Boyne City and Charlevoix that we have been planning for several years. However, there is still hope. The County Commissioners have the last word. For more go to http://www.trailscouncil.org/news/trail-articles-press-clipping-file_10/trails-in-the-news:--charlevoix-county-road-commission-declares-against-an-off-road-bike-path/
Want to get yourself up to speed on trails? A good way would be to consult our archived newsletters that go back several years. Click on http://www.trailscouncil.org/inside/newsletter_28/.
Priority Trails Update: Here's what's been happening with our priority projects: Go to http://www.trailscouncil.org/inside/priority-trail-updates-5282009_102/ To read an update on our trailheads go to http://www.trailscouncil.org/inside/trailhead-update-5272009_101/.
Our lead volunteer Tom Stanley will be leaving us in September after nine years of doing various things at the organization. We thank Tom for his incredible effort on behalf of trails and The Trails Council. He and his wife Sue, Board Chairman at the Emmet County Friendship (Senior) Centers, will be moving to Southeastern Wisconsin to be nearer their new grandson Ryan who lives in Chicago. Best wishes Tom and Sue. For his part, Tom thanks the Trails Council for giving him the opportunity to work for a good cause and with such nice people.
Tom's departure points up the need for us to develop other volunteers to assist in some of our important functions. Three very important areas are website maintenance, the group bike ride program and Adopt-a-Highway.
If you can help us in any of these areas or anywhere else please contact us at info@trailscouncil.org.
August 2009 E News
Files: August_2009_E_News.pdfJuly 2009 E News
Files: July_1_E_News.pdfJune E News
Files: June E NewsMay 2009 E News
Files: May_E_News.pdfApril 2009 E News
Files: Welcome_to_Spring.pdfSpring, 2008 Trail Wise
Files: Spring 2008 Trail WiseWinter 2008 Trail Wise
Files: Newsletter_Winter_2008_Final.pdfFall 2008 Trail Wise
Files: Fall 2008 Trail WiseFall 2007 Trail Wise
Files: FAll 2007 Trail WiseSummer 2007 Trail Wise
Files: Summer 2007 Trail WiseSpring 2007 Trail Wise
Files: Spring 2007 Trail WiseFall 2006 Trail Wise
Files: Fall_2006_Trail_Wise.pdfSummer 2006 Trail Wise
Files: Summer 2006 Trail WiseSpring 2006 Trail Wise
Files: Spring 2006 Trail WiseWinter 2005-2006 Trail Wise
Files: Winter 2005-2006 Trail WiseFall, 2005 Trail Wise
Files: Fall 2005 Trail WiseSummer 2005 Trail Wise
Files: Summer 2005 Trail WiseSpring 2005 Trail Wise
Files: Spring 2005 Trail WiseWinter 2004-2005 Trail Wise
Files: Winter 2004 2005 Trail WiseFall 2004 Trail Wise
Files: 2004 Fall Trail WiseSummer 2004 Trail Wise
Files: 2004_summer_trailwise.PDFSpring 2004 Trail Wise
Files: spring_pdf_trail_wise.pdfJuly 2009 E News
July 2009 E News
July 2009 E News
July 2009 E News
August, 2009 E News
In the past you may have golfed or bowled to help our organization but here's your chance to Jump for Trails. On Sunday, September 6 from 8:30 am until 5 pm you can jump ten thousand feet from a small plane onto a field near Harbor Springs. Then, from 5 pm until 8 pm you can join fellow sky divers and trail enthusiasts for dogs, burgers and the blue grass music of Scott Boss and the Horton Bay Band. The production will be orchestrated by Luther Kurtz and associates at Skydive Harbor Springs. To view their website go to www.skydiveharborsprings.com. More information later on this exciting way to help trails.IMAGE1
Who says we’re not having good weather in northern Michigan? Not the six persons who performed the Trails Council’s Adopt-a-Highway duties on Saturday, July 18. With a temperature of 60 degrees with cloudy skies and just a hint of bluster, the day was, as they say, well-nigh perfect for the task at hand. The day was quite in contrast to the July pickup a year or two ago when the temp and humidity were near 90 and the sun was blistering. Thanks to Stan and Lee Katlein, Max and Mary Putters,Tom Stanley and Janet Vuillemot for their efforts. And for those who did not participate this time…….you missed a great day.
There’s something about Alpena. I love the town and the trail but every time we (Top of Michigan Trails Council) sponsor a group bicycle ride there no one shows up. Or almost no one. Only me, the ostensible leader, my assistant Margo, and Ben and Jerry, two residents of Alpena that volunteered to describe the sites along the Bi-Path, peddled the 19 miles in two hours. The day was gorgeous, the trail scenic and varied, the commentary expert, and the post-ride lunch conversation at JJ’s Steakhouse friendly and interesting. Heartiest thanks to Margo Hodder, Ben Grandlund and Jerry Krantz. From Tom Stanley's blog on My North.com. http://community.mynorth.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2345865%3ABlogPost%3A32087
On the other hand, the ride to the Agnes Andreae Preserve from Topinabee on July 25 had 26 riders despite threatening weather. Photo shows some of the riders on the bridge over the Pigeon River taken by Doug Fuller of the Little Traverse Conservancy who expertly led the interpreted hike part of the program.IMAGE2
Speaking of trail rides, don't miss our upcoming August events, the Gaylord to Vanderbilt loop ride on the 8th http://www.trailscouncil.org/inside/events_3/?month=8&year=2009&eventid=132 and the Topinabee to Brutus Ride on the 22nd http://www.trailscouncil.org/inside/events_3/?month=8&year=2009&eventid=154. The latter ride is entirely on local roads and will follow the route of the proposed trail around the north end of Burt Lake.
How are we doing? Here at TOMTC we generally measure our success in the number of new miles and the number of “improved” miles added to our network. Currently we have about 288 miles in eight counties. Of these 106 are considered improved (either asphalt or high quality crushed limestone and about 38 are acquired right of way on which no trail currently exists. That leaves 144 “unimproved” miles but three will be improved in the fall of 2009 and at least 70 more in 2010 or 2011. We're making progress.
Would you like to become a member and help us to build more trails?
You can do so by clicking on http://www.trailscouncil.org/inside/contact-us_11/