FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                          31 AUGUST 2017

The Gogebic Range Trail Authority Snowmobile & ORV club is proud for the many successes of last season and the prospects that lie ahead. The club logged 2,500 miles of 100% volunteer- groomed trails without any significant or egregious damage to program equipment. Nearly all of the 12 operators had limited or no grooming experience and were trained by board members. The club received excellent grooming feedback, such as the Ottawa USFS’s trail survey on at Korpela road (Wakefield Township) & GRTA Trail #2 where all 10 groups surveyed returned a perfect rating. The club faced a 1 in 1,500 year flood event during the summer of 2016 that caused significant damage to trails. Deb Fergus, GRTA Vice President & Grant Coordinator, executed over a mile’s worth of late season trail repair in North Ironwood Trail #160 in addition to the $170,000.00 February 2017 Mud Creek Bridge construction. The Mud Creek Bridge project replaced the heavily damaged existing bridge, which in the current condition strained ties with their private landowner. The private landowner, Keweenaw Land Association, Limited, expressed thanks for replacing the snowmobile-only bridge crossing elaborating that it was a model example of recreational and commercial co-existence. The club had significant local economic impact of well over $300,000.00 last season based on expenditures alone. The new Board of Directors who were Intent on managing the many non-program funded costs (like medical insurance for the volunteers or insurance for the club house and groomer barn) made conservative spending decisions that yielded over a $40,000.00 positive equity swing. The newly achieved economic stability was due to exceptional local Sponsors such as Big Snow Resort’s Indianhead & Blackjack Mountain, AmericInn Ironwood, Cloverland Motorsports, Northwoods Rental & Supply, Western U.P. Convention & Visitors Bureau. Thanks also to our Business Members, Individual/Family members and so many others. With positive funding, well maintained equipment and a groomer barn full of positive ideas the club took notice of the local ORV trail conditions situation during club ORV rides.

After seeing the summer time ORV trails go unmaintained, outside the projects the GRTA executed, the ORV enthusiasts who make up the foundation of the Gogebic Range Trail Authority’s membership decided unanimously to begin marketing our ORV trail maintenance in June 2017. ORV usership continues to sky rocket - so will the impact and so must the maintenance. In merely 10 years the average weight has doubled and so has the horsepower. The GRTA decided that the success of their fundraising efforts from their winter-time volunteer work is best utilized by maintaining the same exact trail but for ORV use. GRTA executed projects in 2016 with the City of Ironwood by grading sections of trail bed and did the same at Pisani’s crossing in the industrial park this summer. Vice President Deb Fergus partnered with City of Bessemer public works department grooming nearly 2 miles on trail bed on either side of town. The club is working with the City of Ironwood to reuse spoils from summertime road work on other areas of the trail that need maintenance as well. The GRTA board of directors also became MIDNR ORV Trail Instructor this summer with intent to help educate and certify local youth.

The Club is excited to be the champion in obtaining MIDNR state funded sponsorship of the rail bed once projects are completed to meet regulations.

Successes continued well after the snowmobile season closed for the year with the announcement of Trail 11 S (South) reopening. Trail 11S runs from the far eastern edge of Wakefield Township down to Wisconsin County Highway “O” in Winchester. We had many inquiries asking to open this historic and cherished Trail that had been closed for years due to lack of maintenance.  Relationships were repaired with private and federal landowners and with their support approval to reopen the trail was granted. In March, 11 members from 4 states joined the GRTA Board of Directors in a trail brushing work day in what was a fantastic showing of responsible usership; however, extensive trail work is required to reopen the trail. The other trail work is scheduled to be completed this October for official opening December 1st, 2017..

The Gogebic Range Trail Authority is avidly seeking civic minded individuals who want to make our Western U.P. communities better. We are seeking those interested in grooming trails, helping brush and sign trails or those looking to improve ORV trail conditions. A diverse group in regards to age, experience, and motivation that is sure to make anyone feel at home. The next club meeting is September 19, at Larry’s Lucky Strike in Ironwood, MI at 7pm. Membership cycle is from April 1, to March 31, with memberships starting at $25 for a single person, $45 for family & $150 for Business.

Thanks to all our members.