TRESPASSING VS LEGAL OFF-TRAIL RIDING

BY: BILL CHATFIELD, HOLLY, MI, MISORVA LIFE MEMBER

appreciateyourthoughtsaboutofftrailridingandthe courageofMISORVAMagazinetoentertainadiscussion onthetopicintheNov/Dec2022issue.Off-trailriding, orboondocking,remainsmyfavoritewaytoenjoyand experiencethebeautyofwinter.Whetherit’ssnowcovered forestroadsoruntrackedstateorfederallands,gettingoff thebeatenpathexposesonetofarmoresightsandexperiences thanzippingdownthesamegroomedtrailstimeandagain.The pointneedstobemadethatofftrailriding,orboondocking,is notsynonymouswithtrespassing.Mostofthetrespassingwe hearaboutisfromtrailriderswhojumpoffthetrail,goaround gates,andsimplyignoresignsalongtrails.

Iama30-plusyearmemberoftwoseparateclubsandlife memberofMSA/MISORVA.I’veriddentensofthousandsoftrail milesthroughlowerandupperMichiganandOntario.Isimply preferboondocking.IhostedmyfirstBoondockersclubridein 1997intheNWLower.Welegallyrodeandexploredmilesof forestroadsandadjoiningstatelandandthatexperiencehas ledtomanyyearsofoff-trailtripswhileconvertingmanyofmy ridingbuddiestooff-trailsleds.It’saslowerpacewithfewer milesthatcanchallengeyourridingskillsandendurance.It’sa greatworkoutifyou’reintothat.

Makenomistake,ourtrailsystemmakesitallpossible.Those thatcreate,maintainandgroomourimpressivetrail systemmakeoff-trailridingpractical.Withnotrailsystem, snowmobilingingeneralwouldbealmostnonexistent.Tothose thatcreatethissystemandopportunity,thankyou.

However,mytrailridingexperiencesinthepast20yearshave beentroubling.Highspeeds,insidecornering,andgenerallack oftrailetiquettemakemeuneasyontrails.Ialmostalwaysstand upwhiletrailridingtogetabettervantagepointofoncoming traffictohavemoretimetoreact.Whenridingwithmyfamily Itrytofindcountyandforestroadroutesthatkeepusoffthe maintrail.Idon’tfeelthatanxietywhileboondocking.

Inthepast20yearsoff-trailridinghasmostlybeendiscouraged andimpugned,andIgetit.Thosethatdon’tdosowith knowledgeorrespect,castanegativelightonallthatsimply wanttoexplorenewareasandavoidcongestedtrails.Any attempttoincreaseoff-trailridingawareness,expectations,and opportunitiescanonlybenefitourconstituentsandpossibly increaseparticipationinMISORVA.

Bill - your perspectives mirror those of my own — off-trail riding is far too often equated to trespassing, and as you have so eloquently explained, that simply does not have to be the case. While I had great intentions to further promote the legal off-trail initiative within these pages, I found a great deal of resistance, and/or closed doors, as I looked to develop a legal guidebook of sorts, showcasing off-trail riding destinations and rules. Knowing I must err on the side of caution, I tabled the feature until I can further research and speak about select riding areas with 100 percent confidence.

The appetite to ride off-trail is not going to fade away (like some hope it will). Quite the contrary, the next generation of snowmobilers love this type of riding, and many find trail riding “boring.” We (as leaders of organized snowmobiling) must look for ways to embrace this new generation of riders versus shutting them out or punishing them. In the process it is imperative all stakeholders are part of the discussion including landowners, state and local agencies, clubs and organizations, and most importantly the riding community, especially those who crave off-trail riding. Feedback such as yours gives me hope we can eventually build more alliances with the boondocking community and create a snowmobiling community accepting of all riding passions.

Thank you for your letter!

Pat – MWR Editor

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