Journal Sentinel: DNR crackdown on snowmobiles...

It is hard to tell from the article whether there are actually more resources being deployed than in years past, or just a rearrangement of existing resources and additional publicity. But even more publicity is a good thing. It will be interesting to see if accidents go down this year.

And kudos to snowmobile clubs, if they are being genuine here. People using trails as racetracks probably deters many family snowmobilers.


One problem: currently, there are no speed limits for snowmobiles. There is a bill to have a nighttime speed limit of 55, which if enforced might curtail the noisy night racing on lakes. But what about the day? Is there any reason a snowmobile should be allowed to go over 65 miles an hour? If I can't go over 65 in my car, with a seatbelt and airbags, why should I be able to do it on a snowmobile?


Another problem: Strict "Checkpoint" enforcement for drinking and snowmobiling is not being done anymore because of the political backlash. That would provide a much better deterrent, but wasn't politically palatable. The more actual enforcement these new teams do, the more political backlash they will get...


The article doesn't talk about cracking down on noise. I suspect that a lot of snowmobile noise is related to speed.

99% of piers in compliance....

According the the News-Review, 99% of piers are in compliance with the new DNR guidelines-the other 1% (with an over 200 square foot deck) just need a three year review and permitting process. I think this seems pretty reasonable.

Dennis McCann in the Journal-Sentinel: Franchises and small towns

Great quote from Dennis: "No offense to chains - no doubt many locals there are happy to have them - but I'm not driving hours to Florence or St. Germain to eat where I could have eaten at home."

And one more...White Sand Creek

Not a great pic, but you can imagine the view. This is a great spot to take a deep breath, listen, and look. I like to imagine that this spot is here, every day, just the way it is, whether I am there or not. Of course we all know it disappears when I am gone, but I can imagine, can't I?

One more pic for those who can't wait to get out there

Across the bridge. Notice I wear the trendiest cross country ski gear. The red is for the last day of hunting season. Gina wanted me to wear an antler hat for some reason, but I declined...

Snow report from Joel Patenaude of Silent Sports...

Man, is it snowing as much where you are as it is in Waupaca? I can't wait to strap on the xc skis and dive in. In the mean time, I thought I'd share with you the following. Possibly my favorite issue of Silent Sports since I took the editor's helm just received a rather nice review at MagSampler.com, a new online newsstand. You can read it here; http://magsamplerblog.blogspot.com/ Also worth checking out is the eclectic company we're keeping at www.magsampler.com.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours,

Joel

Big snow is coming! Hurray!

This shot is from around Thanksgiving. I am hoping for an old-fashioned winter, with way too much snow.

Silent Sports enthusiasts: there are a lot of places to ski and snowshoe here. And the restaurants are great!

Norway Spruce...

This is our little house in the big north woods...
just kidding.




This is what we see when we look out of our porch...the picture is small, but I hope it gives you a feeling of the majesty of Norway spruce when they are filled with new snow... I also think it gives you the feeling of the past.....that is a feeling I love about the old buildings on "The Compound."
More pictures to follow tomorrow...

Another pic-my favorite

The bridge over White Sand Creek.

Lumberjack trail pics

I took this picture on the first section of the Lumberjack trail...it captures how beautifully quiet and still it was that day...

Last weekend of quiet season....

I had a great ski around the lake Saturday morning on a beautiful pair of Asnes I picked up last year at a garage sale. I am not very clever about waxing, but sometimes I get it right by luck and when I do, there is nothing like it!

After circumnavigating the lake, I climbed into the woods to follow a logging trail straight northwest. I broke a skipole on the way up, sliding on some leaves (there really isn't enough snow for sensible cross country skiing, but I was "quiet hunting" and you have to go before the big snows!

The trail runs through a balsam lane, then into a mature aspen stand, then into a mixed pine forest, and finally into a beautiful old white pine forest. (At least old by logging standards!) I was discouraged to see the red markings indicating logging is going to take place there. I am assuming by what I have heard from the DNR that the big whites are not coming down, but we will see. I would prefer to see that area around Grassy Lake and Grassy Creek be left as wild as possible. If you get a chance, snowshoe into that area from Partridge Lane. It is quite rough at first, but well worth your while when you get to the White Pines.

sunny and clear, and tracks on the lake!

Things are looking good for some skiing after all tomorrow. There isn't a lot of snow, but enough for some exploring north of the lake. This morning, I walked down to the lake puzzling over animal tracks and I saw a solitary pair of ski tracks running along the lake...A kindred spirit out there? I am always a little nervous about going out on the ice this early, but since someone has beat me to it, I am heading out. Thanks, friend, whoever you are!

Additional Hunting season approved-during the quiet season!

OK, I really don't mind much. But this is often a good time to ski, if there is enough snow before the snowmobile trails opened, a person could get far out in the woods without hearing noise... I just wonder how it was decided that there was no evidence a December hunt wouldn't bother other sports enthusiasts? Were other sports enthusiasts consulted?

As long as I am complaining, why is Chicago getting snow and not us? Does that seem right to you?

Quiet forecast: Excellent!

I am in the middle of reading articles about sound measurement. Hard work! When I find something steady and useful to pass on, I will.

No skiing up North this weekend, but the forecast for "quiet hunting" will be pretty good as the snowmobile trails are still closed. But I don't want to be greedy-I am wishing snow for us cross country skiers and for snowmobilers.

GreenDrinks Green Bay at Kavarna

From Kavarna's newsletter: "GREEN BAY GREEN DRINKS is a new monthly 'social space' with its ninth meeting Thursday Dec. 15, 2005 at Kavarna, in Green Bay's near westside downtown."
The "green" in this case stands for environment, not for the Packers!

I haven't been to the meetings, but Kavarna http://www.kavarna.com/blog/index.php is a wonderful coffee shop/restaurant, and this sounds like a great idea. I will pop in next Thursday.

From Mike Sealander: Warden for Vilas County

This is from a great site run by Warden Mike Sealander called "Ask a Warden". Once again, the DNR is often much more open and helpful than some legislators and members of the public give them credit for. He is answering some questions I asked regarding snowmobile noise regulations:


"The number of devices and where they will be will largely be dependent upon funding. We have been using sound meters for years for boating and other violations along with snowmobiles in recent years. The new deal with sound meters deals primarely with a standardized testing procudure to be more easily used in the field. It does not take away the ability to issue citations for excessive noise when the machine has been altered in such a way which results in an increase of overall noise emissions. As for all the numbers on citations etc I am going to refer you to our madison office for those figures. "

Mike

It is good to know that wardens will be able to cite machines that have been altered without the devices. I still want to find out how often citations happen, versus the number of modified mufflers out there.

New snowmobile noise regs coming

You can read the 3 paragraph article by Shawn Johnson at the link above. I have a lot of concerns:

-88 decibels is twice as loud as the DNR's original recommendation-which was around 76 decibels. (remember that decibels are an exponential measurement)
-Why should the snowmobile industry representatives be allowed to determine what "too quiet" is? If a few machines didn't meet the previous test, why shouldn't the manufacturers change their machines rather than make the rest of us suffer? It IS possible to muffle a machine to cut down the noise. They choose not to.
-The new test will require decibel meters. Does that mean that each warden or officer will have one? And if they don't, will they still be able to ticket excessively loud snowmobiles? If there is no credible enforcement, we can expect snowmobiles to be even louder this winter.
-Finally, will wardens in the field still be able to make on the spot determinations that a machine has been modified to be louder, and ticket the snowmobiler?

Snowmobile noise regulations forthcoming?

I blearily heard something on Wisconsin Public Radio this morning about snowmobile regulations being set, but I wasn't awake enough to make sense of it...I have looked online to find any information, and haven't yet, as soon as I do I will post.

Dennis McCann on the Star Lake Nature Trail-Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

I haven't been there in years, but Dennis' article makes me want to go again.

Perfect skiing to be thankful for...

Its hard to believe in the midst of this thaw that for a day there was some great skiing to be had in Northern Wisconsin. My daughter and I ventured out on the Lumberjack trail in Boulder Junction the Friday after Thanksgiving-A trail that is dear to my heart, since i used to ski that country before there was a "trail".

This is a tricky time of year to ski, since it is during gun-deer season. But it was the second weekend, not many hunters were out, and we wore the requisite blaze orange. The rewards for venturing out was an afternoon of total silence. I should say near total silence-once we did hear a back-up alarm on a truck in the distance. But other than that, we heard no human sound but our own. Pretty amazing on such a windless day.

At one point, we both stopped and listened to an unusual whistling call. It wasn't a whistling actually, but not a bugling either. We didn't know what it was, but it did call attention to how quiet it was.


There was more than enough snow to keep us from scraping the trail, but it was pretty easy trailbreaking. Lumberjack is an ungroomed trail, not very difficult, and not as glamorous as Escanaba, but it has a couple of nice features: Some big pines in the first section, a beautiful crossing over White Sand Creek, a short side trip to Fishtrap dam on the Manitowish river, and a nice figure eight trail. There is also a beautiful connecting trail to the Escanaba loops-(although last year it was closed due to logging so check before you go).

I can't emphasize how wonderful it is to be out in the winter with no snowmobile noise. Why can't we have a quiet hunting season like we have a deer hunting season? Perhaps the first skiable weekend between hunting season and the opening of snowmobile season. I would like to report we bagged some trophy quiet this year.

Thinking good thoughts tonight...step outside for a bit

Wow! Mars and Venus were out there tonight, very bright. My first year of college I used to leave Ross Hall in the middle of the night to ski through undeveloped city lots.
My impression of Superior seems as vivid now as it was then- cold wind coming from the lake forming snow dunes. A slight refinery smell. Houses curtained shut and tight. I have seldom been in a true wilderness, but my experience on those trips, looking up at the night sky and then back at the cold lights of streets and parking lots was one of complete isolation. I felt totally alive!

Kathleen Dunn talked with the Senior Editor of Astronomy magazine today-you can get to the link here: http://www.wpr.org/kathleendunn/

"Beat it senseless?"

"Trail Tough. Track Ready"

"Don't just hit the trail, beat it senseless with the ultimate combination of power, handling & suspension. No other high performance ATV's offer such impressive integrated components that provide riders with a great experience on the trails and on the track".

ATV manufacturers are using the same concepts to sell ATV's that they use with snowmobiles: Make an association in users' minds between the track and the trail. Make them want bigger and more powerful machines.

But this doesn't just increase sales, it defines what the sport will become by attracting people who are really only interested in racing, and "beating the trail senseless".

Compromise principle number one: No ATV's in the Northern Highland Forest until racing is taken out of the ATV trail riding equation.

"..dominate everything..."

Does your ATV have:

" MASSIVE ENGINES. MASSIVE TORQUE. MASSIVE POWER." ?

You should be feeling pretty inadequate. What, is that a golf cart your ridin'?

This wasn't even the high performance model. Wait till you read about that one.

"...Dominate the Trail..."

Notice that it says "dominate the trail", not "dominate the track". Snowmobile manufacturers are cynically at work selling the idea that trail riding is a racing sport. This at the same time they are saying that it is only a few "bad apples" causing problems.

Unfortunately, it isn't just the people who use the trails as racetracks that are in danger. All the "family friendly" snowmobilers are in danger, too.

"This Thing Screams!"

That's what Polaris says about its showcase snowmobile. Looks like they are really concerned about keeping the noise down...

State's forests up for grabs: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Lee Bergquist has done some great writing lately. This article has the air of inevitability about it-so I hope we can think of ways to control the inevitable change to Wisconsin's private forests. I am recalling a section of John McPhee's great book "Encounters with the Archdruid" http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0374514313/103-3858344-1379031?v=glance&n=283155&v=glance (required reading) in which David Brower actually advocated development on some islands in the Atlantic with the proviso that the development is well done, and that funds from the sale are used for protection. I think we have to decide which parts of these private forest lands are essential, and which parts could be developed carefully under the conditions that they finance the preservation of the rest. Most importantly, I think we need to instill an ethic in people who live in the northwoods that they are caretakers.

Big trail plans for Wisconsin! From the Capital Times

Just in time to pull me out of my funk! Thanks to Brook Waalen for sending this...

Think about the possibility of biking or hiking from Madison to Illinois! Mike Ivey writes about the connection to other Wisconsin trails from the Madison hub, but the other side of the border looks pretty good, too:

http://www.janeaddamstrail.com/git_map.htm

We would be creating a huge, two state network of interconnecting bicycle (and hiking) trails. I don't think we have begun to see the possibilities for tourism. As always, the ATVers are trying to get in. We need to call and write to our legislators that ATV use is NOT compatible with this vision...

Following the history of attempts to regulate noise...

Please read this 2003 article from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. We are trying to follow the history of attempts to regulate snowmobile noise.

New questions come up for me all the time.

-Everyone-including the manufacturer of after market products-seems to say that certain after-market mufflers are the problem, and only a few use them. So lets see the evidence. How many after-market mufflers sold are louder than manufacturers equipment? That would tell us how many "few" is.

-Are after-market mufflers really the only problem? I suspect that speed is also a problem. Why were speed limits for snowmobiles removed? (They may be restored for nighttime driving-why only nightime? Should snowmobiles be going 80 miles an hour anytime? I can't drive my car, wearing a seatbelt, at 80 miles an hour...

-Why were sobriety checkpoints stopped?

Those of you who want ATVs in the Northern Highland state forest should be asking these questions too. Because until snowmobile noise is reduced, people are not going to want ATV's roaring through the forest unmanaged too.

Phone conversation with Gary Eddy Chief DNR ATV/Snowmobile enforcement officer

I had a phone conversation with Gary Eddie today about ATV/Snowmobile sound enforcement. He was very open about answering questions, but I still have many remaining after the conversation. But here it goes:

Why are ATV noise levels set at 96 and Snowmobiles at 88 or 84 (depending on upcoming legislative decisions)?: There are technical reasons related to placement of mufflers, snow vs. leaves and branches as muffling sound, etc. Does this mean an ATV at 96 will be no louder than a snowmobile at 84? Gary couldn't say for sure.

(Question I didn't ask: Who made those technical decisions? What type of research was done? Where are the results?)

Question: Why are maximum snowmobile regs (84 or 88) set louder than the 78 decible limit that the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association sets for snowmobiles off the factory? Answer: Different groups lobbied for these rules, including snowmobile groups and manufacturers.

By the way, the final regs for snowmobiles are still in discussion in the legislature. Please notify your legislator that you are unhappy with the new higher sound. Remember, the difference in decibels is not incremental, but exponential: a 10 decibel difference is twice as loud. Too late for ATV's.

Question: Do some after market kits make snowmobiles quieter? Answer: Yes.
Why don't people install them? It would be good for the sport as a whole. Answer: Some people think they go faster when their machines make more noise.

Question: How many field-testing machines will be available for use? One per county? Gary couldn't say.

Question: My guess is a lot of snowmobilers modify their machines to be louder. What is his guess? Gary couldn't say, but didn't think it was a lot.



OK, in general, there are a lot of questions I still have, but let me some up what I got from this so far:

1. There will be no new enforcement tool for snowmobiles this year. Maybe next year.
2. We don't know yet how effective the protocol for measuring snowmobile noise will be.
3. ATV's and snowmobiles will be louder, rather than quieter, by law.
4. Snowmobiles don't have to be louder, in fact, after-market kits could instead make them significantly quieter, but the snowmobile lobby opposes reductions in noise levels.
5. ATV's allowable decibel level will be twice that of snowmobiles.

Please let me know I am missing something here. I am feeling depressed...

DNR backs off pier rule...

Caving to the realtors association? Or just being flexiible? What do you think?

What didn't you do this year?

Catching up on Dennis McCann columns. Here he writes about the things he didn't do this year.

My list:

-Didn't canoe the last stretch of the Wisconsin river with my daughter. We scheduled that as a definite for next year.

-Didn't canoe a stretch of the Flambeau river. I didn't catch any fish.

-My DID DO list was pretty good, though. I rediscovered biking in Vilas County-I covered lots of town roads, bike trails, snowmobile trails, and paths in the woods. We remodeled a bunkhouse. I swam in lots of lakes. I ran the Chicago Marathon.

-I did a lot of writing-as the philosopher Walter Kaufmann called it, thinking in slow motion.

-I learned some about the place I live. I learned some about how the DNR works, and some of the forces that impact on their decisions.

I hear we may get a bunch of snow this weekend. Could I be cross country skiing? It is the opening of Deer season, so I will have to find some red...

Illegal Pier concerns all wet.

Hey, all...

Still working on the after-market issue, I will have more to say on Thursday.

Here is a letter to the Lakeland Times that outlines the Wisconsin Realtor's Association attempt to sabatoge reasonable pier rules.

More on the after-market issue....

I thought about writing the following last week: "wouldn't it be more cost effective and simple to merely outlaw after-market mufflers on snowmobiles and ATV's? At least those increase Decibel levels?" That way, a DNR or town or county officer would only need to visually inspect the machine and write a ticket-and, as I recommended, confiscate the offending machine. But I don't know that much about snowmobiles, and so I didn't know if it were even possible.

Lo and behold, today I read the following at an off-road sport website:
http://www.off-road.com/snowmobile/info/sound/whatisnoise.htm

"Two years ago at the ISC (International Snowmobile Congress) there was discussion to ban the modification of exhaust systems altogether. However, over the past two sessions of Congress, it has been resolved by the state associations, DNR, aftermarket companies and the OEMs to work together in order to design a field friendly testing method. Also, most of the aftermarket manufacturers who design and produce exhaust systems have resolved to manufacture only quiet systems."

This is a very interesting quote for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that it comes from a site that accepts advertising from at least one of those few manufacturers that didn't resolve to manufacture only quiet systems.

But that is only the beginning...Read the following reason for not banning after-market mufflers:

"Law enforcement and environmentalists need to realize that banning or unreasonably restricting the sale of aftermarket exhausts and restricting trail access will have an effect on the economy in many areas. Dealers rely on aftermarket product sales in order to stay healthy. Unfortunately, most dealers cannot sell snowmobiles for the suggested retail price."

So let me get this straight-snowmobile dealers don't make money selling snowmobiles?

"In fact, a large number of dealers barely break even on new unit sales and therefore are forced to rely heavily on aftermarket parts sales in order to make up the difference. Aftermarket pipe sales help to make dealers more profitable so that they can employ more people to service their customers properly."

So dealers make their money on aftermarket products, like noisy exhaust systems? My guess is, you would have to sell quite a few of those to make much money.... perhaps more than just "a few bad apples" would buy?...I wonder how many, actually?

So why don't these two sentences add up?

-Only a few "bad apples" cause problems by having noisy after-market exhaust systems.
-We can't ban noisy after-market exhaust systems because dealers rely on their sales.

The statements don't match up. Let's add this question to last night's list: How many after-market snowmobile and ATV exhaust systems are sold in Wisconsin? Please let me know if you know the answer.

A reading list...

This reading list is for silent sports folks and for folks who wonder why silent sports enthusiasts are suspicious of ATV recreation. I have more research to do on exactly how and when the new inspections will take place, so forgive me for what I don't know yet-please reply to set me straight where I am mistaken.

The snowmobile lobby fought decibel level restriction to 84 Db, even though law requires snowmobiles off the factory to be less than 78...see what I write below to know why this difference is important...

http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/oct04/269621.asp

And then there is this essential article on how well snowmobile self-policing went last year :

http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/mar05/311234.asp

By the way, the Journal-Sentinel seems to have far and away the best reporting on these issues.

I see that the allowable decibel level for ATV's is actually higher than that for Snowmobiles:

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/es/enforcement/safety/atvnoise.html

Perhaps there is a technical reason for this, but it doesn't seem reassuring...Why 96? Isn't that somewhere around the level of hearing loss after an extended period of time? Remember, decibel level differences are not incremental, they are exponential. A difference between 78 and 94 might not seem like much, but on an exponential scale, an increase of 10 Decibels is twice as loud...http://www.vocopro.com/glossary.html

Perhaps I would not even hear snowmobiles or ATV's properly running at the higher standard. But the following is the kind of thing that makes silent sports folks mistrust all publicity from organized motor sports:

One online snowmobile magazine says that it is only outlaws who are causing problems by using after market mufflers. But the very same magazine has a link to one of its sponsors for the following...

http://www.trinityracing.com/products/yamaha/raptor700exhaust.html

I suspect that this company is not just selling its products to people who only use their snowmobiles on racetracks. Basically, there are two worlds of snowmobiling-the nice "family sport world" that the industry and clubs want you to accept as the standard, and then there is the noisy, fast, and alcohol-sodden world as it is enjoyed by more than just a few "bad apples"-My guess is that the groups are about even in membership. Maybe I am wrong, and it only sounds that way.

At any rate, my question to ATV people is: Why should silent sports enthusiasts believe that your sport will be different?

woodchopping weekend...

S0metimes oak cuts like butter! Thanks to my Dad for showing me the secret...

I will be doing some research this week related to inspecting internal combustion engines (outboard motors, ATV's, snowmobiles) for decibel levels.

Here are some questions I have:

What will be the protocol for inspecting snowmobiles and ATV's?
Why do snowmobiles and ATV's have different maximum allowable decibel levels? How were these levels chosen?
If the sound tests are done when the vehicles are stationary, how does that relate to actual field conditions?
Were silent sports practitioners included in any of the discussions of decibel levels or inspection protocols?
What will be the consequences of violating sound levels? (confiscation and a 5000 fine, I hope!)
What is the relationship between speed and noise? Will the DNR be monitoring speed as well as static noise? (not to mention alcohol use?)

questions? Answers? Send them to quietnorth...see my next posts for interesting reading related to these questions...

Reader Comment and response

Its always great to get a response from a reader...I am getting a lot of "hits" to the site, so I know you are out there, but it is great to get comments... Here is a good one....

"...Wouldn't it make more sense to open sustainable riding areas and enforce sound limts to control the "other" recreation.Did you know, Wisconsin DNR purchased about 25 new Qwest type 1 sound meters and have been training this year to properly test ATV's, boats, and other OHV'sOff highway recreation has been the largest growing out door recreation sport for the last two years, try and work with them.There are alot of other ATV riders that would prefer every one ride quiet machines.We love ya' man...." anonymous, 11/04/05

First, thanks for the post.

I agree with your first point, just not the order. Lets first demonstrate that we can control sound, then consider opening up new kinds of recreation. I think the sound meters are promising in the abstract. The question will be how they work in reality. There are already ways to regulate vehicle traffic noise, but it seems every fifth truck runs illegal pipes-There is no meaningful enforcement. I am also concerned that sound measured while a machine is stationary won't match up the noise it makes in operation. My personal measurement will be how much quieter the snowmobiles are a mile or two away when I am on a cross country ski trail.

I appreciate that many ATVer's want things quiet, too. But I wonder how many would actually confront violaters (It doesn't seem snowmobilers are confronting each other about noise)

Lets keep the conversation going.

National Forests restrict off-road trails

This headline is not as promising as it looks. It may mean that the government will enforce limits on All Terrain Vehicle use where it has never done so before. But if you read carefully, it may mean that the government will "legitimize" many trails that have already been made by renegade off-roaders. The problem here as elsewhere will be one of enforcement. Where will the money come to provide the enforcement needed?

From Sue Drum: The NRB Meeting, Oct 26th

Hi everyone,

This is a brief synopsis of the Natural Resource board meeting in Tomahawk at Treehaven, Oct. 26, 2005.

When the agenda came to the approval of the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest Master Plan, 17 people had signed-up ahead of time to speak. Each was given 4 minutes. Six spoke against ATV authorization ( Sue Drum, Mark Haag, Don Erickson, June Schmaal, Jerry Woolpy, and Norm Poulton); four spoke in favor of ATV trails ( Randy Hardin- WATVA, Bill Schuman- Blue Ribbon Coalition, Sulo Wainio- Alliance of Vilas County ATV Clubs
with 500 members, and President of Northwoods ATV Club from Boulder Junction); Four spoke for expansion of public land as a wall against development and forest fragmentation; one man wanted more bike trails because biking was good for our health; one man wanted a larger timber harvest because mills were closing; one man wanted to protect feral cats and pigs???

Dennis Leath and Tim Mulhern talked about the features in the 15 year plan. They made it clear that they would choose the members of the stakeholders group to consider ATV trails.

A board member asked how they could come back in 18 months with recommendations for ATV trails if they hadn't been able to find a suitable site in 9 years.
Dennis said he wanted to get all other parts of the Master Plan approved while he conducted stakeholder meetings on ATV trails. The 18 months is sort of a space holder for ATVs. The time limit for ATV consideration is flexible, and 18 months is only one goal. Does this sound like the door is never completely closed to ATVs?

The Board asked Dennis if they could refuse to consider ATVs at all. Dennis said that ATVs were so popular they should revisit the issue. Also state law instructs the DNR to encourage and support ATV trails. Despite opposition from Vilas County, Dennis said they would not rule out siting a trial in Vilas.

Randy Harden was oozing with cooperation. He liked stakeholders groups; he liked to work with everyone. He touted the Ice Age Trail "Memo of Understanding" as a step forward. He mentioned he was on the Governor's State Trails Council and was always in favor of sustainable trails.

The lady board member asked why we should produce more ATV trails for more people to violate. Randy's answer was unclear but he mentioned that more trails would disperse ATV numbers which would lead to less damage. (who's he kidding)

The lady board member said deer poaching was essentially stopped when poachers were fined $2000 and their rifles confiscated. She favored fining rogue ATV riders $2000 and confiscation their vehicle. Randy had no comment.

A gentleman who was a director on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands spoke in support of the forest expansion, emphasizing again that the NRB must act quickly before the few remaining large blocks of land were sold to developers. It is necessary to link the NH-AL to the Ottowas Nat. Forest in the U.P. to provide a corridor for wildlife and preserve the diverse ecosystems of the northwoods.

A board member asked the speaker to describe his feelings toward ATVs on BCPL forest lands. With "off the cuff" sincerity and obvious experience, he delivered some very stong statements. He said he would proceed very cautiously with ATV trails as they had experienced serious problems with ATVs on BCPL lands. He said riders were difficult to control and enforcement was hampered by the inability to ID machine and rider. He suggested large license plate numbers that could be read from both front and back.

The NRB quickly voted to accept the NH-AL State Forest 15 year Master Plan as presented. The Plan goes to the legislature for final approval.

The next step will be a stakeholders group that will search for a suitable site for an ATV trail, applying the new DNR guidelines for siting, building and maintenance. Of course I have asked Dennis to include me.


Sue Drum
11384 CTH B
Presque Isle, 54557
715-686-2655
drumsa@centurytel.net

Do we really want to drive anymore?

My wife and I were passed a few weeks ago by an Audi sports car doing at least 80. The driver was reading an article and marking it up with a hilighter. So I ask you: If driving an Audi sports car at 80 miles an hour isn't exciting enough to keep our attention, isn't it time we just stopped driving?

We are probably close to the point where we will have cars that can drive themselves. The cruise control on my cousin's minivan slows down when it approaches another car. The GPS guidance system on my Prius tells me when I have missed a turn ("make a legal U-turn in one mile", it says, without a hint of exasperation). At some point in the near future, cars will do a safer job of driving than we will.

From the human side, think of how much better off we would be if our cars drove themselves. Of course, you are perfectly capable of driving, finding a compact disc, talking to your friend on the phone, and eating a chicken wing when you drive. But what about those other people? Wouldn't you feel safer if their car was computer controlled? And wouldn't it be better if you could watch a video or catch up on a novel while you commuted home?

The main impediment to self-guided cars won't be technological, it will be emotional. Watch any television commercial to see what I mean. Cars are freedom, sex, competition. Of course, all of this is a myth and driving is ordinarily a misery of road construction, poorly timed traffic lights, and idiots in other cars who won't use their turn signals. Not to mention global warming and foreign wars.

Soon we will have to ask: How many lives each year are to be sacrificed for this illusion? Wouldn't it be better to start giving it up?

I think the first well funded lobbying organization to get on board with my driverless cars campaign will be the Wisconsin Tavern League. Think about it-bars have been hit hard by crackdowns on drunk driving. Wouldn't it be great if you could have that second brandy old fashioned with your perch fry-and hell, even another on the way home-and the only danger would be that you would punch in the wrong destination and end up in Waukegan instead of Waupaca?

Here is a less drastic proposal that noone will like, but that would immediately save lives, money, and fossil fuel. Lets install every car with a device that detects the speed limit on any road by remote sensor. If you passed the speed limit given off by a signal placed in the road, the same annoying sound (but louder) would go off that goes off when you don't fasten your seat belt. The benefits would be safer neighborhoods for kids who have to cross streets, lower insurance rates due to decreased accidents, more effective use of police resources (they wouldn't have to spend time waiting to catch speeders), and an overall savings of fuel, "reducing our dependence on foreign oil". Has anyone figured out the number of barrels of oil each day we spend just so that we can break the law?

The cost of making cars "speeding proof" would easily be offset by the gains I describe. I have never read about such a device, but I am sure someone has thought of it. Why don't we have them? Because its hard to give up on an illusion....

The cost of the Seaway.....

A great series of articles on the damage to the Great Lakes from invasive species coming in from ship ballast. I knew it was a problem, but I didn't know how little we actually benefitted from the shipping compared to the price we pay in terms of environmental damage. You may need to register with the J-S, but it is free...

Pat Durkin debunks another deeply held Wisconsin belief

So the DNR wasn't behind the dread Asian beetle invasion!

Shhh: Why Wisconsin Needs a Quiet Zone

Here again is the link for the Eric Ness article I encouraged people to read when I spoke at the Natural Resources Board meeting. It seems to always disappear from my site somehow.

I put a simple "hit counter" in at the bottom of this blog last week. Glad to know some folks are out there! Please feel free to let me know what you think.

Treehaven

The DNR Board meeting was at Treehaven, near Tomahawk. It is a beautiful place, though I didn't have time to walk the trails. It looks well worth a return visit. I linked to their site, they have a lot of interesting programs.

Don't you enjoy the feeling of being in a wooded place that you have never been before?

It passed!

The new DNR board passed the NHAL Forest Master Plan. Congratulations to Dennis Leith and his staff for the great job they did on the plan!

The ATV loop trail is out, no new trail is in, but there is a committee with an 18 month mandate to investigate a possible trail. Fortunately, some silent sports allies will be on the committee. It was the best we could have expected given the strong-arm from the legislature.

Even more importantly, the committee approved expansion of the forest above highway B to the Ottowa National Forest in Michigan.

Most of the public comment was opposed to the idea of an ATV trail.

I learned quite a bit from listening to the pro-ATV speakers. First of all, nearly all of them talked about wanting a "trail system". They did not support the loop trail. It was interesting that one of the speakers dismissed the Vilas County referendum, saying people were "confused" by wording that led them to believe there would be trails all over the county. On the other hand, at another point he said pretty clearly that he wanted a trail system.

But here is an interesting point he made-he said his side was ready to compromise, but our side wasn't. A fair point, perhaps. So, I am asking myself, under what circumstances WOULD I accept an ATV trail in the NHAL forest? What do you think? I will post some ideas in the next few days.

Time for a Pic...

Me and my canoe at the start of the Manitowish River above High Lake, very early in the summer. Note the poor paddling technique. I am feeling a little wistful at the moment-another summer gone!

quiet as a resource...

I am preparing what to say when I speak at the Natural Resources Board Meeting on Wednesday. Like the villain in a bad horror movie, the ATV trail proposal seems very hard to kill. Here are some of my random thoughts:

I think the "loop trail" idea was-and still is- the "Harriet Miers" of trail proposals, unwanted by friend and foe of ATV's alike. ATV people want a connecting trail-(I am still trying to figure out where it is.)-and are hoping to make a last minute home run swing here.

I suspect other speakers will focus on trail and environmental damage, so I am just going to focus on the issue of quiet.

FOr a moment, lets pretend that ATV groups are correct-that there is incredible need and pressure for more trails based on increased numbers, and a connecting trail or a loop trail is needed to take up that pressure. (I don't believe it, by the way) If that were true, we could say for certain that an ATV trail would significantly diminish recreation for a large swath of the forest.

Without significant public support and input, no new recreation should displace or significantly disrupt existing recreational activities. What evidence do we have for what the public thinks? We have one referendum in Presque Isle, One in Vilas County, and a huge public response to the ATV issue in the Master Plan. It is clear the public doesn't want ATV's in the NHAL forest.

The reason for this is clear, but we have never looked at it straight on: Quiet is not an ancillary, secondary benefit of the Northwoods. It is, for many people, the main resource.


Most of us want, and need, that window of quiet to pass by, when we stop in our tracks, stop thinking so much about problems, and just listen to the wind, listen to the wood thrush give a holy depth to the forest, listen to the fire hiss and crack. We need a place to be outside of a world of machinery. We want to feel that magical feeling that occurs when we go to bed with the windows open, and hear the forest creeping. We want to hear the monkey like calls of woodpeckers and the sounds of waves lapping on a boat, We want to shush each other as we shushing each try to figure out what those strange whistles are down by the river, (they are otters, by the way)

Sound is not just an ancillary tangiential benefit. It is part of the main reason people come.

Dennis McCann in the Journal-Sentinel-Score one for crickets and frogs

I missed this September 27th column, but its a good one. In it, Dennis celebrates the decision to remove the loop trail from the Master Plan. Salient facts I hadn't known: 70 percent of the feedback on the Master plan was on the ATV trail, and that 2/3rds of that feedback opposed the trail. Kudos again to NHAL Superintendent Dennis Leith for his openness.

Unfortunately, ATV groups may want to take one more swing at the DNR board to short circuit the long, open process of evaluating a possible trail.

Wildlife report

Late fall in Northern Wisconsin-

We saw three fishers (we think that is what they were) across the lake, moving down to the water. They were "gyring and gimboling" down to the wabe, I mean, water. Of course, no camera or binoculars. They moved quickly. could they have been something else? We saw them across the lake. They were jet black, too dark to be otters.

The single loon is still hanging out on the lake.

From Brook Waalen

TO: MN-WI ATV Summit Attendees
FROM: Brook Waalen
RE: Wisconsin Coalition
DATE: October 14, 2005
The October meeting is postponed – too many conflicts with schedules. In the
meantime please consider the following proposal. (Please “reply to all” when providing
feedback.)
1) WHAT: Comprehensively challenge irresponsible ATV legislation and plans for
increased access for ATVs on public land and trails.
2) WHY: Widespread damage/vandalism by ATVs on public land and trails.
3) HOW: Organize a coalition of recreational clubs (such as running clubs and ski
clubs), environmental organizations, grassroots organizations, governments
(such as the NPS and LGUs), and applicable professional organizations under
one umbrella named the “Wisconsin Public Land & Trails Council.”
a. In broad terms the umbrella organization would speak on behalf of the
member-organizations regarding the use of public lands and trails and
other specific issues.
b. The umbrella organization would be organized as a 501(c)(3) in order to
fundraise (or work in conjunction with an established organization).
c. The umbrella organization would influence, communicate, organize,
network, beg for funds, educate, and litigate.
d. Member-organizations would sign onto the umbrella organization’s guiding
principles which would focus on protecting natural resources and
promoting truly sustainable trail systems (to be defined) and recreational
opportunities.
e. Member-organizations would have to prove their commitment to the
guiding principles or be denied membership.
4) WHO: A core group would have to donate some time and expertise to begin.
5) WHEN: The sooner the better.
6) WHERE: Eventually housing this umbrella organization near Madison makes the
most sense.
End.

Pat Durkin article link: Face it: Trespassing Disputes Inevitable

Here is a link to the article I mentioned last week. I enjoy reading Pat Durkin's thoughtful columns on hunting issues. He frequently writes about dilemmas that occur when different "user groups" collide in forest land. This article in particular expresses feelings that a silent sports enthusiast will relate to.

Date for Wisconsin Summit Meeting....

Still not sure we have a date for the Wisconsin meeting proposed by Brook Waalen (see October 6th post). Any suggestions?

Primary thought I had while running the Chicago Marathon- "Never...again... never...again...never...again... " Primary thought after finishing the marathon "How can I run the next one faster?"

I read a meloncholy article by Patrick Durkin in today's Green Bay Press-Gazette on the issue of trespassing for hunters. I will link to it when I see it online. Durkin reflects that new land uses (farmers selling land, private development, closed hunting areas, etc.)are cutting off access for hunting, and taking away some of the land (and sense of freedom) that hunters had. His main point is that everyone needs to keep a cool head, but one doesn't need to be a hunter to identify with his feeling of loss.

Joel Patenaude in Post-Crescent: Hiking, ATV pact Danger for Trails

What we can learn from The Outdoor Life Network

Last night I was on the treadmill keeping ready for the Chicago Marathon-I am in the "gasping and wheezing duffers" category. While channel surfing, I came across the outdoor life network, and it was showing a Hockey game. I am not an expert, but do they play professional hockey outdoors? Is there not enough content out there about the outdoors to put on the network? Or is none of it more interesting than watching...professional hockey? Then it occured to me-are silent sports boring? I don't mean boring to do (although the relationship between boredom and silent sports is certainly interesting) but boring to watch? And is this a marketing challenge for us as we try to gain a constituency for our sports?

Meeting Summary-ATV summit

Quietnorth Note: I am going to try to figure out a way in the next week or so to make a link and an archive to longer documents-until then I think it is important that this information get out.


Minnesota-Wisconsin ATV Summit - Meeting summary

September 22, 2005

10:00am – 2:00pm

Tower Ridge Cabin, Eau Claire, Wisconsin

�

Minnesota Contact: Matthew Norton, MN Center for Environmental Advocacy, 651-223-5969

Wisconsin Contact: Brook Waalen, Friends of the L-O-G Greenway, 715-472-2922

Attendees

(in random order)

Ron Bergin, Wisconsin Nordic Network and other silent sport organizations
Alan Drum, Northwoods Citizens for Responsible Stewardship (WI)
Sue Drum, Northwoods Citizens for Responsible Stewardship (WI)
Matthew Norton, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
Sean Wherley, Friends of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Dennis Deery, Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters
Edward Moersfelder, Friends of the LOG Greenway (WI)
Glenn Stoddard, Attorney at Law in private pracitce (WI)
John Staszcuk, Wisconsin County Forest Association
Kevin Proescholdt, Izaak Walton League of America
Brook Waalen, Friends of the LOG Greenway (WI)
Marjorie Ward, Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
Richard Smith, Ice Age Park & Trail Foundation
Don Erickson, Ice Age Park & Trial Foundation
Gwen Myers, League of Women Voters (MN)
Dale Crisler, Ice Age Park & Trail Foundation
John McKenna, Pineland Community (WI)
Joel Patenaude, Silent Sports Magazine
Bill Mertens, Pineland Community (WI)
Jerry Greenberg, Wilderness Society
Jane Tapper, Wisconsin Walks
Don Smith, Sierra Club
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Introduction and Background

This Summit was conceived and organized jointly by Matthew Norton of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and Brook Waalen of the Friends of the LOG Greenway primarily in response to the widespread environmental damage caused by ATVs in Minnesota and Wisconsin but also in response to Minnesota’s 2005 legislative outcome that opened 74% of Minnesota State Forest Land to ATVs.

ATV-caused damage and vandalism is evident not only on designated trail surfaces but also on adjacent trail corridors; in environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands; on private property and other posted lands; and in road right-of-ways. Both the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MnDNR) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WiDNR) are responsible for developing ATV trails as well as enforcing ATV laws, however, both departments allow the damage and vandalism to accumulate faster than any repair. The threat to habitat, water quality, and rare and endangered species is widespread and obvious.

The ATV lobby continues to maintain that the root cause of this damage and vandalism is the lack of opportunities to ride legally despite the fact that ATVs have access to 11,000 miles of trails in Minnesota1 and 5,555 miles of state-funded trails in Wisconsin2. Nevertheless, the ATV lobby continues to press both States’ Legislatures for more trails and expanded access to public land. This strategy is economically beneficial to the ATV industry because this way the public funds the ATV trail infrastructure either by ceding lands to these vehicles or by suffering damage to public property, which is in effect a subsidy. Two other notable claims by the ATV lobby are as follows:

Claim 1: Only a tiny fraction of ATVers cause damage or break the law.

Counterclaim 1a: It doesn’t matter how many rouge ATVers are causing the damage, the damage is still occurring – primarily on public land.

Counterclaim 1b: If only a tiny fraction of ATVers are the problem then strict penalties (jail, fines, confiscation, etc.) should be embraced by the ATV lobby instead of rejected as an overreaction.

Counterclaim 1c: If this is the case a small number ATVers is causing unprecedented damage to public land.

Counterclaim 1d: The percentage of “renegade” ATVers has been estimated at 3-10 percent3.




Claim 2: This is just like the snowmobile issue in the 1970’s when snowmobilers didn’t have enough trails.

Counterclaim 2a: Snowmobilers built a trail infrastructure primarily on private property. It should be noted that almost all private property owners who allow snowmobile trails on their land will permit an ATV trail on their land. Furthermore, snowmobile clubs do not allow ATVs on their trail systems in either the summer or the winter.

Counterclaim 2b: During the winter people have their windows closed and spend more time inside. ATVers want summer trails more so than winter trails and it’s the summertime when windows are open and the public is subject to dust, noise, danger and other disturbances.

Counterclaim 3b: The rural residential population in Minnesota and Wisconsin has exploded since the 1970’s resulting in more opportunities for conflicts between ATVs and residents.

Counterclaim 4b: During the winter the ground is typically frozen and covered with snow thereby protecting soil, water resources, and wildlife habitat from erosion and disturbance.

Other issues like the lack of enforcement; damage to non-motorized trails; the safety of other trail users; the actual number of ATVs used on recreation trails; and the attitude of the MnDNR and WiDNR that flagrant damage to natural resources is acceptable if inflicted by an ATV are other issues that need to be addressed. Those that gathered for this Summit understand that the ATV lobby has based their agenda on illogical claims and a certain degree of deceit which must be balanced in public forums; in the media; at local government; at the Legislature; and in the courts. To that end the Summit participants agreed that a formal coalition made up of a variety of organizations is necessary to balance the rhetoric coming from the ATV lobby in order to protect natural resources and certain quality of life issues.

Meeting Notes

During Minnesota’s 2004 legislative session ATVers gained almost unlimited access to 74 percent of the Minnesota’s forest land. All State forests north of Highway 2 were open to ATVs. All trails not posted closed were considered open. The Legislature was sufficiently vague in their actions that it is possible for all new, unapproved and undesignated trails to eventually become legal trails because -- due to resource constraints -- the MnDNR is unable to identify and post these as closed. Furthermore, signage tends to disappear in the forest.

This blow came two years after the MnDNR surveyed all State forests in an effort to identify lands that would be appropriate for ATVs as well as those that would require protection from these machines. Despite this effort the Legislature made their decision based on pressure from the ATV lobby thereby ignoring science, public sentiment, and the painfully obvious. Reportedly 70-80 percent of Minnesotan are opposed to uncontrolled ATV use on trails; nevertheless, and for some unknown reason the concerns of the greater population do not have as much traction at the Capital as those of the ATV lobby.

Conversely, in Wisconsin a grassroots organization, Northwoods Citizens for Responsible Stewardship (NCRS), has led two successful campaigns against expanded ATV trail opportunities in Vilas County. Most recently NCRS removed a provision for an experimental ATV loop from the Northern Highland – American Legion State Forest (NH-AL State Forest). Much of their success is attributed to a strong grassroots campaign that kept the issue alive in local newspapers and pubic meeting filled to capacity.

Also in Wisconsin another grassroots organization, Friends of the Lincoln-Osceola-Garfield Greenway (LOG), sued the WiDNR in an effort to keep ATVs off of an abandoned railroad corridor that is slated for a public trail. The legal petition basically forced the State to recognize that it must conduct an environmental review on any State Property that is undergoing a planning process. LOG is hopeful that the resulting environmental review will show definitively that ATVs are environmentally and economically unsustainable on this 15-mile trail.

Conclusions and Strategies

Minnesota has an active coalition of nonprofit organizations and grassroots organizations that have pooled resources in order to challenge irresponsible ATV legislation. Despite this coordinated effort the ATV lobby made considerable strides in that state in 2004. Wisconsin has no such coalition but the ATV lobby in that state has not pushed quite as hard in Madison for sweeping legislation…yet. Wisconsin is ill-prepared to respond to a well financed thrust by the ATV lobby to influence their State lawmakers and should work to replicate the Minnesota model despite their recent spanking.

The Wisconsin case studies offered above and other examples from both states indicate that a dedicated group of individuals armed with the necessary resources can thwart the expansion of ATV trails on public lands. However, this approach is resource intensive and isolated groups don’t typically have the experience to challenge the ATV lobby. Banking on grassroots efforts to pop up wherever ATVers are looking to ride on public lands is shaky at best and will prove immaterial if State laws mandate expansion of the ATV trail infrastructure.

The only way to beat the ATV lobby and protect public land from the ravages of ATVs (and other off-highway vehicles) is to cultivate a comprehensive approach to the issue:

Organize and support local grassroots efforts where ATV trails are proposed.
Challenge DNR staff and administrators to prove they have the legal/statutory authority to develop any and all ATV trails.
Document ATV damage and vandalism with photographs, by marking locations on maps, and by notifying local authorities.
Talk to local and State elected officials and staff about this issue in a comprehensive manner.
Organize sympathetic individuals and groups to write op-eds and letters-to-the-editor in order to keep the public thinking about this issue.
Cultivate a relationship with local papers and let them know about ATV damage/vandalism. Also let them know when more responsible recreation activities (such as a bird hike) are taking place.
Litigate when appropriate and necessary.
Stay connected with other organizations and individuals. Let people all over the state know what you are doing and when you need help.
Enlist the help of retired DNR staffers, legislators, and others with connections and power to help us protect natural resources.
Keep your network broad and you will be surprised who your allies are – most people do not like what they see when it comes to ATVs on public land.
Do your homework. Read reports and plans thoroughly. Ask questions of ATV representatives, decision-makers, and agency staff.
Our values are those embraced by almost everyone so don’t be afraid to let people know what matters to you: preservation wild areas; protection of natural resources; sustainability; quality of life; etc.
The goal is not to eliminate ATVs from the landscape. They are powerful and useful machines that may even be a legitimate form of recreation on public lands if facilities are properly sighted, designed, and constructed. It is clear that these machines and the people who ride them have caused outrageous damage to public resources all in the name of selfish fun and immediate gratification. This is no way to treat our neighbors, our natural resources, or future generations.

This Meeting Summary is respectfully submitted by Brook Waalen on October 4, 2005. Brook would like to thank everyone who participated in the Summit whether they were able to attend or not. The Summit has resulted in better communication between many individuals and organizations who are concerned about this topic…

…but there is much work yet to be done.

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1 Author unknown. Pioneer Press (newspaper). Article unknown but appeared on front page. August 25, 2005. Saint Paul, Minnesota.

2 Wisconsin Department of Tourism (in conjunction with the Wisconsin ATV Association). March 2004. Economic & Demographic Profile of Wisconsin;s ATV Users: Results of an economic survey conducted between June and October 2003. Madison, Wisconsin.

3 Miller, Timothy. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. September 17, 2005. Wausau, WI.

From Brook Waalen

MN-WI ATV Summit Attendees:

It’s time to set a date, time, and place for the Wisconsin contingent to organize a coalition much like what exists in Minnesota. Allow me to SUGGEST the following:

Place: Wausau

Date: Pick a day between October 22 and October 30 – weekend or weekday.

Time: I’d like to hear your suggestions.

Duration: 4-8 hours

Place: Someplace free.

The theme of the day will be “Organize.” Agenda items may include - but are not limited to - the following:

Identify all potential member-participants.

Develop a contact list and method(s) of communication.

Develop guiding principles or a mission statement or other such foundation.

Identify and adopt one or more key strategies (such as: support grassroots efforts; public education; influence the legislature; promote effective legislation; litigation; etc…).

Assign individuals or working groups to each key strategy that the group adopts.

Identify available resources.

Identify other needed resources and potential sources.

Come up with a name for this coalition.

It would be nice to leave this meeting with a clear sense of what we are capable of doing and how we’re going to do it. Feel free to reply with any concerns or suggestions.

Brook Waalen

715-472-2922

Natural Resources Board Meeting October 26th:From Sue Drum

Hi Everyone,

I talked to Amy Lemberger, Executive Assistant for the Natural Resources Board, and she said the board will meet Wednesday, October 26th in Tomahawk at Treehaven. This is the meeting where the final master plan for the NH-AL State Forest is on the agenda.
There will be no public forum Oct. 25th. Instead please send written comments to Amy Lemberger using her e-mail address:
amy.lemberger@dnr.state.wi.us She will take written comments upto Oct. 21st and give them to the board.
Next week, about Oct. 12th, the agenda (with times) will be posted on the N.R. Board website: www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/nrboard/
Click on agenda.
The final master plan and environmental impact statement are available on the DNR website: www.dnr.state.wi.us
As you know, since Wisconsin State Statues still mandate that the DNR encourage and support an ATV trail system, the NH-AL planners are obligated to continue to look for suitable sites for ATV trails. Our protests have bought time. Now, where-ever the issue is discussed, those who fought the ATV trail must appear alongside ATV advocates to remind everyone that the NH-AL is too rare and priceless a resource to allow any unsustainable use.
Please take time to write, and encourage friends to write, the Natural Resource Board before Oct. 21st. Please be lavish in your praise for Dennis Leith and the DNR planning committee who listened to you plea and removed the ATV loop trail.
The final Master Plan for the NH-AL State Forest, offers 12 sustainable proposals that support forestry jobs and products for many generations, provide habitat critical to the survival of northwoods plants and animals, increase camping and wilderness experiences for those who value the peace and beauty of the forest, and creates more trails for silent sports enthusiasts.

Environmental activists tell me you don't get far being strident and totally against ATVs. So Northwoods Citizens For Responsible Stewardship (NCRS) is not against ATV recreation. There is a place for ATVs but not in our state forests and parks.
NCRS is for the environment. For sustaining habitats necessary for healthy ecosystems that give us clean air, clean water and a rare quality of life for residents and tourists. We are for using public lands as a wall against over-development. We prize the northwoods as the northwoods - a place where people can de-stress in peace and solitude and our children can experience the wonders of nature.

It is always good to close with a quote from John Bates. "Use of public lands must be restricted to those who have demonstrated stewardship over time, something the ATV community has, without hyperbole, utterly failed to do. There's no constitutional right to utilize public lands when the user will clearly have a significant negative impact."

Please, once again, write a letter! The ATV advocates will.

Sue Drum
715-686-2655
drumsa@centurytel.net

New Link for Erik Ness article..."Why Wisconsin Needs a Quiet Zone

On quietnorth's recommended reading list...

Some thoughts about the stakeholder's meeting....

-I want to focus on two arguments presented at the stakeholder's meetings concerning expanding ATV use into the NHAL forest:

First of all, one argument seems to be solely about money. ATV users ante up a lot of money through their fees, therefore, they should have rights (over and above other user's rights, and the rights of residents in Vilas County). I argue that silent sports users need to have an equivalent user fee. Like the scarecrow's brain, the cowardly lion's nerve, and the tin man's heart, the silence in silent sports won't ever really "exist" as far as the state is concerned without a user's fee.

Second point: ATV users argue that they need more trails than they have (between 5000 and 9000 miles!) to accomodate increasing numbers. But the total number of miles added by a simple connecting link trail in the NHAL forest would be negligible. Either ATV clubs have in mind a much more expansive series of trails in the forest, or their argument falls. One connecting trail isn't going to do much to lessen the "pressure" they describe.

Third point: I think we need to try to be several steps ahead here. There are only a certain number of possible "linking points", a certain number of areas that aren't obviously wetlands or lakes that would provide a corridor for an ATV trail. I think we should draw up possible maps. Are there two or three points that would almost HAVE to be the areas an ATV trail would go through to get from trail to trail?

Stakeholder's meeting: from Sue Drum...

Hi everyone,

Alan and I attended a DNR stakeholders meeting, Saturday, Sept 17 in Wausau and represented Northwoods Citizens for Responsible Stewardship. There were about 22 participants, 8 of which represented silent sports and the environment. Of course Randy Hardin, Wisconsin ATV Asso., was there and several advocates for OHV recreation which includes 4-wheel drive trucks, cars and motorcycles.

Tim Miller officiated the meeting and did a good job keeping focus on important topics. Tim gave us the new ATV manual code that provides specific criteria for designing ATV trails on Department land. The code covers trail siting, maintainence and detailed trail design. Each ATV trail request must have public input and evaluation of impacts on the natural resource. These criteria apply only to state lands, not county or national forests. They also apply whenever DNR funds are used.

The DNR can not ignore the demands of ATV groups for several reasons.
1. State statues mandate that the DNR "encourage and support" a system of ATV trails. Randy Hardin, you can be sure, gets together with state legislatures, like Mark Pettis, to promote ATV desires without any input from silent sport or environmental groups.
2. The DNR collects ATV registration fees (currently $30/2 yrs. for public use and $15 as a one time payment for agricultural and private land use.
3. A portion of the state gasoline excise tax also goes to the DNR for ATV use. The amount is based on a formula that allots 25 gallons of gas per year per registered ATV. Randy Hardin wants the gas allotment raised to $65 - $75/yr./ATV.

The DNR then distributes ATV dollars to counties and municiplaities as grants for trail building and maintainance.

ATV people claim that their numbers are growing rapidly. 1985 = 27,000 registered ATVs with 1200 miles of trail.
2004 = over 200,000 registered ATVs with only 1700 miles of trail.
In reality the Wisconsin Dept. of Tourism lists 5,555 miles of state funded trails; 1559 open in summer and 3996 in Winter.
At the meeting, Randy Hardin failed to mention that his Wis. ATV Asso. purchased 10,000 copies of a new digitized map, produced by U.S. Trailmaps of Wausau, showing over 9,000 miles of ATV trails and routes in Wisconsin for summer use.
You can order a copy of the DVD map and become a member of Wis.ATV Asso. for just $56.65 www.ustrailmaps.com

Brook Waalen said that the president and CEO of Polaris, located in Polk County, told him that 2/3 of ATVs sold were used for utility work, not primarily trail riding. With that many trails available and with connections to the U.P., are more trails really needed? Has a study been done to determine if the present 9,000 miles of trails and routes is overcrowded?

Tim Miller channeled discussion to an intensive use area. ATV people would like a 2000 acre intensive use area with campgrounds. When asked if such an area would relieve pressure for more trails in the north they quickly said YES.

Ideas for intensive use area.
1. Pick a site in central or southern Wisconsin near population centers to save gas used in hauling.
2. A large fenced in area would allow better control of off trail riding; make it easier to educate and give safety information to users; make it easier for staff to enforce rules
3. Let ATV users help design the area
4. Fenced area would separate ATVs from snowmobiles and non-motorized users
5. Sizeable user fee could go toward maintainance of area
6. This could ease the need to fragment public lands and disturb natural habitat.

Negative Points: the park would concentrate noise, dust and ATV crowds; It would be difficult to find 2000 acres that people would be willing to sacrifice and live near plus it would be expensive to build.
Perhaps ATV manufacturers, like Polaris and Yamaha, would help fund the sport that they created and work so hard to promote.
I don't trust ATV advocates to stop pushing for more trails. Is there some way we can work a compromise deal? We help them build their park and they help us sustain priceless natural resources.

Mike McFadzen, Representative on the Governor's State Trails Council, feels the state has a responsibility to guide the next generation of forest users. The state should be in favor of fossil fuel conservation, exercise to combat current obesity and health problems and most of all, respect for our natural resources.

One of the wardens present made the comment, "no generation has been granted permission to degrade land for the next generation." It is not a good trade off, he said, to accept tourist dollars for land destruction. That was a good note on which to end.

Sue Drum

From Sue Drum...

Hi everyone,

You deserve a big congratulatory pat on the back! As you have no doubt read in the Sept. 16, 2005, "Lakeland Times" and the Sept. 14, 2005, "Vilas County News Review", your far-reaching, grassroots network, that spoke out against the proposed ATV trail in the NH-AL State Forest, was successful in removing the loop trail from the final draft of the master plan.

The DNR, primarily Dennis Leith, deserves our praise for listening to and acting upon the feelings of the majority. The final Master Plan continues to sustain our forest in a relatively wild and undeveloped state so that the majority of users can still enjoy the peace and beauty of nature.

Wisconisn State Statutes still mandate that the DNR encourage and support an ATV trail system. This obligates NH-AL
planners to continue to look for suitable sites for ATV trails. The final draft of the 15 year Master Plan contains the following language about ATV's: " As a result of an overwhelming number of comments related to ATVs, the plan does not include the experimental ATV loop trail. The plan does allow ATVs on designated trails, however it does not designate a specific location for an ATV trail. A stakeholder group will be established to provide analysis and recommendation to the Department for the appropriate use and designation of an ATV trail. If no suitable areas can be found, no ATV trail will be designated."

We have not yet closed the door on ATV trails in the NH-AL State Forest. Therefore it is very important to again gather in large numbers at the October 26th meeting of the Natural Resources Board in Tomahawk when the final approval of the plan is on the agenda. The detailed agenda for the Oct. 26th meeting is not yet "on line", but they will probably have a listening session (as they did at their Sept. 27-28 meeting) Oct. 25th from about 4:30 - 6:30 P.M. This listening session is open to everyone for public comment. This would be the time and place to show up in large numbers. I have heard that key people with the ATV advocates will be there. I will call Amy Lemberger, N.R. Board executive assistant, this Friday, 9/30 to get details.

There will also be an opportunity to speak during the board meeting on Oct. 26th. You have to sign up ahead of time to speak and I will find out how this is done and let you know.

Please try to activate our very effective network to continue what we started, the protection of a priceless natural resource threatened by an unsustainable form of recreation, ATVs.

Sue Drum
11384 CTH B
Presque Isle, Wi 54457
drumnsa@centurytel.net
715-686-2655

Random Thoughts-preparing for the next round...

-For people who care about quiet, rainy weekends are the best time to be in the northwoods.

-quiet is too often invisible as well...

-How about a user fee on silence? (Seriously-I will write more about this soon...)

-How about a business card that says "Silent Sports enthusiast-I am here for quiet recreation". Silent sports enthusiasts drop it off at every restaurant, gas station, bar, etc., on their excursions...

-How will we demonstrate "use" to the Department of Natural Resources when trail proposals come up? If, for example, a proposal suggests running by a certain lake, how can we document "before the fact" that people already "use" that place for peace and quiet?

-(For Vilas County) how about a "quietest place in the county" contest...people can write in about their favorite quiet places...we can "tally" the results and pinpoint where those quiet places are.

-Perhaps simpler than a contest would be just to interview people...ask them what their quietest place in Vilas County would be...

Any ideas? I am trying to be proactive and not reactive....

Tune in Tuesday to the Ideas Network...

Tune in to Wisconsin Public Radio's Ideas Network stations tomorrow
(Tuesday, Sept. 20) at 11:45 a.m. to hear Larry Meiller interview
Silent
Sports editor Joel Patenaude and Madison Rutabaga paddlesport shop
co-owner Darren Bush. They will discuss fall bicycling and paddling
opportunities among other subjects.

Before them, starting at 11 a.m.. Meiller's guest will be Milwaukee
outdoor writer and (past Silent Sports contributor) Eric Hansen who has
authored books on the best hikes in Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper
Peninsula.

ATV Loop Trail Removed from Master Plan

It is too early to tell if this is a victory or not The loop trail was never well supported among ATV'ers, who can't for the life of them see why they shouldn't have connecting trails. But it does tell us something: An ATV trail in the Northern Highland-American Legion forest is NOT INEVITABLE. Some folks felt like we were fighting a losing battle.
We need to be sure that all discussions of potential trails inside the Department of Natural Resources, town, and county government are transparent and well publicized. The worst thing that could happen now is that we become complacent.

By the way, does anyone know where the proposed connecting trails are?

Squaring policy with plans...

Ideas to present at the meeting-from a letter I received:

I think the drafters of the All-Terrain Vehicle Use on Department Lands Policy should be asked how their policy would be applied in respect to the following specific situations.

The Northern Highland American Legion Forest in Vilas County
The July 2004 conversion of 0.6-mile of the Tuscobia Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail to an ATV trail.
The draft includes the following guideline which seems to apply to NHAL:

1. Are social/economically sustainable --Are accepted and/or substantially supported by affected parties.

How does this square with placing an ATV trail in a county where by referendum the citizens voted against ATV trails on public land? The people's desire for Vilas County to be the quiet county is a legitimate goal. I personally would like to see at least one haven where Wisconsin citizens could excape the cacophony of motorized recreation. There certainly must be a number of state forests where social sustainability is more compatable. The Department's first application of their new policy by placing a trail in Vilas County, strikes me as a in your face retalitory action advanced by ATV proponents.


The draft includes the following provision covering the Ice Age National Scenic Trail:

Using the criteria contained in this document, State Natural Areas, State Parks, Wild Rivers properties, and State Ice Age and North Country Trail Areas will generally not be suitable for ATV use. On these properties, ATV use will only be considered by exception (Secretary sign-off) and will generally be restricted to a select few larger properties where the trail siting criteria can be met. (underscoring supplied)

This is weasle worded provision provides no protection for the Ice Age and North Country Trails, since the Secretary merely has to sign-off on an exception. I imagine the Secretary may have given his approval for giving a portion of the Tuscobia Segment of the Ice Age Trail to ATV users.

Finally, the policy of placing ATV trails should provide some remedy and compensation for a user group that is displaced by ATVs on a property that was previously available to them. In the case of the Tuscobia Segment of the Ice Age Trail, ATV proponents gained valuable infrastructure including a substantial bridge at no cost and no volunteer effort. On the contrary Chapter volunteers will spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of volunteer hours as they attempt to scratch out an alternate route over who knows how many years. Hikers will have to use the paved shoulder on a bridge of a busy state highway for a water crossing where a pedestrian bridge was available.

I hope this will provide additional insight to the folks in attendance at the meeting and representing Sue's viewpoint. This outcome of this meeting could well determine if silent sports enthusiasts, especially in Northern Wisconsin, are destined to become an endangered species.

Bruce's Pic-North of Boulder Junction

Bruce Card's pic-published in Silent Sports magazine this month-North of Boulder Junction. There are a number of albino deer in the area.

From Sue Drum-Very important meeting...

Hi everyone,

I am writing to you because, as you have e-mailed me, most of you have been invited to the DNR Stakeholders meeting, this Saturday, Sept. 17th, at the Best Western Midway Hotel in Wausau. This meeting holds extra importance as the final draft of the master plan for the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest is ready for the Natural Resource Board to approve on October 26 at their Tomahawk meeting.

Kurt Krueger, Editor of "Vilas County News-Review" told me that the ATV loop trail has been eliminated but the plan still authorizes future use of ATV's "on suitable trails". Kurt Krueger got the impression, from talking to Dennis Leith, that this stakeholder meeting, and others like it, will decide where to place this ATV trail, using the departments newly established trail policies and standards.

There will be many ATV people at this meeting, including Randy Harden, who will not be shy about pushing a corridor trail through our state forest to hook up with Oneida and Iron County trails. I hope to see all of you there to represent the intelligent, insightful,
opposition to turning yet another priceless natural resource into a motorized raceway. Silent sport users, by far the majority in numbers, are sadly lacking in money and lobby influence in Madison. The unique environment of Vilas County, public forests that support more lakes and rivers than anywhere else in the world, must be spared the noise and destruction from ATVs.

Linda Netzer told me this was an open meeting so you can bring other silent sport advocates with you. They may not get lunch if unannounced, but they can find food near-by, I'm sure.

Date: Sept. 17, 2005
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Best Western Midway Hotel, 2901 Martin Avenue, Wausau

Sue Drum

From Brook Waalen-Wisconsin-Minnestota-ATV summit

Friends in Wisconsin and Minnesota:

The following invitation is being sent this week as a friendly reminder about the Minnesota-Wisconsin ATV Summit on Thursday, September 22 (10am-2pm) in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Please respond as soon as you can so I can finalize arrangements. So far representation at the Summit will include silent sports clubs and organizations, environmental organizations, professional organizations, grassroots organizers, and long-time community leaders.

YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER TO ATTEND. Deadline is 4:00pm, Wednesday, September 21.

Call or email if you have any questions. –Brook Waalen, 715-472-2922

(Quietnorth note: please see earlier entry from Brook for more details)

Pics

Several Photos taken by Bruce Card in Vilas County...First is sunrise on Oswego Lake, Second is taken from Cathedral Point on Trout Lake.

Silent Sports Magazine Link

I haven't figured out how to make a permanent links feature yet, but here is a link on the Quietnorth required reading list...

From Marcia Kittleson-The Sayner bike trail ribbon cutting ceremony

Just received a message from Marcia Kittleson-President of the Star Lake Chamber of Commerce. The Sayner bike trail will have a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, September 24th. Marcia said that the final blacktopping of the Sayner portion will be completed in the next couple of days. This segment will connect to the Crystal Lake-Boulder Junction trail. You can read about the trail in this month's Silent Sports Magazine.

I will post more information on the ceremony when I get it. Hope to see you there.

Pics from the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage-

As readers of this site know, I have been biking a lot this summer-and consequently I haven't been paddling as much as I would have liked. Here are some pictures I found from last year's solo trip down the last stretch of the Manitowish into the Turtle Flambeau Flowage. I remember waking up all night wondering why I was freezing, later my uncle told me that it had reached down to 32 degrees. SOme "Hot August Night"
What I remember most was all of the bird sounds going on in the flowage all night long-loons, geese, ducks-lots of calls, lots of splashing. Very wonderful and a bit spooky when you are alone.
I hope to get out a bit this fall-these pictures have given me a push.

From Brook Waalen: Ready to Roll?

Friends,

Sorry for yet another email this week but when it rains it pours.

The following article (from Rep. Mark Pettis’ office) ran in this week’s _Inter-County Leader_ (Frederic, Wisconsin) in a slightly modified form. I assume this hit many other papers across Wisconsin too. The article explores the likelihood of opening the Gandy Dancer State Trail in Polk and Burnett Counties to ATVs year-round even though federal Transportation Enhancement (also know as TE or T-21) funds were used for trail development. Remember, federal rules stipulate that if TE funds are used on a trail it must be closed to motorized vehicles (snowmobiles are the one exception).

Joel Patenaude, Editor of _Silent Sports_ magazine is genuinely concerned that this issue will have statewide ramifications. The threat is that the ATV lobby will look for sympathetic governments or staff to simply open non-motorized trails that were developed with TE dollars to year-round ATV use and bet that the Feds will be unable to track such violations or respond with a deterrent.

How to respond: We have the opportunity to share any "hot" ATV topics with http://us.f530.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=Diane.Greisinger@dnr.state.wi.us in an attempt to get that issue on the agenda for the DNR's next ATV policy meeting (Wausau’s Best Western Midway, Sept 17 from 10-3pm...ask me for more details). Joel and I are no Chicken Littles but we do take this threat seriously.

Brook
715-472-2922
I am having trouble with the link function, please go to here,

http://the-leader.net/

You will have to paste it in-then scroll down to article titled "Ready to Roll"

John Bates weighs in on extremist editorials in the Lakeland Times

John Bates is a real treasure for the Lakeland area-his outdoor almanac in the Lakeland Times is what I look for first in the Lakeland Times. River Life: A Natural History of a River is required reading for anyone paddling on the Manitowish. He usually makes his arguments through quiet advocacy in his columns and public presentations, but I was glad to see him respond to the perpetual screeds in the editorial section of the paper.

Great news for Wisconsin-another forest segment protected

The Tenderfoot Reserve-thanks to the Nature Conservancy, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, and especially the Rahr family.

Quietnorth Recommended reading: Kevin McCullough In the Lakeland Times

Wouldn't you know it? I had just sent a letter to the editor of the Lakeland Times castigating the paper for its lack of editorial independence and courage, and before my letter is printed along comes a great editorial by Kevin McCullough. Kevin's piece is brilliant. The Lakeland Times could become a great paper if Kevin and John Bates could alternate editorials each week with Gregg Walker.

From Boulder to Land O' Lakes via "Old B"

This was an "accidental trip" that started out when I was looking for a foot path to the DNR canoe campsites on High Lake. I wrote about these sites previously when I was describing a paddling trip down the Manitowish. During that trip I saw an intriguing path leading north from one of the campsites. I guessed that the path probably hit the East/West snowmobile trail, and resolved to find it one day. And so later in the summer, on a 90 degree day, it seemed like a good idea for a small exploration..
After several missteps, I found the path, took a swim in the clear water, and feeling energized, decided to follow the snowmobile trail that headed east. It was hot, but I had a bottle of water, and was encouraged by the raspberry bushes sprinkled on the way. Before I knew it, I was on Highway B, near enough to the boat landing and the start of "OLD B". You can hardly go wrong exploring any road that starts with the word "Old". Well, maybe you can, but if you have a hybrid or mountain bike, the first 3/4's of "old B" rides like a dream. I thought I would follow it for a little way, but I kept wanting to see what was beyond the next turn. I soon resolved to ride till my water bottle was half empty, then return. The road is canopied most of the way, so I was shielded from the worst of the heat. You will go by bog lakes, deep older forests, and a few cutover areas. The road is sandy, with some gravel, but very packed down. The Eastern third of "old B" is hillier, and you will want to be careful at the bottom of hills. I took the road during a hot, dry summer, I could imagine that the hills could be rutty in rainy weather. I passed Jute and Indian Lake roads on the right, and I tucked the information away for future trips.
I soon came to the point of return, when I told myself I ought to turn back. But I went just a little further, and came to the paved road that rings Forest Lake. From there, I was quickly out to Highway B and a wonderful Oasis called "Miller's Market" Miller's has groceries, sandwiches, pizza, ice cream, air conditioning(!) and I found, on summer Sundays, live music in the afternoon. Miller's is also the West end of the Land O' Lakes bike trail, so I had found the way to make an off highway bike trip from Boulder to Land O' Lakes. I was too tired to make the trip all the way to Land O' Lakes and back, so I headed back to Boulder, leaving the Land O' lakes bike trail segment for another day.

Directions:

Boulder Junction to Land O' Lakes Off County Highways. I recommend from the length and isolation of the trip that you take a partner, and make it a "one way trip". Looks like lots of good places to eat and drink in Land O' Lakes!

Go North of Boulder alongside Highway M. You can follow the snowmobile path, or ride on M, which has a bike lane until you get to the Manitowish River.

Take a right on "High-Fishtrap Road". This is a quiet, non-hilly two lane forest road that starts out as a long straight stretch, then takes a 90 degree turn to the left as Fishtrap dam road (a dirt road) goes straight. I recommend going early in the morning, you may see one of the many albino deer that reside in the area. Soon, you will go past Fishtrap Lake road on the right, and "High-Fishtrap" becomes "High Lake" road. Continuing for a few miles, you will pass Grassy Lake on the left (stop for a minute in the quiet open area around Grassy Lake) and cross over Grassy creek. Soon, you will come to a fork in the road, with Ridge Road going to the right, and High to the left. Continue on High lake road. You will soon go by several bog lakes on the right, including "Minnie lake".

Now, here is the tricky part. Its only a little tricky. You will come up to a short, one block long lane on the left hand side of the road with an unfortunate hill. Hey, its only a block long. Climb the hill, and you will hit a two block long road running perpendicular to you. (sort of hitting the top of a letter"T") Turn along the left hand branch of the T, and look over to your right . You will see a berm (a pile of dirt to prevent vehicles from riding onto a path), and a little way in, the snowmobile trail. Be patient. It is there. Easier to see in spring than summer.

Once you are on the snowmobile trail, go to the right (East) and have a fun ride. Except for the occasional log across the trail, the riding is fine in dry weather. You may have some luck with blueberries and Raspberries along the way.

The trail eventually crosses Highway B. You have the option of following the snowmobile trail, or cheating a bit by turning right and riding on Highway B itself.

Highway B goes past the High Lake/Manitowish River Boat landing on the Right, then you will quickly see High Lake Road (different from the previous High Lake road!) on the right. "Old B" is on the left, just a little way in from High Lake Road.

Follow Old B for quite a while. You will go past a gravel pit, with a "road closed" sign. There was no action in the gravel pit this weekend, I don't know if it might be busy during the week, but it didn't look like a problem if you stayed on the path.

Old B goes past Jute Lake Road on the right, then Indian Lake Road. After it comes out on Forest Lake Road, a paved road, take a left, and you can ride in style to highway B, knowing that well deserved refreshments await you at Miller's. One end of the Land O' Lakes bike trail starts here, so there is a nice parking lot available.

Very Scary! More from Brook Waalen...

Friends,

Like I said in yesterday’s email the Minnesota ATV lobby won a HUGE victory last session. The details are outlined in a comprehensive front page article in today’s _Pioneer Press_ (read at www.twincities.com). Here are some key points:

1) MN DNR has inventoried 1,100 miles of “official” state trails for off road vehicles but more than 11,000 miles of “unofficial” trails.
2) This year 74 percent of Minnesota State Forestland is accessible to ATVers. They can now ride on any trail not posted “closed.”
3) As of August 1, 2005 riders “can go on any visible trail, even if it’s not part of a designated trail system.”
4) 270,000 MN ATV registrations = 5 percent of MN’s population owns ATVs.

ATVers have told us what they want and they obviously have the means to get it.

Brook
715-472-2922

From Brook Waalen; ATV use summit

Friends in Wisconsin and Minnesota:

I’m working with Matthew Norton of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy to organize a one-day summit that will bring together individuals, organizations, and key decision-makers from MN and WI to address the negative impacts of recreational ATV use. The aim of this summit is to:

1) Create a coalition of individuals and organizations committed to bringing the issue of negative impacts of recreational ATV riding, especially on public lands, to the attention of lawmakers.
2) Expand the statewide communication network that can inform and support those dealing with the ATV juggernaut.
3) Share ideas, experiences, and lunch with like-minded people.
4) Take meaningful action.

The ATV issue has the potential to be the spark that rekindles a broad-based interest in reestablishing natural resources management policies that are based on stewardship and sustainability versus exploitation and consumption. If the recent ATV victories at the Minnesota legislature are a sign of things to come we must brace ourselves.

The one-day summit will be held September 22 from 10am-2pm at the Tower Ridge Cabin in Eau Claire, WI. Directions are at the end of the email. Lunch will be ordered when you arrive (plan on deli sandwiches). The estimated cost per attendee will be about $10-15 which will include the cost of your individual lunch and the facility use fee.

To help with planning please:
1) Contact me by email or phone with your availability; and,
2) Forward this email to one or more organizations/individuals who you know have an interest in this subject and include those contacts with your response.

Brook Waalen
715-472-2922

DIRECTIONS:

There is road construction all around Eau Clair but supposedly there is good signage to Tower Ridge. I offer the following directions as a courtesy to our guests but will suggest they get a sense of where they are going before leaving and that they bring a map:

From MPLS/St Paul take I94 to Eau Claire. The simple way is to stay on I94 to Hwy 93 north to Hwy 53 north. Turn right (east) to North Crossing and continue (east) about 7 miles (and onto County Road Q, also known as Olson Drive). Turn right (south) on County Road L (also known as south 82nd Ave). Travel south about 1 mile to Tower Ridge entrance road and the newly constructed facility (as opposed to the smaller, older cabin). Supposedly there are obvious signs all the way from Hwy 53.

A potential shortcut from I94 would be to turn east on Hwy 12 to Hwy 124 to La Salle St. (still heading east) to Peterson Ave. Turn right (south) on Peterson Ave. and left (east) on County Road Q, also known as Olson Drive. From here you will travel about 7 miles to County Road L. (also known as south 82nd Ave). Travel south about 1 mile to Tower Ridge entrance road and the newly constructed facility (as opposed to the smaller, older cabin).
Supposedly there are obvious signs all the way from Hwy 53.

From Duluth take Wisconsin Hwy 53 south to Eau Claire. Turn left (east) onto La Salle St. to Peterson Ave. Turn right (south) on Peterson Ave. and left (east) on County Road Q, also known as Olson Drive. From here you will travel about 7 miles to County Road L. (also known as south 82nd Ave). Travel south about 1 mile to Tower Ridge entrance road and the newly constructed facility (as opposed to the smaller, older cabin).
Supposedly there are obvious signs all the way from Hwy 53.

Quietnorth Recommended Reading: Shhhh! Why Wisconsin needs a quiet zone

I just discovered this article by Eric Ness in the May/June 04 issue of Wisconsin Trails. (By accident-In a Doctor's waiting room-one of those moments of serendipity!)