Deadhead snowmobilers may have cost Sault Trailblazers their main access route from their trail system into the city
In a social media post on Sunday, the group said a landowner has told the club to close its main city link trail because some snowmobilers have gone off the trail onto a private field.
"Thankfully the landowner has agreed to keep it open until the end of the season after we installed additional snow fencing to restrict access," the club said, adding that the lack of respect for property owners adjacent to the trail may have ended future use of the link.
The following is the full text of the Sunday post on the Sault Trailblazers Facebook page:
It seems that some local riders have a difficult time reading and understanding ‘Stay on Trail’ and ‘Private Property’ signage and think that the power line corridors are public right-of-ways.
In addition to creating a nuisance for adjacent residents adjacent to the power line in the Birkshire area, they have entered a private field of one of our landowners who has contacted us to close our main city link trail due to these trespassers.
Thankfully the landowner has agreed to keep it open until the end of the season after we installed additional snow fencing to restrict access.
The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs trail through this area is accessible by permit holders only, and any areas off the trail are private and only accessible by the landowners themselves.
To the group causing grief for the adjacent residences by playing in the area with their aftermarket exhausts at all times of the day and night, we have contacted the city police asking them step up enforcement in this area as this seems to be the only way to address this issue.
Snowmobilers need to be aware that they are trespassing when going off trail and need to respect the adjacent residents who live next to the trail throughout the city link trail, otherwise, we will see an end to the trail access into the city.
In another social media post on Sunday, the club advised that it's getting complaints from residents along Robertson Lake Road about some snowmobilers travelling too fast along the plowed road, making it unsafe for them when accessing their driveways or walking along the road.
"While we are working at trying to get off the plowed road portion up along the snow bank, if you are using the travel portion please maintain a slow speed and be aware and respectful of the adjacent residences," the club said.
"This is the same for any plowed road throughout our trail system including Old Goulais Bay Road, Whitman Dam Road etc."