andreyboater Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 When I'm looking on OFSC map, I'm thinking, it will be great if trail be connected between Geraldton and Thunder bay. Does anybody have any information regarding how realistic to make that link work. Does OFSC have any plans regarding that? It's looks like only 300km a parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucking Pig Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Easy. Just need 2 groomers, and some volunteers. Would also require some folks to buy permits... That’s the hard part. Not too many folks with the cash to spend on a permit in the small towns. The economy still hasn’t really recovered from the forest industry collapse. Maybe when the mine in Greenstone opens? Most folk that have sleds have gone to either “trapper” style sleds to get to fishing holes, , or deep snow and”cross over” style sleds to do “back country” riding. Not enough interest in trail riding to keep the clubs alive. Actually, by now, most of the route has probably seen enough traffic that an average sled and a slightly better than average rider could probably make it, at least as far as Nipigon. Probably best to trailer it from there, as you start to run into private property issues between there and Thunder Bay. Gas would be an issue, as I don’t think there’s any between Geraldton and Nipigon. BP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Techdenis007 Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 Not to mention that I didn't see any evidence of grooming or packing was done between Mooseland (Hornepayne highway) and Longlac. Not one single track at any of the road crossings. Not looking promising.... .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoso Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 This is never going to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobills Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 Personally a geraldton to marathon route would be amazing. Everyone will have a different opinion but I think it could create a great loop system. Yes it would be a massive undertaking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revrnd Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 4 hours ago, Bucking Pig said: Easy. Just need 2 groomers, and some volunteers. Would also require some folks to buy permits... That’s the hard part. Not too many folks with the cash to spend on a permit in the small towns. The economy still hasn’t really recovered from the forest industry collapse. Maybe when the mine in Greenstone opens? Most folk that have sleds have gone to either “trapper” style sleds to get to fishing holes, , or deep snow and”cross over” style sleds to do “back country” riding. Not enough interest in trail riding to keep the clubs alive. Actually, by now, most of the route has probably seen enough traffic that an average sled and a slightly better than average rider could probably make it, at least as far as Nipigon. Probably best to trailer it from there, as you start to run into private property issues between there and Thunder Bay. Gas would be an issue, as I don’t think there’s any between Geraldton and Nipigon. BP When I did a daytrip in the summer of '16 out of White Lake PP, there WAS gas in Beardmore, & the FN @ Spirit Bay. No sign of gas in Jellicoe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucking Pig Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 1 minute ago, gobills said: Personally a geraldton to marathon route would be amazing. Everyone will have a different opinion but I think it could create a great loop system. Yes it would be a massive undertaking. Agreed. That would be fun. Did the trail from Longlac to Marathon (via Manitouwadge) back in the day. Great run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revrnd Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 2 minutes ago, zoso said: This is never going to happen. On an official basis, true, but I have seen off season pics, & the ATVers are using it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revrnd Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 Just now, Bucking Pig said: Agreed. That would be fun. Did the trail from Longlac to Marathon (via Manitouwadge) back in the day. Great run. X2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucking Pig Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 2 minutes ago, revrnd said: When I did a daytrip in the summer of '16 out of White Lake PP, there WAS gas in Beardmore, & the FN @ Spirit Bay. No sign of gas in Jellicoe. Yes. I forgot about the Rez. The issue would be getting there from the pipeline. Not sure if the gas station in Beardmore is still open. Will check next time I’m that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revrnd Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 1 minute ago, Bucking Pig said: Yes. I forgot about the Rez. The issue would be getting there from the pipeline. Not sure if the gas station in Beardmore is still open. Will check next time I’m that way. Would it not be easier to run the Kinghorn railbed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoso Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 2 minutes ago, gobills said: Personally a geraldton to marathon route would be amazing. Everyone will have a different opinion but I think it could create a great loop system. Yes it would be a massive undertaking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucking Pig Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 1 minute ago, revrnd said: Would it not be easier to run the Kinghorn railbed? Yes. In theory. But CN has placed large concrete barriers at most of the water crossings and a few of the crossings have failed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revrnd Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 We did the 'Greenstone Loop' too. Hearst to Geraldton (stayed there). Rode north and around to Longlac to fuel then off to M'wadge passing by Qwissy's in downtown Caramat. I always remember that name because guys would talk about it on the trailconditions.com message board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revrnd Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 33 minutes ago, Bucking Pig said: Yes. In theory. But CN has placed large concrete barriers at most of the water crossings and a few of the crossings have failed. OK, I was going to ask you if they had placed anything adjacent to the road crossings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoso Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 2 hours ago, revrnd said: We did the 'Greenstone Loop' too. Hearst to Geraldton (stayed there). Rode north and around to Longlac to fuel then off to M'wadge passing by Qwissy's in downtown Caramat. I always remember that name because guys would talk about it on the trailconditions.com message board. It really is too bad those trails up there closed. Our government has zero interest in snowmobile tourism. They think the province has a northern border of hwy 7 and simply ignore the north completely. It might help if people up north stopped electing the NDP. they actually think voting in a rep from a party with zero influence is helping them have a voice. Insanity is a word that comes to mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Voyant Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 Never. Going. To. Happen. Period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuyuna Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 7 hours ago, zoso said: It really is too bad those trails up there closed. Our government has zero interest in snowmobile tourism. They think the province has a northern border of hwy 7 and simply ignore the north completely. It might help if people up north stopped electing the NDP. they actually think voting in a rep from a party with zero influence is helping them have a voice. Insanity is a word that comes to mind. Yes, agreed. Not trying to stir up a hornets' nest, but in my opinion, one who votes NDP is usually one who wants something for nothing and consequently ends up with just nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andreyboater Posted February 1, 2019 Author Share Posted February 1, 2019 I think it's just a matter how many people will be involved in a sport and how OFSC will grow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Pete Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 Had the occasion to meet and speak to the Gov from D-17 at AGM last fall. One of our topics was reconnecting the D-17 network to the rest of the trail network. He has not heard any local interest in making that connection. With some of the weather they have had over the last number of months, it’s all they can do to keep what they have going. And while I bong any personal knowledge, I would suspect that holds true for the rest of the districts/OFSC as well.. and then there is the economics. This has been discussed before and IRRC, it would take a bare minimum of 600 incremental full season permit sales to cover the direct cost of operating the link. I just don’t see that happening. So so little to no volunteer support, poor-bad economics....wishful thinking at best but a non-starter for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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