Neff Zone Column -- December 19, 2009

Back up your data, pictures and music for as little as $3.75 per month. Never lose another file. More information about Carbonite from Jim Neff.

Print Edition: December 19, 2009

PRESERVING THE CADILLAC PATHWAY MAKES ECONOMIC SENSE

It’s no secret that times are tough in Michigan. Making a buck has never been more difficult so when the opportunity to generate dollars for the local Cadillac economy knocks on our door we would be wise to welcome that with open arms.

This brings me to my annual column about the Cadillac Pathway cross country ski trail. Wexford and Missaukee counties have only one (count ‘em – one) consistently groomed cross country ski trail on public land, the Cadillac Pathway. Comparatively, there are hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobile trails open to the public with multiple trailheads and thousands of acres available to snowshoe enthusiasts.

The 11-mile Pathway has been recognized as one of the best in the state and on a typical weekend day the parking lot at the corner of Boon and Seeley roads, a couple of miles east of the expressway, is filled to capacity. This comes at a time when very few public cross country trails are being groomed in Michigan anymore, so having the Pathway at our doorstep is even more valuable.

In order to groom a trail a fairly heavy duty snowmobile that pulls a track setter which creates two grooves in the snow (in which you place your skis) is needed. For this operation, the Cadillac Pathway benefits from an innovative partnership involving the DNR, local volunteers, and the students at the Wexford-Missaukee ISD. The DNR provides technical assistance, a group of local skiers donate time and muscle to do the grooming, the track groomer was fabricated by the welding class at the WMISD, and the snowmobile to pull the tracker is kept in shape by Dave Mackey's small engine class at the WMISD. In the past, the pathway has usually been groomed twice per week and after particularly hefty snowfalls, so keeping the trail ship-shape is no small task.

Due to this arrangement, the Pathway stays groomed and it’s free for all skiers to use. Comparatively, most other groomed trails are at ski resorts that charge for the privilege ($15 at Crystal Mountain or Boyne Mountain).

So how is this an economic benefit to Cadillac? Many of the skiers who visit Cadillac to ski the Pathway are from elsewhere in Michigan and even neighboring states, so the Pathway is a boost to the local economy. According to statistics from the Pure Michigan campaign, for each dollar the state spends promoting winter sports $40.29 in tourist spending plus and another $2.82 in taxes are generated. An MSU study also showed that a typical cross country ski visitor will spend over $50 per day on local purchases.

These are amounts that Cadillac businesses would welcome, I’m sure. It’s critical, then, that every effort should be made to enhance the area’s recreational profile so tourists will choose Cadillac over other destinations. Having the Cadillac Pathway so close to downtown is a really unique setup, one that we all need to treat with care because it’s just smart business.

Visitors are not the only ones who benefit from the Cadillac Pathway. For locals, it’s a spot where they can find a consistent track on which to ski. Now, if you don’t cross country ski you might wonder what all the fuss is about. Why don’t skiers just blaze their own trails? (I might point out that the same might be asked about snowmobilers.) The simple answer is that skiing on a groomed trail provides consistency underfoot, gives skiers of all ages, abilities, and fitness levels a chance for a more positive experience, and skiing on a public trail with others is safer than wandering off into the woods by yourself. It should also be noted that the Pathway is groomed as a cross country ski trail and is absolutely not, as some news articles have reported, a showshoe or dog walking trail. These activities ruin the work of the groomers and make the trail downright dangerous for skiers.

Trailheads are at the Boon Road parking lot, with trail loops of 1, 2.5, and 4 miles, and at the Wexford-Missaukee ISD on the south end with loops of 3 and 5 miles. Between the two looped sections are a pair of connector trails that join the ends into a dandy cross country ski venue.

Even with this wonderful cooperative effort, everyone who enjoys the Pathway can do their part, too. The DNR has posted some "Cross Country Ski Etiquette" suggestions at the trailheads and it would nice if skiers took heed. None of these are laws, as such. It’s your right to have a "me-first" attitude and exhibit selfish and boorish behavior, a virtual slap in the face to every Cadillac business, but if everyone cooperates the pathway will be a better place.

Among the suggestions are:

-Carry out all rubbish. A winter picnic along the trail is great fun, just carry out your trash when you finish.

-If you ski with a dog, break your own trail. Do not ski the groomed track with a dog. Dogs break down the grooves and leave behind unwanted "packages." (I know, your dog is the one canine on the planet that does not hurt the trail.) But, this is a basic act of courtesy on all groomed ski trails, not just the Cadillac Pathway.

-If you must walk on the trail, do so at the side and not in the track. The snow will be packed down by the trail groomer on both sides of the grooves, so pick a side and walk there. Do not snowshoe on or near the trail or pull a sled on the trail.

-If you see motorized vehicles on the trail (snowmobiles or ATV’s), politely remind them that the Pathway is designated as a non-motorized trail and try to direct them to some of the hundreds of miles of trails set aside specifically for their use.

Beyond these, just some random acts of helpfulness are always appreciated: removing a branch that has fallen across the trail, advising tourists where to dine or shop, extending a wave and a "way-to-go" when you see the volunteers at work.

The Cadillac Pathway is such a wonderful community resource it’s to our advantage to make it the best that it can be. If we all pitch in, regardless of how small the gesture, it all adds up to a mission accomplished.

Note: Printable copies of the Cadillac Pathway Trail Map and the Etiquette Guide.

Jim Neff is a local columnist. Comments to: neffzone@gmail.com. Read Neff Zone columns online at www.neffzone.com/cadillacnews.