Just a reminder that our next meeting and last meeting before our ride in 2012 will be on January 7, 2012 at 1PM at the Sands Resort in Cadillac. This is an important meeting and you should all make every effort to attend so you will have the latest information on dates, times and our route that we will be taking. Also if you have not done it yet you need to take time to write your comments to the Huron-Manistee National Forest Department regarding our stand on maintaining all existing snowmobile trails in our great State and not closing any of them (see attachment) it doesn’t matter what state you are from. At the October meeting You were asked to get as many people to sign letters of support as possible including family members, business associates, friends and others. I personally was able to get 566 letters! You have until the end of this week to mail them, fax them or email them and all the information is here on our website, please do your part in protecting a sport that we all have a passion for and an industry that our state cant afford to lose!!! At our October meeting we were able to raise a donation of $1,000.00 for the widow of the late Nate Blaylock who was a tremendous friend and helpful to all MichCanSka members in making available Klim Clothing at a great savings of 40%. Nate left his 25 year old wife and 4 young children when he was killed in a dune buggy accident in August. The letter that was sent to his wife is attached. She wrote back, Dear Bill and MichCanSkans, thank you so much for the generous donation that you gave me and my family. The sweet letter that you wrote touched my heart. Nate knows your hearts and you will all be blessed for your kindness, Love Holly Blaylock.
2012 International 500 snowmobile race (I-500) information
Contact Ron Corbett if you want to ride around the track on race day @ 989-306-0419
2012 MichCanSka Adventure Planning
2012 Expedition
Our ride for 2012 will start once again in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan at Sault Ste. Marie.
MichCanSka will be offering all future rides in segments, making it possible for more snowmobilers
To take advantage of joining us if they can only participate in several days and just part of the ride.
The full ride will be a loop around Lake Superior riding through Michigan to Drummond Island, then
Up into Ontario, going west in to Minnesota, south to Wisconsin then back in to Michigan going east back to Sault Ste. Marie.
An updated (11/29/11) outline of the 2012 trip is as follows:
Day 1 Sun Feb. 12 Sault St Marie
Day 2 Mon Feb. 13 Sault St Marie to Bruce Mines via Drummond 175 miles
Day 3 Tue Feb. 14 Bruce Mines to Chapleau 165 miles
Day 4 Wed Feb. 15 Chapleau to Chapleau via Ernie’s (Missanabie) 165miles
Day 5 Thur Feb. 16 Chapleau to Timmins via Foylet 180 miles
Day 6 Fri Feb. 17 Timmins to Smooth Rock via (Abitibi Canyon) 210 miles
Day 7 Sat Feb. 18 Smooth Rock to Hearst via (Moon beam) 150 miles
Day 8 Sun Feb. 19 Hearst (Lay Over) (local trails only)
Day 9 Mon Feb. 20 Hearst to Longlac 186 miles
Day 10 Tue Feb. 21 Longlac to Beardmore via Nakina 170 miles
Day 11 Wed Feb. 22 Beardmore to Kakabeka Falls 170 miles
Day 12 Thur Feb. 23 Kakabeka Falls to Atikokan 185 miles
Day 13 Fri Feb. 24 Atikoka to Eveleth via (Crane Lake) 180 miles
Day 14 Sat Feb. 25 Eveleth to Brule around Duluth 180 miles
Day 15 Sun Feb. 26 Brule to Silver City 180 miles
Day 16 Mon Feb. 27 Silver City (Lay Over) 100 miles (optional)
Day 17 Tue Feb. 28 Silver City to Calumet 150 miles
Day 18 Wed Feb. 29 Calumet to Ishpeming via Copper Harbor 170 miles
Day 19 Thur March 1 Ishpeming to Grand Maris 150 miles
Day 20 Fri March 2 Grand Maris to Sault St. Marie 118 miles
Total miles: 2,984
If you have any questions or comments, please direct them to:
George Pattullo @ 989-673-6130
Michcanska 2012 Trip Options
Trip 1 20 days including arrival & Departure day 18 days riding
Trip 2 8 days, Sault St. Marie to Hearst via Cochrane, (1st 8 days of trip 1)
Sun Feb 19th back to Sault St. Marie via Snow train
Trip 3 13 days, Sault St. Marie to Hearst (last 13 days of Trip 1)
Sat Feb 18th to Hearst by Snow train on Sat Feb 19th
Trip 4 Mich loop only (6 days)
Sun 26th - Sault St. Marie to Marquette
Mon 27th – Marquette to Silver City
Tues 28th – Silver City to Calumet
Wed 29th – Calumet to Copper Harbor to Ishpeming
Thur 1st – Ishpeming to Grand Maris
Fri 2nd – Grand Maris to Sault St. Marie
Additional Information:
Snotrain 1 800 242 9287
North on Thur, Sat & Mon
South on Fri, Sun & Tues
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Future Adventures
For 2013 we are looking at the possibility of a ride from the state of Maine to Alaska!
For 2014 on the drawing board is the possibility of a three phase ride. Phase 1 will be 1,000 miles in Michigan, phase 2 we will board planes and fly to Sweden and ride for several days, and phase 3 we will ride into Russia to Moscow, this is the year of the winter Olympics in Russia.
If you are interested in any of these events please contact us at Hoxeyvillain@hotmail.com and please feel free to browse our website at michcanska.com We are always ready to welcome new riders that are looking for something other than the Status Quo!
MSA awards Michcanska “Snowmobile Club of the Year”
Bill Manson, Executive Director of MSA stated ” The MichCanSka snowmobile club raised an incredible $10,000.00 this year for Diabetes Research and Awareness through fund raisers such as their annual car show, wild game dinner, benefit dinners and by orgainizing the most exciting snowmobile adventures ever!”
MSA President, Jim Dickie awarding MichCanSka the snowmobile club of the year award at the annual MSA Convention to Bill Bradfield
Paradise, Michigan K-12 school supports Michcanska
The picture with the kids and my snowmocycle was taken on September16, 2011 in front of the K-12 school in Paradise Michigan. They had a penny drive and raised $25.78 for MichCanSka. I gave them a complimentary copy of our video, they all remain strong supporters of our cause.
Help keep our trails in Huron Manistee National Forest
The meister lawsuit is still pending and we have until December of this year to present our thoughts to the forestry regarding protecting hunting and keeping our trails open. There are 3 letters following this memo that can be used in writing your comments and you can also go to the MSA website for more ideas.
October 1st Meeting Recap….
At the October 1 membership meeting we discussed:
- 2012 in Trip details – George Pattullo did a great job in the planning department. Please see post below with additional trip information.
- Also our next meeting is scheduled for January 7, 2012 at the Cadillac Sands Resort at 1PM.
- We ask that all members take out a few moments and respond to the Huron Manistee National Forestry in regard to protecting our existing trail systems. the Meister lawsuit is still pending and we have until December of this year to present our thoughts to the forestry regarding protecting hunting and keeping our trails open.
- Many of our members are still giving presentations for MichCanSka around the State and raising money for Diabetes Research, and you may find the “comments” on our website from supporters very useful for this purpose.
- We passed the hat for Nate Blaylocks family, Nate was killed in an accident in August. Nate was our contact for KLIM Technical Riding Gear, he made it possible for MichCanSka members to receive 40% discounts, he gave MichCanSka 2 complete suites worth $3,000.00 to raffle off and keep the money for our club and he was a great friend to all of us. We raised $1,000.00 for his family and we will be in contact with them. Nate left a 25 year old wife, four children the youngest being 3 months old. He will be missed by all of us.
- If any member has information that they would like to share on our website please contact us at hoxeyvillain@hotmail.com That includes if you have trucks trailers sleds or other equipment you wish to sell or trade.
- MSA super raffle is coming up and tickets are being sold right now. Please help us to sell as many as possible and be sure that MichCanska gets the credit so we can raise money for our club as well. If you need tickets to sell contact us at hoxeyvillain@hotmail.com
Another successful adventure!
Hey MichcanSkans, another successful trip under our belts. Congratulations, not too many snowmobilers would travel almost 2,000 miles in sub-zero temperatures which proves what passionate, true grit riders all of you are. I’m starting to get some feedback from some of the riders including restroom breaks , picture stops, shorter days and people that want to play off trail. Now is the time to send in your thoughts on what we should do to make it a better trip, while your ideas are fresh in your mind. Your board and I need to hear from you as there is always room for improvement.
Last year we encouraged you to send in stories and pictures to us or any and all snowmobile media people so the snowmobile community can hear your individual stories about our exciting and frigid ride. I would suggest MSA, Michigan Snowmobiler, Snowgoer, American Snowmobiler, and also don’t forget your local newspapers. To date we have had over 9,000 website hits, with no idea yet on what we received for donations. Our next board meeting is March 24, 2011 at 4PM in Grand Rapids, so if you have any comments get them in now.
On Thursday and Friday of this week we will have a contingency of congressmen and other officials on tour in the Cadillac area to discuss the court case that is in the sixth circuit court regarding a request to close both snowmobile trails and hunting in the Manistee-Huron National Forests. The cadillac Winter Warriors will lead the group accompanied by MSA, the Northwest Michigan Recreational Snowmobile Council and MichCanSka to oppose this idea. There will be a luncheon on Friday February 25th at the Coyote Crossing just south of 55 on Hoxeyville road. If you can be there to show your oposition to this idea it would be great.
We send our best wishes for a recovery to both Ken Bailey, who is recovering from broken ribs and Dick Woodruff, who suffered frostbite during the Ontario ride and we thank you again Dick for volunteering to drive one of the chase vehicles.
Dream it, Plan it, Do it, we are now in the dream mode for 2012 and soon we need to shift to the planning mode so lets hear from you. There is a group of us that are going to attend the Veterans Ride in which will be held on March 12, 2011 in Seney, if interested let me know.
Safe Trails,
Bill Bradfield
Happy Valentines Day from New Liskeard, Ontario
One year ago today the MichcanSkan riders were on the eve of the biggest ride in the history of snowmobiling, a 4,000 mile Trek from Michigan to Alaska. Fast forward to 2011 and the journey for a cure for diabetes is still in motion. We will leave New Liskerd this morning and travel a little under 200 miles to North Bay Ontario. We wanted to take a moment with some thank yous to some very special people.
First is our guides and team leaders on the trip Garry Randall and George Pattullo for doing an outstanding job of altering our course due to trail closings and also following up with hotel changes to accomadate the group of riders. Secondly a thank you to our Treasurer Betty Randall for filling in and posting pictures and stories on the website everyday. Dick Woodruff who is suffering from some serious frostbite on his fingers and continues to help the group as a designated chase vehicle driver. We welcome Pat and Christy Lipinski as new alpha chics, and Louis Giesken as a new member who is the sweep for group one. We also thank Don Lipinski for doing such a great job as sweep for group two as well as his safety comments at breakfast meetings. Ron corbett who has all the answers for almost anything on the mechanical aspect of a snowmobile and he is always happy to share his knowledge with others. And it is always nice to have the President of the Michigan Snowmobile Association on board, Jim Dickie. Our good freind and hard rider from the Great State of New York, Sandy Bliven. Pete Pattullo our Safety Director who also monitors our daily movements through a command center in Texas with the aid of our satelite transponders. And lets not forget Betty Pattullo, the social butterfly who always has a hug ready for anyone who needs one. And all the guys who organize the evening Euchre entertainment, Dan Wheeler, Duane Kursinsy, Larry wormnest, Dave Green and Steve Crock. Also, a get well wish for member Ken Bailey who is home recovering from an accident.
To all of the many snowmobile clubs, dealers, parts suppliers and all others who have donated to help us find a cure for diabetes a humble thank you. Please continue to send your donations to the experts who are trying to find a cure for diabetes everyday our good freinds from the Diabetes Research Institute and the Alberta Diabetes Institute. Donations can be made on this website.
Bill Bradfield
P.S. To continue to follow our 2011 Adventure (click here)
