National Guard helps DNR construct UP multi-use trails

IRON RIVER - On Veterans Day, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources points out the trail-making efforts of the 1432nd Engineer Company of the Michigan Army National Guard.

The unit, based in Kingsford with a detachment in Iron River, has conducted heavy equipment training exercises that have improved state and local multi-use trails in Iron County.

Work has been performed over several segments of roughly 20 miles of the Stateline Off-Road Vehicle route between Iron River and Crystal Falls and about 12 miles of the Iron River-Marenisco ORV route between Watersmeet and Iron River.

"This is a great, mutually beneficial arrangement between the Michigan Army National Guard and the DNR," said Ron Olson, DNR Parks and Recreation Division chief. "We certainly owe a lot to this group of men and women."

In 2007, the Guard reorganized from Company B 107th Engineer Battalion to the 1432nd Engineer Company.

"We became a heavy horizontal engineer company, and we needed a local training area to provide to our soldiers to get them licensed and experienced on the heavy equipment we received," said Sgt. First Class Steven Pietila. "In needing that training area, we looked to have a partnership with the DNR to have this be a successful mission for both the DNR and the company itself."

The unit had been traveling more than 300 miles south to Crawford County to train at Camp Grayling, the largest National Guard training center in the country.

But Guard members said they could get more return on their investment training in the local woodlands, working on trails. The crews get opportunities to work with graders, loaders, dump trucks and other heavy equipment.

"More time on the engineering equipment leads to greater efficiency," said Company Commander Capt. Jeremy Dailey. "Twelve hours of driving to Camp Grayling and back is 12 hours the soldiers don't get to train and improve their skills."

Route segments to be worked on are prioritized by the DNR. Guard members determine which projects best accommodate schedules and available resources.

After planning during the winter, the Guard trains throughout the summer on the trails. This year, improvements occurred over 11 miles of trail and a short connector route.

"The Guard worked on machine grading and gravel surfacing, improving drainage and providing an unobstructed surface for off-road vehicle users," said Master Sgt. Ron Raflik.

Rob Katona, DNR Upper Peninsula recreation trails specialist, said the Iron County Road Commission and local contractor Wiegand Excavating provided gravel and other materials needed, paid for from the DNR's ORV Trail Improvement Fund.

"We are very fortunate to have this opportunity," Katona said. He said it saves ORV trail improvement program dollars and greatly benefits route users by providing a safer riding experience.

Katona said the improvements also help residents living adjacent to the routes by controlling dust through gravel surfacing of sandy trail sections. The hole filling, grading and surfacing help minimize or prevent erosion and trail wash-outs.

"The routes are abandoned railroad grades converted to multi-purpose ORV routes through the Rails-to-Trails program," Katona said. "The routes are state-managed, including the Iron County Recreation Trail, which is owned by Iron County. These trails serve as state-designated ORV routes and snowmobile trails open to multiple recreational uses."

Work interrupted

The Guard began training on the trails in Iron County in 2008. Work was disrupted in May 2012 when the 1432nd Engineer Company was deployed to Afghanistan.

The unit joined the 1433rd Engineer Company from Kalamazoo. Each company had 92 soldiers who went to Fort Bliss in Texas for training before deployment. While in Afghanistan, the soldiers worked as a route-clearance company.

"Our primary focus was to clear improvised explosive devices from the roads and the area to provide safe travels for all of our allies and fellow units that were in the area," Pietila said.

In March 2013, the 1432nd landed at Sawyer International Airport in Marquette County, returning from a 10-month deployment to a warm welcome.

In fall 2014, planning began to return to the trails training with the DNR. The work then started in earnest earlier this year.

Pietila said the Guard has an agreement to continue heavy equipment training operations with the DNR in Iron County.