Trail work will start this spring and completion date is set for October! Yee haw!

The bidding will go out for base improvements to the western portion, which is the Ely Peak loop, and the Magney Snively trail.  It will be filled and hardened to a width necessary for horses, and the culverts installed. Where necessary, the fall line will be changed to provide a single track switchback.  In most areas it will be a hardened (class 5) 6′ wide trail and crushed stone on each side.

The contractors are hoping to keep the cost around $110,000, which is available between DAHTA funds, 1/2-and-1/2 funds, and Parks and Rec funds.

Initially, we won’t need volunteer help on the trails.  However, DAHTA continues to need volunteers to help with fundraisers and fun events. This is critical! Thanks to our membership for your continued support. Let’s not lose our momentum now. Please encourage your friends to join DAHTA and let’s ride!

Calling all horse trail advocates! The public is invited to attend the first public meeting for the Duluth Traverse Trail Management and Master Plan. The City is leading a public process to determine best practices for future management, to guide final segment development and construction, and gather input on improvements to the trail system.

DAHTA members are invited to complete a questionnaire to help set the vision. It can be downloaded and printed here Trail Issues Questionnaire.

Hello DAHTA Members!

After a quiet summer, it’s time to get busy! We are holding a SPECIAL MEETING this coming Wednesday, September 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Skyline Lodge (at the back side of the Skyline Lounge/Lanes, 4894 Miller Trunk Hwy, Hermantown). We need to discuss horse trail priorities for our group and give feedback to the city ASAP. If you have input and cannot make this meeting, please let me know: agullion49@gmail.com.

AGENDA: 1) Discussion of costs for trail design; 2) Identify trails to be developed for horses; 3) Clarification of matching funds from tourism tax. Member input is needed at this time to set group priorities on 3 proposed sections. (See attached report.)

The General Membership meeting will still be held Monday, September 14 at 6:30 p.m., again at Skyline Lodge. That will also be an important meeting to decide on next steps for fundraising, outline DAHTA group priorities and set dates. We’d also like input on the meeting space.

The DAHTA board received the 19-page equestrian trail report on August 5:

Trail assessment to establish the viability of seasonal equestrian use on existing snowmobile and cross country ski area in and around the Magney Snively ski area.

Assessor: Mike Riter, Trail Design Specialists, inc.

Field assessment dates: 06/27/15 – 06/29/15
The Board met with with the other stakeholder board members on Aug. 26 to clarify points and make sure we could answer questions from the members at our September meeting. Copies will be available at both Sept. meetings for discussion with key points outlined. We appreciate the enthusiasm behind the report and the momentum to get going on the trails! Our general membership meetings are for group discussions and decision making, so we hope to see everyone there.