2008 Mi-TRALE Awards

CP2R Awards: The following 5 people were the ONLY people that rode the hundreds of miles of trails that is within the Mi-TRALE ORV trail network. They rode the entire IRM Trail, the entire SB Trail, the entire P Trail, the entire BN Trail, along with the LL, E, PF, and C Trails. What is so amazing is that the following 5 people did this during the summer of 2008. Congratulations. The following 5 were given a special certificate and a special CP2R sticker that they can proudly display on their ATVs. These 5 individuals also have the right to print/embroider CP2R on any Mi-TRALE apparal that they so desire.

Dan Cote on a Yamaha
Keith Meyer on a Can AM
Sherri Meyer on a Can AM
John Sayre on a Polaris
Maureen Sayre on a Polaris

President's Award: This is an award that goes to a Mi-TRALE member for their dedication to Mi-TRALE and their hard work on trails, events, and projects to beneift our area, and Mi-TRALE as an organization. The Zakowski Family is the 2008 recipient of the President's Award.

Paul Zakowski is our vice president, and has consistently donated to Mi-TRALE. Paul has spent many hours working on trails, even though he and his family reside just outside of Appleton, Wisconsin. His wife, Linda, has been handling our apparel. Their son, Zak, has not only dominated at the Mi-TRALE ATV/Truck XTreme Challenge at the Ontonagon County Fair but has been the #1 ATV Xtreme Challenge driver throughout the entire Midwest. Zak has carried the Mi-TRALE banner with him as he won numerous XTreme Challenges. Their daughters participate at numerous Mi-TRALE club events and rides. It was with great pride that Mi-TRALE awarded our first President's Award to the Zakowski family!

UNITY Award: This award goes to another organization that works closely and cooperatively with Mi-TRALE in maintaining, developing, and building safe and enjoyable multiple use trails. This goes to an organization that believes in WORKING TOGETHER with Mi-TRALE in preserving and protecting the public's rights to recreate on public land. The 2008 Unity Award goes to the Superior Snowmobile Club.

Under the leadership of Mike Sabo, and with the help of his wife, Chris, along with Superior Snowmobile Club members Richard and Sandy Krupp, Keith and Sherry Meyer, John and Maureen Sayre, Krupp's Mini-Mart, Pat's Yamaha Motorsports, Wildlife Refuge Cabins, and many more in the Superior Snowmobile Club, the Superior Snowmobile Club has ALWAYS worked closely with Mi-TRALE on projects and events. Plus it is the cooperation between the Superior Snowmobile Club and Mi-TRALE that we can provide both ORV riders and snowmobilers with safe and fun BN, C, and P Trails. Mi-TRALE was proud to award our first Unity Award to the Superior Snowmobile Club.

Commendations and Certificates:
Bruce Johanson was given the Chainsaw Certification Award by the Ottawa National Forest.
Greg Nelson was given the Chainsaw Certification Award by Mi-TRALE.
Matt Weisen was commended for his work with the Ontonagon Search and Rescue Unit.
Jerry Yaklyvich was commended for his work on the M-107 Highway Clean-up.

1st CP2R Award Winner: Dan Cote, Sheboygan (WI)/L'Anse (MI). 2003 Yamaha Grizzly

Dan, with a group of his friends, became the 1st Mi-TRALE "Certified Pride to Ride (CP2R)" Award Winner. They rode ALL the required trails in the extensive Mi-TRALE ORV Trail Network. Here is the 55 year old's Story:

I just got back from up north. Had a blast, but a little beat!! Thursday, we did 252.7 miles. We left Aura around 7:30am. heading to Bruce Crossing, We ate at Tulppo's. Then went over to set up tents, then we went west to CE down to CR over to BLA past the Paulding light and stopped at the casino. Then we did the LL to Land o Lakes (hot dog stand had just closed )so we headed back to Waters Meet and ate supper.

Then we felt we needed to ride more so we went to Marenisco, when we got there the gas station was CLOSED! The owner of BAM BAMs took us to his house to get gas. Was REALLY nice of him to do that! WE probably would have made it back on what we had tho(barely). We got back to the casino to pick up one of the guys that THOUGHT he would clean them out, then we headed to the Paulding light. We sat down the hill but didn't see the light!!!

From there we went up the CR route past Bond Falls and got back to the tents at about 1:20 am.The second day (Friday) we did 198 miles. First we had breakfast at Tulppo's again then headed to Bergland, Gassed up and headed to the P trail (which is nicely marked this year!!). We stopped at Henry's for a little snack then got on the C trail over to Mass.

Then we got on the BN trail, Stopped by the wash out for some pictures then shot for Houghton. That sure is a nice ride also. We got to Houghton about 4:30 pm. just in time for it to rain!!! 2 years in a row now we got hit with rain there. We turned around and headed to Henry's for Friday night smorgasbord . We got there around 7:45- 8 pm!! For a small place, they sure put out some great food!! and the people!!!!

Then with our bellies and butts dragging the ground we headed back to the tents. We were going to go to White Pine on the way back from Henry's but were unsure how many miles from the P and the NR crossroads to the PF trail, so we went back to Bruce Crossing on the NR route to get some much needed rest. Saturday we got up and headed (8:30 am.) to White Pine. Found out we were only 3 miles from the PF trail the night before!!! We got to White Pine around 10:30 am.

We ate breakfast and watched the 2 bears at the Konteka. We headed back to take down the tents and head back to Aura (L'Anse) when we got back to Aura on the third day we had 660 miles total ! 2 flat tires, 4 bee stings and one broke down ATV (he stayed behind in Bruces till this morning so the other guys could pick him up with the trailer on the way back to Wisc.

I was the only Mi-Trale member in our group that did all the trails. I told the other guys that I was shooting for the CP2R award so we worked it into our annual ride. Last year we did 440 miles in 2 1/2 days. One of the guys and I did the Sidnaw, Watersmeet, Iron River, Crystal Falls and back to Sidnaw earlier in July. That was 224 miles round trip in one day, so it really took me 4 days to get all the trails done!

Weather wise it was pretty good except for the rain in Houghton. Little dusty! Will we do it again?.............YES! Thanks again for being involved in getting these trails!

Congratulations, Dan!
Why don't you get a group together and go for the CP2R Award? We still have LOTs of riding left this year for you to accomplish the award. Just , Skip Schulz, to let him know you are going to try for the CP2R Award.