Pat Wilson of Hessel (left) approaches the start of a trail through the Little Traverse Conservancy's Birge Preserve February 23, as Conservancy Stewardship Coordinator Doug Fuller fastens his snowshoes. February 23 was the perfect day to consider whether to add more than two miles of trail to the Birge Preserve in Hessel. Winter days don't get much better when 30 degree temperatures and bright sunlight enhance winter's beauty, and 26 people showed up for a snowshoe tour, led by the Little Traverse Conservancy, along its proposed non-motorized trail.

Doug Fuller, director of stewardship for the conservancy and leader of the trek, said participants were enthusiastic about the prospect of a new trail.

"They really would like us to build another trail on one of our preserves in the area," he said.

Only four non-motorized trails for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing have been created in Clark Township, including the Search Bay trail on St. Martin Point, Peek-A-Boo Trail in Cedarville, and the Gerstacker Preserve trail east of Cedarville. The Birge Preserve on Point Brulee, along 1.2 miles of Lake Huron shore, has a quarter-mile trail to an observation platform at Loon Lake.

At left: Cedarville residents Linda Henderson and her husband, Dan Fields, turned out with another 24 people to participate in a February 23 snowshoe hike in Hessel. Participants came from around the Eastern Upper Peninsula and the Lower Peninsula, including a couple from Bay City who made the hike part of an outdoor weekend adventure in the region. The proposed new trail starts on Point Brulee Road, about one mile north of the existing trail and Birge Preserve sign. It will head west through the woods, then make a rectangular loop back to the east/west trail. The conservancy plotted a portion of the trail along the "Old Wheel Road," the route of the first road into the area. If eagle nests are still in the area, the trail must be at least a quarter-mile from them.

Little Traverse Conservancy seeks public input on the proposed trail, and distributed surveys to all of the February 23 snowshoe hike participants. It asked them if more trails are needed in the area, whether they liked the trail, if a parking lot is needed, and asked for volunteers.

The conservancy is considering two possibilities: A year-around trail with boardwalks over wetlands, or a seasonal trail to be open only during the dry summer season and in winter. The boardwalks would be expensive to build.

"I'm looking toward developing it as a seasonal trail," Mr. Fuller said, "and maybe building some boardwalks over the wet parts later on."

The conservancy will make a decision sometime after April, after the annual spring eagle nest survey and when Mr. Fuller has a chance to visit the site again after the snow melts.

"If we do decide to go ahead on it, we will probably have a volunteer work day sometime this summer," he said.

The work day would include clearing brush, cutting trees, and better defining the proposed trail route.

Contact Mr. Fuller in Harbor Springs at (231) 347-0991 to comment on the proposed trail.