Dan Mayfield and Dan Kruse of Big Lake Trails, and David Vandehey Owner of Greatland Tree Service.

A major milestone has been undertaken and captured this winter west of Big Lake with the successful planning, execution, and completion of the Iron Dog Trail Restoration Project  - a multi stakeholder venture permitted and sponsored (ORTAB DNR State Parks, MSB, ConocoPhillips, and numerous community volunteers and community entities) over the past two years under the management and guidance of Big Lake Trails and the Mat-Su Trails Council.   As a result, a restored legal trail equaling Big Lake Trail standards has been installed on schedule and under budget as an integral part of the famous Iron Dog Trail that heads west out of Big Lake on our familiar Trail #6 - a dream come true that was initially envisioned and kick started nearly a decade ago as a result of private property conflicts in the local region south of Cow Lake.  Greatland Tree Service, LLC expertly, efficiently, and environmentally mobilized and completed the enormous logistical contracted tasks that involved the safe transport of brush clearing equipment and crews nine miles into and out of the wilderness west of Flat Lake on pre-pack trails and lakes over the past two weeks, including safe crossings of the Little Susitna River.  The new trail section is of outstanding beauty, rising into uplands spanning over 1+ mile of heavily forested terrain and abundant large wildlife (four moose observed just today browsing along the new trail section).  Trail #6 and the new trail section were immediately groomed and re-signed by Big Lake Trails given the recent heavy snowfall and Trail #6 (and the SVWT) is now officially fully re-opened for your safe and enjoyable wintertime recreational use. 

Congratulations, all! It looks really well done and, as you say, is a welcome improvement to the area trails.  Now the big rigs can groom and maintain more of the SVWT and make it even more of a tourist attraction as well as improving conditions for residents.  Good job !

Dan, I’d like to fond out a bit more about the machine that’s tied to the snogo in one of the pictures.  Tell me about it, please.