Tired of conflicts, landowner closes part of Superior Hiking Trail

[Brickbat]

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/04/28/superior-hiking-trail

A popular section of the Superior Hiking Trail will close this week because a private landowner has kicked hikers off the land. Randy Bowe, who owns 380 acres of land between the popular Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock Lighthouse state parks, said there have been too many smoldering campfires left by hikers and some have been hostile.

Bowe, a Duluth taxidermist, bought the property in the mid-1980s as work began on the trail, which extends 300 miles from Jay Cooke State Park, south of Duluth, to the Canadian Border. He granted permission for a 1.6-mile section of trail to cut through his property. But as the trail has grown in popularity, problems with hikers have increased, he said.

Some have berated him for driving an all-terrain vehicle. The last straw, he said, came last fall when hikers harassed a friend he had invited to hunt.

"He encountered three male hikers who pretty much read him the riot act, called him every name in the book, followed him to his stand, and stood around his stand for almost an hour howling like wolves," Rowe said.

The SHT is a treasure -- but only when people respect it.

[Hoppy]

1. Do you blame him?

Maybe state can use eminent domain

[Brickbat]

2. Not at all. When I first heard part of it was closing, I was sorry to hear it, but I would too if I

had rude and aggressive people like that bothering my friends and family. They're rerouting the trail. It's one of the more popular stretches -- and some idiots ruined it for everybody.

[packman]

3. Shame it had to come to this - but

looks like he might have to keep the trail open. Wouldn't a "Right -of-way" apply here? If the land has been open, people walking on it for several decades - can he just decide to close it. Wouldn't be surprised if one of the hikers took him to court on this.

[Brickbat]

4. According to the permit granted to the SHT, you can withdraw permission to cross your land at any

time for any reason.

[Brickbat]

5. Detour found:

"Ninety-five percent of the hikers are great. But those other 5 percent ruined it for the rest. It was going from two or three incidents each year to four or five ," said Bowe, an avid deer hunter and owner of Bowe Taxidermy in Duluth.

Bowe said he had problems with littering, trespassing and people camping and starting campfires on his land - all despite the fact that it is clearly posted as private property with "no trespassing" signs.

http://www.twoharborsmn.com/news/3735751-sht-detour-finalized