A Lodge for Levis
Levis Mound gets a 2,400-foot chalet By Mark Parman From May to October, the parking lot at the Levis/Trow Mound Recreational Area sees carloads of mountain bikes and bikers. On weekends, cars with license plates from Minnesota and Illinois, and of course Wisconsin, fill the gravel parking lot off Highway 95. It's one of the most popular mountain bike destinations in Wisconsin, and for years riders have been raving about the technical singletrack.
When the snow flies, however, the crowds fade and the parking lot empties, even though the trails offer some fine cross country skiing. Even though the views of the surrounding countryside may be even more breathtaking in winter.
Only a handful of locals ski here with any regularity, like Steve Meurett, one of the founders of NASTI (Neillsville Area Single Track Inhabitants). He, along with Dean Glaze and other volunteers, built the
miles of labor intensive singletrack at up and down Levis and Trow.
Meurett hopes that with the addition of a new heated chalet on Fisher Avenue, more skiers will experience Levis in winter. So does Clark County trails and project manager Tim Puskarich.
"I'd like to see the number (of skiers) double in the next three years. Our goal with our new structure and trails is increased numbers. We hope more people come."
And why not? Nearly 25 kilometers of trail, groomed for both classic and skate skiing, circle the mounds. Another additional 15 kilometers of ungroomed backcountry and snowshoe trails follow the singletrack. These trails climb the 300 plus vertical feet of Levis and Trow mounds for those who want a more rugged experience. In winter, the new 2,400 square foot chalet will service mainly skiers and snowshoers.
Puskarich credits several key people for the new Levis Mound Trail
Center, including Clark County forester Mark Heil, who applied for a state grant two years ago.
During his years building mountain bike trials as well as maintaining ski trails, Meurett has worked closely with Heil.
"Mark was the guy who got the ball rolling. He wrote the original grant (for the chalet)," Meurett said.
According to Puskarich, half of the money for the $93,000 structure came out of the state's ADLP (Acquisition and Development of Local
Parks) fund. Clark County had to match this grant money, and Heil used funds from timber sales for the county's half of the bill. The bulk of the county forestry department's revenue is generated from timber sales.
At 133,000 acres, or roughly 208 square miles, the Clark County forest is one of the largest county forests in Wisconsin. The bulk of the forest lies in the southern and western parts of the county.
According to Meurett, Heil "caught some grief" about the size of the building from county residents, especially in these days of slashed budgets and limited funds.
"I've heard people say, 'They don't need that big of a building' or people look at it (the chalet) and say "That's really something,'" Meurett said.
Puskarich felt that some local residents, particularly those from other user groups, felt the 2,400 square foot building was too large, a bit too
extravagant. The county forestry department, however, didn't want to put up too small of a structure and then be looking at adding on in a few years. "In years to come, we might not see that kind of money again," Puskarich said. Ski areas often build conservatively, then are forced to add on as numbers increase.
The county kept costs down by using Donnie Fremont, one of the county's workers, to head up construction of the project.
"We have an excellent carpenter on staff, and he was already being paid," Puskarich said. "Meurett and his club (NASTI) also helped."
By using Fremont and volunteer labor, the county saved money, then put that savings toward building larger. Fremont did the bulk of the construction.
"He did the foundation by himself. He's just a bull nose worker. He was the man," said Meurett. "He even worked after hours when he wasn't getting paid."
A Wisconsin Conservation Corp crew also helped with construction and labor over the past summer, as did Meurett, who is a teacher with his summers off.
Sided with half logs, the new Levis Mound Trail Center blends in with the oaks and red pines that surround the building. The building looks out to the south on a prairie restoration project.
Inside, a large room takes up nearly all of the space, with bathrooms on
the north end. These bathrooms will be open year round, so mountain bikers and hikers can also use the facility.
Puskarich would like other groups to use the new chalet as well. Nonprofit groups, such as the Boy and Girl Scouts, can hold gatherings in the building. And this past October, Neillsville High School held a cross country running race at the facility.
The bulk of the use, however, will come from silent sporters: cross
country skiers, snowshoers and mountain bikers. The trails start right at the back patio doors and lead out to the mounds.
Most of the groomed trails, about 16 kilometers, circle Levis and Trow mounds and are rated for beginners. Moundbounder, a 3 kilometer advanced trail on the north side of Trow Mound, offers the most challenge. The RGS (Ruffed Grouse Society) Trail, a diagonal stride trail through a recent popple cutting, is a narrower, more traditional trail. It's
also the most likely place for skiers to flush a grouse browsing on popple buds.
Clark County also saves money by using volunteer groomers. Gary Corey is the "main man" according to Meurett, who also grooms. Dean Glaze and Daryl Zier fill in when needed. "We're even certified this year," said Meurett after the four completed their county training.
The four groom with a Ski Doo Skandic and with Big Red, a Track
Truck snow cat. Although the four aren't professionals, Meurett feels their skiing experience and knowledge of snow leads to meticulously groomed trails.
"Gary will groom three times if he has to he'll go over it until it's like carpet. Because he's a skier himself, he knows what skiers want, and he's picky," Meurett said.
The backcountry and snowshoe trails ascend and descend the singletrack trails that have given Levis its reputation. They offer skiers the
most challenge, winding to the top of the tabletop mounds into the rarefied air, home of buzzards and red tailed hawks.
Hard as it is to climb to the top of these sandstone buttes, it's much more difficult to drop back down. The sides are steep, often sheer. And there isn't much to stop a falling skier or snowshoer.
Regardless of how one gets back down to level ground, the new chalet awaits thanks to the hard work of a few county workers and some dedicated volunteers.
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