Karla Kingsley runs through a strand of red pines on a bluff above Lake Superior at McLain State Park. Runners will enjoy this section in the first mile of the 10K race. Keweenaw Trail Run Festival
Do one, two or all three for the ultimate challenge
By Greg Marr While Jeff Crumbaugh was a cross country ski instructor in the Sierra's, he'd spend the snowless months trail running in the mountains. He had three favorite runs – a 10K close to town, a hill climb and a long backcountry run. Crumbaugh relocated to Hancock, in Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula, to teach biology,
chemistry, swimming and cross country skiing at Suomi College. He soon found the Keweenaw perfect for an avid trail runner.
"I began looking for three trail runs that sort of fit that model of short, a hill and long," he says, and he found them. Now he wants to share them with you.
Crumbaugh's vision is a weekend of trail running in the Keweenaw July 15-16, featuring a 10K shoreline
and forest run, a 5.8K, 723 foot elevation gain hill run and, on the second day, a 25K trail run with over 1,500 feet of climbing. His vision included individual runners doing all three events.
"That was the original concept," he says, but considering that all three might be a bit much for all but the most devoted of trail runners, "we're going to allow people to pick and choose."
The terrain and geography of the U.P. are well-suited to trail running, and the numerous – if sometimes not well known – trails that bisect the countryside are any off-roader's delight. Crumbaugh worked with other trail runners in the area, particularly a core group of four people from the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club. The organizers include ultra distance runners, trail runners, skiers and mountain bikers.
Each of the the three events has a unique character that will challenge runners in different ways. Combined, the events will test speed, strength and endurance.
"The first race, the 10K, is at a state park on trails infrequently used by general hikers," Crumbaugh says. "We've been running on them for a couple of years."
The race starts at 8 a.m. at McClain State Park, located on the northwest side of the peninsula along the shore of Lake Superior.
"You'll start in a grassy field near the beach," says Crumbaugh. "From the starting line looking northeast you have far-reaching views of the Keweenaw's shoreline. After a short loop around the field, you'll soon enter the woods and a trail carpeted with pine needles. The course traverses bluffs overlooking the lake and then drops down to the beach for a short segment before reentering the woods, this time on wood chips through
a stand of oaks. You then return to the same field where you started before heading inland through a stand of birch on your way to Bear Lake."
"About a mile of the course skirts the shoreline of this tranquil lake set deep in the woods. After leaving Bear Lake, you head back toward Lake Superior's coast, this time dropping down to the beach, trading the quiet of the forest for the pounding surf of the big lake. Just when the beach sand has sapped all the
glycogen out of your legs, you climb back up on the ridge and finish in the grassy field, in the same place where you started."
After the event, runners are treated to an organic buffet catered by the Keweenaw Co-op, the area's natural food grocery and deli. Bagels, granola, yogurt, fresh fruit, juice, and tea will be available to fuel up for the evening's hill climb event.
Having natural, organic foods available is in line with the organizers attempt to have an environmentally
friendly event.
"We're making a conscious effort to be as environmentally sensitive as possible," Crumbaugh points out. "The courses will be marked only with reusable ski flags. If we need to mark corners, we'll probably do it with flour. We've also decided to go with organic cotton T-shirts; there is a third of a pound of chemicals in one regular shirt. We are encouraging people to bring a water bottle and refill it with energy drink rather
than waste paper cups. We're also encouraging people to bring their own flasks for energy gels so we won't have the mylar packages littering the woods. We'll even have organic coffee."
After the 10K, participants have until 7 p.m. to sea kayak, swim or simply rest before the hill climb.
"Initially we wanted to do the hill run at a local ski hill but then we began searching for more of a
backcountry hill climb," Crumbaugh notes. "Then we found an interesting venue in Eagle Harbor that overlooks the tip of the Keweenaw."
That evening runners will find themselves in the far northern reaches of the Keweenaw, at the beach in Eagle Harbor, a small lakeside village with a year around population of about 50. Runners start the 5.8K event on the beach (elev. 609 ft.) and run a short segment on pavement before entering a forested two-track.
"That's where the climbing begins, at first somewhat gradually," says Crumbaugh. "There is a stream crossing about halfway up. Don't bother looking for a way not to get wet – you will get wet. Soon after the stream, you enter a decidedly steeper, narrower section along a ridge covered with scrub oak. This section's abundance of rocks and roots requires you change to mountain goat mode."
Soon the climb is rewarded as runners emerge from the woods onto a bald saddle. At this point not only is the summit of Mt. Lookout in view, but so is the lush panorama of the entire northern tip of the Keweenaw.
"As you climb the rocky trail through low lying juniper and blueberry bushes," Crumbaugh adds, "you can spot Mt. Bohemia and Mt. Houghton to the east and Lake Bailey and the vast blue-green expanse of Lake
Superior to the west. When you reach the summit at 1,332 feet, runners will receive a tongue depressor with the order of their finish on it."
"I suggest they take some time to soak in the view before jogging back down. At that time of evening you'll see both the emerging moon rise and the sun descending toward the lake – he sun sets here at 9:46 on July 15."
The hill climb is a rare opportunity to for outsiders to experience a little bit of the hidden U.P.
"It's not well-known at all," Crumbaugh says. "It's on private land owned by the Lake Superior Land Company. The course is basically old two-track that narrows to single track."
For people with the strength and stamina for the triumvirate, it should be early to bed as the long run, the 25K with over 1,500 feet of climbing, is less than 12 hours away.
"The 25K is on combination of two trail systems, the Maasto Hiito ski trails and the new Churning Rapids
trails," says Crumbaugh. Churning Rapids trails were first open for skiing this past winter. "It's private land owned by guy who loves all silent sports. He built it himself and maintains it – and it just happens to back up to the Maasto Hiito. It's interesting that this is all private land used by purely informal agreement between the ski club and eight landowners."
If anyone seemed to think the Saturday events were easy, Sunday's 25K will certainly provide a challenge.
"I don't think there are any flat sections on this trail," points out Crumbaugh. "Slightly over a third of the course covers a region surrounding the Swedetown Creek Gorge. One portion of the trail follows the ridge overlooking the gorge. Descents into the gorge are relatively gradual but ascents out of the gorge are steep. One section follows the Swedetown Creek itself and its many cascading waterfalls and pools. The remaining
two-thirds of the course wind through dense hardwoods and highland meadows. The open highlands offer the runners panoramic vistas of the Keweenaw to the south, including Portage Lake."
Organizers have absolutely no idea how many people to expect for this first time event but are prepared to accept 200 entries. Realistically, the count will probably be under 100, although with allowing people to
pick and choose events – the community of those capable of doing all three is relatively small – numbers could get up there.
In addition to Saturday's brunch and post-race refreshments at the other races, all runners will receive organic cotton Patagonia T-shirt with a logo designed by local artist Tina Erickson. Age group awards include latte' mugs by local potter John Sederholm and gourmet jam made from locally harvested berries.
Raffle prizes will include trail-specific gear including shoes, hats, socks and hydration packs.
While trail running hasn't quite exploded like, say, mountain biking a few years ago, it is definitely a growing niche in the running community.
"Part of what's going through my mind is it's the same old thing running on the roads," says Crumbaugh. "I like road races and do road races, but after a while, I want something a little more interesting."
Three runs totaling 40.8K and over 2,000 feet of elevation gain – Crumbaugh has certainly found something "interesting." If it sounds interesting to you, you can contact Jeff Crumbaugh at 1007 Elm St., Hancock, MI 49930; 906/487-7261 or by e-mail at jcrumbau@ccisd.mi.us. The advance entry fee is $45, $55 on race
day. Lodging in the area is plentiful and ranges from lakeside hotels to B&B's to tent camping.
"Runners planning to stay awhile might also want to load the roof rack with the kayaks or mountain bikes," Crumbaugh says, as the Keweenaw is "silent sports" heaven. Other summer essentials he recommends for the Keweenaw are bug dope, a swimsuit and a heavy fleece sweater (you have to be ready for anything in the Keweenaw, even in mid-summer.) |
