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TETTEGOUCHE STATE PARK FEATURED ON 2004 MINN. STATE PARK PERMIT
Minnesota A shoreline view of one of Minnesota's popular North Shore
state parks is showcased on the 2004 Minnesota State Park annual permit that went on sale in October.
"Tettegouche State Park, located on the shore of Lake Superior, near
Silver Bay, is the featured park on the new annual permit," says Kate Brady, public affairs and marketing supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Parks and
Recreation. A permit is required on vehicles entering a Minnesota state park or recreation area.
"Visitors can purchase either a daily permit or an annual permit that is
good for an unlimited number of visits to any state park or recreation area for one year from the month of purchase," adds Brady. "In 1964
we began to feature a state park on the annual permit that you see on vehicle windshields. For the new permit, we used a photograph of the dramatic shoreline of Tettegouche State Park."
"The selection of Tettegouche for the 2004 permit coincides with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of its establishment as a state park in
1979," says Tettegouche State Park manager Phil Leversedge. "The image featured on the permit showcases Palisade Head with Shovel Point in the background. In addition to the park's unique shoreline,
Tettegouche offers 9,346 acres of rugged, semimountainous terrain, six inland lakes, cascading rivers and waterfalls, and an undisturbed northern hardwood forest."
Leversedge adds that the diverse ecosystem attracts more than 40 species of mammals and 140 species of birds, including peregrine falcons that nest in the park and make a "special appearance" on the
new permit.
Paul Sundberg, who donated the use of his photograph for the permit, admits that the photograph is one of his favorites, not only for the rich
colors but also because of what the viewers "don't see."
"If you enlarge the image, you will find a natural surprise," says
Sundberg. "There is a peregrine falcon nesting on the cliff."
The rugged beauty of the Lake Superior shoreline and the surprises it offers is something Sundberg is familiar with in his work as park
manager of Gooseberry Falls State Park, another of the state's North Shore parks and the most visited park in the system.
Stay the Night in a Log Cabin
Historic Tettegouche Camp is another unique feature in the park. The camp, comprised of a group of restored 1920s vintage log cabins, is located on the shores of Mic Mac Lake. The land was purchased from
the Alger Smith Co. by the Tettegouche Club in 1910. The camp and its facilities went through several ownerships until the property and land surrounding it was established as a state park in 1979. The camp is
accessible by foot, mountain bike, cross country skis or snowshoes. The four rustic cabins are available year round for daily or weekly rental. The
camp also includes a main lodge building with fireplace and picnic tables, and a modern restroom and shower building that serves overnight visitors.
The park also has another lodging facility, the Illgen Falls cabin, that is available for daily or weekly rental year round.
Recreation Every Season of the Year
Tettegouche is a hiker's paradise with its 23 miles of trails, including 10 miles along the Superior Hiking Trail. In winter, visitors can cross
country ski or snowshoe in the park. Camping, fishing, birdwatching and rock climbing are just a few of the many recreational opportunities available at Tettegouche.
This year, as in the past, the new permits went on sale Oct. 1. After this year, however, the annual permits will go on sale starting the first of
January. As a result, the Tettegouche permit, which is good for one year from the month of purchase, will be sold through December 2004. The annual permit is good for one year from the month of purchase and
permits an unlimited number of visits to all state parks. The cost for the 2004 state park annual vehicle permit is $25. A second vehicle permit
costs $18. A special permit for Minnesota's residents with disabilities is $12. Permits can be purchased at any state park or at the DNR Headquarters, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul. Permits can also be
ordered by phone from the DNR Information Center by calling 651/296 6157 (Twin Cities metro area) or toll free 888/MINNDNR (646 6367).
BIRKIE 2004 PLANNING WELL UNDERWAY
Wisconsin Organizers of the American Birkebeiner cross country ski
race are deep into planning the 31st annual event scheduled Saturday, February 21, 2004. In addition to the 51 kilometer Subaru American Birkebeiner and 23 kilometer Johnson Bank Kortelopet ski races,
festivities will include a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Worldloppet race series.
The American Birkebeiner is North America's largest and most
prestigious cross country ski marathon. Spanning 51 kilometers from Cable to Hayward, the Birkie is part of the esteemed Worldloppet series of 14 international races, part of the International Ski Federation
(FIS) Marathon Cup series of eight races, and part of the American Ski Marathon series of 11 races.
The American Birkebeiner evolved to its international stature in 1979
when race founder Tony Wise brought together nine of the most famous ski marathons to form the Worldloppet League.
Wise said he expected more than 50,000 of the world's most avid
citizen cross country skiers to participate in the series, noting that participants would be issued a passport book and encouraged to complete in all nine Worldloppet races in Austria, Italy, West Germany,
Canada, the United States, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Norway. Those able to attain this feat would be issued a diploma certifying their accomplishment.
Today, skiers from around the world continue to participate in an expanded Worldloppet series of 14 races held in Japan, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, France, Estonia, Germany, Austria, Finland, Italy,
Canada, Australia, Czech Republic and the United States. After each event, finishers eagerly await having their passport books stamped by race officials to indicate they accomplished another race in the series.
When skiers complete 10 races, their Worldloppet passport is sent by registered mail to the Worldloppet General Secretariat and the validity of all stamps is rechecked, based on the result lists of the marked races.
Once it is confirmed that a skier has indeed completed 10 races, the new Worldloppet Master is awarded a Worldloppet Master diploma, gold/silver plated pin and an emblem. In addition, his/her name is
published in the Worldloppet Ski Race Yearbook.
"The Worldloppet races are a wonderful tradition," says Shirley Riedmann, executive director of the American Birkebeiner Ski
Foundation. "During the 25th anniversary of the series, we are encouraging Worldloppet Masters to join us and celebrate the vision of Tony Wise to assemble such a prestigious race series. We also honor all
Birkie and Kortelopet skiers for their dedication to long distance skiing. We encourage our own skiers to seriously consider participating in the Worldloppet Masters qualification tradition."
Birkie 2004 festivities begin on Thursday, February 19, and continue through Saturday, February 21. Ski events kick off with the Sons of Norway/Swiss Miss Barnebirkie, the largest children's cross country
skiing event in the nation, followed by the Salomon Elite Sprints, Century Tel Junior Birkie, Hayward Chamber of Commerce Citizen Sprints, Cheqtel Communications 10K, and the 51K Subaru American
Birkebeiner and 23K Johnson Bank Kortelopet.
In addition to ski events for all ages and fitness levels, Birkie 2004 highlights include opening and closing ceremonies; health, nutrition,
fitness, equipment and training seminars; American Indian and Norwegian dancers; ski expo and demonstrations; an ice skating demonstration and show; a children's snowshoe nature hike; pasta
feeds; and post race music by the Ivory Kings.
The 31st annual event is expected to attract 6,500 adult skiers, including Olympians, 1,000 children, and more than 15,000 spectators.
"Between the Hayward and Cable communities, we have many exciting and fun activities planned for the 31st event," Riedmann says. "Birkie
2004 will be a celebration of the thousands of skiers from around the world who participate in the American Birkebeiner and Worldloppet races. And word has it, from the old reliable Farmers Almanac , that
Mother Nature is going to send us a beautiful, thick blanket of snow this winter."
For more information or to register for the Subaru American
Birkebeiner, Johnson Bank Kortelopet, Salomon Elite Sprints, Hayward Chamber of Commerce Citizen Sprints, Century Tel Junior Birkie, Cheqtel Communications 10K, or the Sons of Norway/Swiss Miss
Barnebirkie, call 715/634 5025, e mail birkie@birkie.com or log on to www.birkie.com.
Birkie 2004 is sponsored by Subaru, Johnson Bank, Polartec, Murphy McGinnis Media and other businesses throughout the region and country.
Leslie Hamp
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FISCHER U.S. APPOINTS ELI BROWN AS IN HOUSE NORDIC RACE DIRECTOR
As its new in house nordic race director, Eli Brown brings a variety of
experiences to the Fischer team, including a coaching career that spans University of Utah, Whitman College and most recently Maine Winter Sports Center. He has experience working with top juniors, college
racers, Factory Team athletes and the U.S. Ski Team.
As race director, Brown will support the Athlete Force, and Subaru Factory Team athletes. He will work with dealers and consumers as the
technical voice for Fischer Cross Country. Brown will also provide race support at all major Nordic events.
Cross country ski racing in the U.S. took a big step forward in 2003
and Fischer was a large part of it. "I am very excited to be working for the No. 1 ski company in the world. Fischer and racing have a history
and future that I am excited to be a part of," says Brown. "I am looking forward to my move to Concord and promoting Fischer skis and boots."
Fischer's Peter Ashley, vice president sales and marketing cross country, says, "Fischer has never had an in house race director. This will allow the company to give even better support to our dealers and
athletes. Eli's strong connection to the racing community will be a big help to the company."
For more information please contact Fischer Skis at 603/224 2800.
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BAYFIELD COUNTY CREATES NONMOTORIZED RECREATION AREA
Wisconsin Much of the Cable Cluster of the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association lies in and around the Bayfield County Forest. In fact, with the exception of trails on Telemark Resort property
or on town of Cable roads, the balance of the CAMBA trails in the Cable Cluster are in the county forest. CAMBA was very pleased with the decision by Bayfield County forester, Paul Lundberg, to designate a
large block of the county forest as a nonmotorized recreation area.
Lundberg had been working to finalize the access management plan for
the forest. Part of the process was to inventory all of the roads and trails in the forest and then codify them as primary, secondary or temporary forest roads. There are no primary county forest roads in the Cable
block, but there were numerous other roads and trails that had not received any specific designation. According to Lundberg this block of forest has the highest concentration of old roads in the entire county
forest system.
In addition to the numerous roads, many of which are grown in or relatively obscure, this area has seen an enormous amount of silent sport
trail development over the past 10 to 15 years. The American Birkebeiner ski trail bisects the area and runs for about three miles from Telemark property in the north and south to the county line. The
Kortelopet race course was also superimposed on several ski trails in the area. Telemark Resort ski trails abut the county forest and several trails, including portions of the Bauer, World Cup and Bill Koch trails,
are actually on county forest land.
For the past 11 years CAMBA has used this same area for the Sleigh Trail, Short & Fat and now the Ojibwe Trail.
Finally, the North End Ski Club has created an access trail to the Birkie Trail and its own network of ski and snowshoe trails in the area. The
area really has become a silent sports haven, and thus the designation as a Bayfield County Forest Nonmotorized Recreation Area is particularly fitting and appropriate.
The area to which this designation applies is bounded by Telemark Resort and other private property on the north, Randysek Road on the west, Spider Lake Firelane and private property on the east and extends
south to the county line. It is an area of almost 4 square miles.
It should be noted that while the area has been designated for nonmotorized recreation, motorized vehicles are still permitted for
administrative purposes, including timber harvest and management, trail construction and maintenance, event management and access, and trail grooming.
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ICE AGE CHALLENGE RETURNS TO MADISON JAN. 4
Wisconsin Start your race season with the MadNorSki Subaru Ice Age Challenge, a 15K freestyle and classic ski event in the capital city's Elver Park. If snow is scarce, no problem it will morph into a trail run.
After a hiatus of several years, the Ice Age Challenge is back. It's happening January 4, 2004, and it's called the MadNorSki Subaru Ice
Age Challenge, a 5K and 15K freestyle and classic ski event in the hills and hollows of Madison's Elver Park, on the eastern fringe of the prehistoric Ice Age Trail.
Elver Park, a scenic winter park with hills, curves and beautiful forested areas, is five minutes south of Madison's Route 12 beltline at the Gammon Road exit, and 10 minutes west of Interstate 90, making it one
of the easiest races you'll travel to this season. Race headquarters will be in the new stone pavilion at the park entrance.
Race time is 9 a.m. for the 5K, and 9:15 a.m. for the 15K. Awards will
be presented to the top three overall finishers, male and female, in both the 5K and 15K freestyle, and results will be listed by age group (13 and under, 14 15, 16 17, 18 19, 20 29, 30 39, 40 49, 50 59, 60 69,
and 70+). Classic skiers' results will be listed separately, but no awards will be given.
There will also be a MadNorSki Don Miller Subaru trophy for the best
overall high school boys and girls teams, with the top three skiers from each school scoring points.
The fast, scenic course runs over two wooded ridge lines on either side
of an open meadow, incorporating three climbs one gradual hill right after the start, one moderate climb as the course enters the northwest ridge, and one a steep wall of a hill of the near nosebleed variety as the
course re enters the southeast woods.
If the snow gods don't cooperate in time, no problem. Just change your ski boots for running shoes, and the show goes on as a trail run. As the
race organizers say, "Snow or no, we go."
The race chairman is Ned Zuelsdorf, veteran organizer of the popular MadNorSki Tuesday night 5K and 10K race series, also at Elver Park,
in January and February.
Information and registration forms for the 2004 MadNorSki/Subaru Ice Age Classic are available at the MadNorSki Web site:
www.madnorski.org. Questions can also be answered by e mail when addressed to iceagechallenge@yahoo.com.
Race fees are $15 for high school students and $20 for adults before December 27. From December 28 to January 4, late registration is $25 for high school students and $30 for adults. Entry forms should be
downloaded from www.madnorski.org and mailed to Madison Nordic Ski Club, c/o Dirk Mason, 4605 Onaway Pass, Madison, WI 53711. For further questions, call 608/277 1881.
Registration is open until 8:30 a.m. the day of the race. Registration is limited to the first 200 registrants; early registration is recommended.
The event's major sponsor is Don Miller Subaru of Madison. Volunteers from the 300 member Madison Nordic Ski Club promise to make this a race a challenge you'll want to come back to year after year.
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NEW PLANS FOR SUBARU NOQUEMANON
MARATHON AND NAT'L SKI HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS
Michigan "It happened very quickly," explains Jon Mommaerts, Subaru Noquemanon Ski Marathon race director of the newest edition to the Subaru Noquemanon weekend. "We had a marketing meeting
discussing the big events in our area when someone brought up the concern that the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame induction ceremonies were going to be moved from Ishpeming to Sun Valley. No one wanted
that to happen. The National Ski Hall of Fame is located in Ishpeming for a real big reason this club here, the Ishpeming Ski Club, was the impetus for a national skiing organization. Now, 50 years after the first
Hall opened, we were looking at losing the induction ceremonies. No way was that going to happen."
"So we organized the troops and found a way to make sure they will
never leave," continued Jim Reevs, the publisher of the local newspaper, the Mining Journal , and board member of the Ski Hall. "We have this
great cross country ski event with over 1,000 participants who are skiing crazed. So why not marry the Ski Hall of Fame induction ceremonies with the Noque and have a huge ski event weekend that
celebrates the heritage of our area? The Noque skiers will have the exciting opportunity to see the actual induction ceremonies when some of the biggest contributors and names in the ski industry will be honored.
The next night, during the Noque awards ceremony, they'll also have the opportunity to sit and dine with the newest inductees while the newest
class of Ski Hall inductees will get to mingle with a ski loving audience."
And so the story goes on the newest happenings in the Noquemanon
world. This year skiers and snowshoers taking the 25K half marathon trek or the skiers in the 51K marathon trek from Ishpeming to Marquette will not only marvel at some of the course changes that have
occurred over the summer and fall, but will be a part of a ski event that will be more fun than ever. On Thursday, the weekend kicks off with the
Torch Light Trek, an event designed for skiing kids, novices or amateur, that takes place at the start area for the big races. Thursday will also find
the newest Ski Hall inductees flying in for one of the greatest honors of their lives, becoming the newest inductee during the 50th anniversary of the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame and Museum. A reception Thursday
night will be held at the Hall of Fame.
Friday will find Noque skiers picking up their packets at the Superior Dome in Marquette while visiting the ski expo. Friday night is when the
actual induction ceremony will take place at the W.C. Peterson Auditorium in Ishpeming. Tickets for the ceremony are available on the Noque registration form. Induction nominees include A. J. Kitt and
Tommy Moe. (Actual inductee names have not been released yet.)
Saturday is the big day! Donning skinny skis or snowshoes, the adventurers will embark on their journey from Ishpeming to Marquette
via the Noque trail. Known for its beautiful vistas, its varying terrain from lake crossings to big climbs, its total immersion in wilderness, and its best quality, the 1,000 foot descent, the Noque course is simply
spectacular.
After the race, skiers and 'shoers will be treated to warmth, food, beverages and showers in the world's largest wooden dome stadium.
However, this year the awards ceremony will move down the street to Upfront and Co., a beautifully renovated historic structure in downtown Marquette. The awards will kick off with a banquet at 5:30 p.m. that is a
combination Noque awards banquet and Ski Hall of Fame banquet. Those lucky 300 who sign up first have the opportunity to dine in the banquet hall with the newest inductees of the Ski Hall. It would be pretty
cool to wrap up your day talking ski strategy with an Olympic gold medalist. Another 300 can opt to dine in the main restaurant area. Large screens will be set up throughout so that you can see and hear the
happenings on the banquet room stage.
The awards ceremony itself will begin at 7:15 p.m. with room for anyone who wants to come in. Afterward, live entertainment will take the band
stage at Upfront where skiers and inductees can unwind and party.
But the weekend is not over yet. Not if you are a cross over skier. Alpine races will take place out at Marquette Mountain on Sunday with
a Big Air/Rail Jam exhibition planned.
"We have it all here so why not show it off?" asks Frida Waara, new marketing manager for the U.S. National Ski Hall and half marathon
skier. "We have this incredible cross country event, we have the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame, we have the largest vertical alpine area in the
Midwest with an unbelievable snowboard park, we have Suicide Bowl, a 90 meter ski jump. Oh and we have snow. It is going to be an unbelievably crazy time for us all, but it will be the event not to miss. I'm
so excited I can't wait for January."
Noquemanon, Half Marathon Entry Forms Available
Registration forms for the 2004 Subaru Noquemanon Ski Marathon and
Ski Hall of Fame Half Marathon are now available at area sports stores, online at www.noquemanon.com or by calling 888/578 6489.
"January 24 will culminate a week of incredible ski events in Marquette
County," says Jon Mommaerts. "The Subaru National Masters will be held here the week before, starting on January 17. They'll wrap up on January 22, while our event kicks in with the Torch Light Trek that
evening of the 22nd, and the Noque ski expo and registration at the Superior Dome on January 23."
Information on the Noquemanon and Ski Hall of Fame banquet and
induction ceremony is located on the Noquemanon ski entry form. More information and a complete schedule of all the events will also be available in the upcoming Noquemanon log or by calling 888/578 6489.
For more information on the Subaru National Masters, visit www.xcskiworld.com or contact J.D. Downing at 517/317 0217 or e mail axcs@xcskiworld.com.
For more information on the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, call 906/485 6323 or log onto www.skihall.com.
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LOCAL RUNNER WINS 23rd RUNNING OF MILWAUKEE LAKEFRONT MARATHON
Wisconsin Conditions for Milwaukee's Lakefront Marathon were near perfect on October 5 as Chris Roberdeau, from Hartland, Wisconsin, bested the field with a finishing time of 2:26:39. His nearest competitors,
Justin Henkel (Sheboygan) and Travis Bashaw (Madison) finished with times of 2:31:30 and 2:33:31 respectively. Roberdeau just barely missed his goal of qualifying for the Olympic Time Trials, which requires a
minimum time of 2:22:00.
Rebecca Ward from Madison covered the 26.2 mile course in 2:55:46 which beat Julie Spenser's (Baraboo) time of 2:57:35 to win the
women's division. Local runner Jamie Englemeier from Wauwatosa rounded out the top three women's finishers with a time of 2:59:18.
The winner of the Master's Division (40 years or older) was Milwaukee
resident Rick Stefanovic (41) with a time of 2:38:51 seconds.
The race began at Grafton high school at 8 a.m. under sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 30s. More than 2,600 runners followed a
course which wound through many lakefront communities to finish 26.2 miles away in Veteran's park in downtown Milwaukee.
According to the race director, Kristine Hinrichs, the race went off
without a hitch, despite the surprising jump in overall participation.
"We made a conscious effort to increase the number of participants this
year by offering prize money and contacting running clubs throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. Admittedly we were a little nervous when we watched the number of registered runners continue to
grow. Our efforts paid off with nearly 2,700 total runners; an increase of more than 25 percent over last year. We haven't seen these kinds of numbers since the marathon had corporate sponsorship in the 1980s."
Logistically, the volunteer staff had to accommodate this growth with additional aide, food, water and support along the course. According to
Hinrichs, the success of the race can be attributed to the generous support of the communities along the course, which include Grafton, Mequon, Bay Shore, Fox Point, Whitefish Bay, Shorewood and
Milwaukee, to name a few.
In addition to individual awards, the relay teams were also recognized. The top male relay team was Team Generic from Watertown,
Wisconsin, with a time of 2:32:13. The top female team was Strong to the Finish, from Wonder Lake, Illinois, with a time of 3:15:27. And, finally, the mixed open division was won by RIIS Park Rangers, all the
way from Millersville, Maryland, with a time of 2:51:35.
The inaugural prize for Best Water Station went to Front Runners of Milwaukee, who provided aide and water to runners 21.7 miles into the
race. They will enjoy a free meal provided by Noodles restaurant, one of many sponsors for this year's event. Other sponsors include Alterra Coffee, Culligan, City Press, Gatorade, Roundy's, Great Harvest Bread,
Milwaukee's Ale House, Sargento, and the host hotel Courtyard by Marriot. A complete list of sponsors is posted at www.badgerlandstriders.org/lakefront.
For fun, the marathon hosted an unscientific straw poll to determine who runners and spectators would elect as president of the United States if the election were held today. Of the votes cast, total votes for
Democrats exceeded the total votes cast for President Bush, but no Democrat beat the incumbent because the votes were split between 10 potential nomonees. The clear winner of the Democratic vote was
Wesley Clark with Howard Dean coming in second place.
Complete results of this year's Milwaukee's Lakefront Marathon are posted at www.onlineraceresults.com. Next year's Milwaukee
Marathon will be held Sunday, October 3. Registration for next year's event will begin in January 2004.
For more information about the marathon visit the Lakefront Marathon
Web site, www.badgerlandstriders.org/lakefront, call the Lakefront hotline at 414/291 2647 or e mail lfm@execpc.com.
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ATVs NO LONGER ALLOWED ON GANDY DANCER
Wisconsin Burnett County Parks Department has announced that ATVs (all terrain vehicles such as four wheelers) will be banned from the Gandy Dancer Trail year round. Until this year ATVs have been allowed on the trail during the winter when the snow was deep enough to prevent
snowmobiles and ATVs from chewing up the limestone trail. Motorized vehicles have never been allowed on the trail in the summertime.
These relatively strict regulations were put in place to protect the
limestone surface which could be quickly damaged by ATVs and dirt bikes. The limestone surface was funded with federal grants which stipulated that the trail shall not be subject to motorized use unless the
trail is covered with a protective layer of snow. The DNR has recently re interpreted the stipulations to mean that ATVs and dirt bikes should not be allowed on the trail in both Burnett and Polk counties, no matter
what the season or snow conditions. Snowmobiles will still be allowed in the winter providing there is enough snow.
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PUBLIC INVITED TO REVIEW PLANS FOR THE MINNESOTA VALLEY STATE REC. AREA
Minnesota The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources unveiled the draft management plan for the Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area to the public on Tuesday, Oct. 21. During the past two years, the
DNR has worked with a Citizen Advisory Committee to gain input from the public, including recommendations regarding the future management of the recreation area.
The public had an opportunity to view the plans at an open house on Oct. 21 at the Scott County Government Center in Shakopee. Staff members from the DNR Division of Parks and Recreation were
available to answer questions and receive public input concerning the plan.
There is a 30 day public review period for the draft plan during which
public comments are invited by mail, phone, e mail or fax. The deadline to submit comments is Friday, Nov. 21.
The DNR has copies of the draft plan available at the Minnesota Valley
State Recreation Area office and the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us. Copies can also be obtained by mail by contacting Nancy Albrecht, park planner, Division of Parks and Recreation, 651/284 0263.
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VOLUNTEER MOUNTAIN BIKERS RALLY TO SUPPORT NAT'L PUBLIC LANDS DAY
Thirty nine IMBA affiliated clubs in 24 states participated in the IMBA/BOB Trailers Trailwork Challenge on National Public Lands Day, September 20. BOB Trailers encouraged IMBA club involvement
by donating an IBEX suspension trailer.
National Public Lands Day is one of the nation's largest hands on outdoor volunteer effort. This year's 10th edition supported 520
projects leading to an estimated $8 million in public land improvements.
The Susquehanna Area Mountain Bike Association (SAMBA) was picked to receive the BOB Trailers award. SAMBA worked with the
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on newly created Swatara State Park near Lickdale, Pennsylvania. SAMBA is repairing eroded trails and building seven miles of new singletrack there.
"The response to our trail work challenge was great," said BOB co owner Damon Noller. "Thousands of mountain bikers participated in
National Public Lands Day and improved trails coast to coast."
In addition to sponsoring this annual challenge, BOB offers IMBA clubs discounted trailers and accessories to aid their trail work efforts.
Area participating IMBA clubs included:
Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association Cable, Wisconsin,
Chicago Area Mountain Bikers Stickney, Illinois, and
North Iowa Mountain Biking Association Mason City, Iowa.
IMBA is a leading partner in National Public Lands Day. To learn more visit www.npld.com
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ENERGY FROM THE SUN?
Wisconsin It's true! The Midwest Renewable Energy Association, located in Custer, Wisconsin, is again offering workshops on renewable energy and sustainable living. These workshops will show you how to lower your heating and electrical bills, and how to be more self reliant in
these times of rising fuel costs.
Workshops for the beginner to the professional are offered in several locations around the state of Wisconsin and Minnesota. For more
information on workshops or renewable living and sustainable living, visit MREA's Web site www.themreaorg.
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SESSIONS TRAIN VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST BIOLOGISTS IN TRACKING WOLVES
Wisconsin People interested in serving as volunteers to search for the tracks of gray wolves and other carnivores to help state biologists monitor populations of these species can attend training sessions that
have been scheduled this fall.
Volunteer trackers have played a role in helping state wildlife officials estimate the population of wolves and other carnivores in Wisconsin
since 1995, according to Adrian Wydeven, a mammalian ecologist with the Department of Natural Resources.
"Snow track surveys are one of three main surveys we use to estimate
wolf numbers in the state," Wydeven says. "The other surveys include tracking of radio collared wolves and summer fall howl surveys."
While wolf packs that have at least one radio collared wolf can be tracked from the air, fewer than half of the state's wolf packs have radio collared wolves. The best way to determine the number of wolves in
packs without radio collars is by following their tracks in the snow, he says. Snow track surveys are also used to determine distribution and abundance of marten, fisher, bobcat and other forest carnivores in
Wisconsin.
The training session, along with completion of a wolf ecology course, is required for anyone who wants to serve as a volunteer tracker. Each
training session includes information on mammal track identification, recognition of gait patterns, use of forms for recording data, methods for conducting surveys, and the Wisconsin mammal identification test.
Training sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. People are requested to register two weeks before each session. Locations, dates, contacts and phone numbers are as follows:
Nov. 8 Treehaven UWSP Field Station, Tomahawk. Charge will be $12 for the session and will include lunch. Register with Treehaven at 715/453 4106.
Dec. 6 Sandhill Outdoor Skills Center, Babcock. Register with Dick Thiel or Sandy Green at 715/884 2437. Limited to 40 people.
Those who complete the training session and ecology course, along with
veteran trackers who have already gone through the training, are assigned survey blocks of about 200 square miles for carnivore tracking during the winter. Surveys are conducted by slowly driving the survey
block after fresh snowfalls. All recent sets of tracks of medium and large forest carnivores are recorded along these snow covered roads. Volunteer trackers should conduct at least three surveys covering 20 to
30 miles each over the course of the winter.
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BOUNDARY WATERS TRAIL PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION CHANGES ITS NAME TO BOUNDARY WATERS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Minnesota The Boundary Waters Trail Preservation Association (BWTPA) is now the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee (BWAC).
Founded by hiking and backpacking enthusiasts to preserve existing trails in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of the Minnesota Superior National Forest, the committee wants to educate interested people and
organizations about the historic, environmental, geologic and recreational value of the trails now on the U.S. Forest Service official Trail Inventory.
Martin Kubik, president of the Trail Preservation Association, says, "These trails are irreplaceable public resources and the Forest Service's
seeming desire to abandon them is in direct contrast with public and political wishes. One of the trails to be removed from the Forest Service's Trail Inventory, the Kelso Mountain Trail, was designated by
former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton as a Community Millennium Trail. This trail was used in the 1940s as a firefighting trail and still has
the original fire tower footings at trail's end." Including the Kelso Mountain Trail in the Trail Inventory would be consistent with White House Act No. 13195 America's Trails for the 21st Century and with
the Boundary Waters Wilderness Act of 1978. We consider all trails in the Boundary Waters to be worthy of maintenance. We ask only that the U.S. Forest Service allow us the opportunity to preserve these
historically significant trails through our volunteer efforts.
"Although we're a relatively new organization, we've already had what
we think is a significant success. Through our efforts, we've been ale to convince the Forest Service to keep the Brule Lake Trail on its inventory. Part of this trail is the original Eagle Mountain Trail (highest
point in Minnesota) and is a former logging trail rich in historic and geological significance. We're glad to have been able to keep it an actively maintained trail. We're grateful for the Forest Service's support
in helping us keep this trail open for public use."
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