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Capitol Square Sprints becomes Winter Festival This February 2-3, 2008, the fourth annual Capitol SquareSprints will transform into the Madison Winter Festival by adding additionalfamily activities, such as a snow sculpting competition, a tubing hill andwinter themed events at area museums. The Capitol Square Sprints began in January 2005 as a uniqueevent at which cross-country skiers raced around the Capitol Square in downtownMadison, Wisconsin. It served as a qualifier for the 2006 Winter Olympic Gamesin Torino, Italy. Following its inauguration, Capitol Square Sprints receivedparticipation requests from a variety of community groups whose subsequentinvolvement led to a wider rangeof recreational events and a festive weekend atmosphere. In 2007, the organizing committee decided to rename the event to better reflect its nature, and the Madison Winter Festival was created. Cross-country skiing will remain a component of the event.Unlike the first two years of the Capitol Square Sprints, however, theorganizers do not intend to truck in enough snow to cover all four sides of thecapitol, which created a mile-long course. Instead, the course will be"simplified": It will be a half block long, from Wisconsin Avenue to MartinLuther King, and there will not be a bridge, according to Madison Nordic SkiClub's December newsletter. The course will accomodate recreational skiers, the statehigh school championships, SuperTour races and even a "kids race with Olympicstars" event featuring two gold medalists. For more information, go to www.winter-fest.com or call608/204-9550. Horribly Hilly Hundredsregistration opens Jan. 19 The sixth annual Horribly Hilly Hundreds Challenge Ride willbe held on Saturday, June 14, 2008. Registration will open Saturday, January19, at www.bikereg.com. Organizers of the popular bike tour through hillysouthwestern Wisconsin will accept the first 1,000 online registrants. New for 2008 is a registration lottery permitting another300 riders. See www. horriblyhilly.com for updates. Mount Ashwabay rec area preserved A public-private partnership effort to acquireenvironmentally sensitive and valuable recreational lands will ensure publicenjoyment of the Mount Ashwabay area near northern Bayfield, Wisconsin, forgenerations to come as well as provide a boost to the region's economy. Ruth Oppedahl, executive director of the Bayfield RegionalConservancy, said a $40,000 donation from Murphy Oil USA's Superior Refineryhelped cap the purchase of some 1,040 acres around the Mount Ashwabay OutdoorRecreation Area with a final parcel of 160 acres. Along with donations from other individuals and businesses,the Murphy Oil gift triggered matching support from Wisconsin's Knowles-NelsonStewardship Grant Program totaling $240,000 and investment of funds fromBayfield County, which will hold permanent title to the land. The Wisconsin Legislature created the Knowles-Nelson programin 1989 to preserve valuable natural areas and wildlife habitat, protect ourwater resources and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation. "The land surrounding Mount Ashwabay is unique not onlybecause of its geographical features and varied wildlife habitat, but becauseof its tradition of public access and recreational offerings," Oppedahl said. "By purchasing this land from private owners and transferringthe ownership to Bayfield County and the state of Wisconsin, we are creating anasset that will benefit our community today and for the foreseeable future. Wewould like to thank our public and private partners for making this dream areality," she said. The purchase of the final 160 acres allows for continuedaccess to more than 30 miles of hiking and skiing trails and secures animportant parcel adjacent to the Mount Ashwabay downhill ski area as well asthe summer home of the Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua. The vibrant mix ofwinter and summer recreation and leisure attractions make the area an importantcontributor to the local economy. Bayfield County Administrator Mark Abeles-Allison, who alsoserves on the board of the local economic development corporation, said theBayfield Regional Conservancy's success in coordinating the purchase of theland is important because it ensures long-term access and allows the communityto better promote the area to potential visitors. The Bayfield Regional Conservancy is a locally based,nonprofit land trust that works in Bayfield, Ashland, Sawyer and Douglascounties to preserve and protect land through acquisition, conservationeasements and partnerships. The conservancy was founded by local citizens in 1996.Operating as an all-volunteer organization, the conservancy's first majorproject concentrated on saving the Brownstone Trail, a railroad grade thatserves as a public walking trail from Bayfield to Port Superior Marina. Today, the conservancy seeks projects that protect naturalresources and also provide for a strong, local economy that is based on thebeauty of the Bayfield region. For more information,
visit www.brcland.org. County trails in Wisconsinto receive funding Several recreational trail improvement and developmentprojects in northeastern Wisconsin will move ahead thanks to $681,000 in grantsthe DNR plans to release to local governments. The projects approved for funding include:
If additional funds become available, additional grants maybe made to other communities for similar public outdoor recreation projects. These types of actions normally do not involve significantenvironmental effects. The department is, however, soliciting public commentabout the impacts of these proposals. Based on the comments received, thedepartment may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding withapproval or denial of any of the proposals. The deadline for comments isJanuary 10, 2008. The projects are tentatively selected for grant awards,subject to additional reviews that may include the Wisconsin State HistoricalSociety, various First Nation groups, Environmental permit
administrators,approval by the office of governor, the secretary of the Wisconsin Departmentof Natural Resources or the National Park Service. Birkebeiner grants to benefit youth skiers Sixteen youth cross-country ski programs will get a boostthis winter thanks to funding from the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation(ABSF). The foundation recently awarded $13,850 to programs around the countrytargeted to youth skiers. "We received applications from 24 programs and awardedfunding to 16, mostly to allow the purchase of loaner ski equipment to enablemore kids to get involved in cross-country skiing," said Ned Zuelsdorff,executive director of ABSF. "We're hopeful many will get hooked and adoptcross-country skiing as a way to get outside and stay in shape." To date, more than $118,850 has been awarded to 126 skiclubs and organizations throughout the U.S. ABSF Skier Development grants fund the creation or expansionof youth skier programs, purchase of loaner ski equipment for participants,purchase of ski hats and uniforms to foster team building and participation,and reduce travel costs to ski events and clinics. The Midwest grant recipients include:
The American Birkebeiner will celebrate its 35th anniversaryFebruary 21-23. More than 7,000 skiers are expected to register for the 51KAmerican Birkebeiner and 23K Kortelopet. Another 2,000 are expected for shorterraces and events. Zuelsdorff hopes some of those skiers include youth from the16 programs funded by 2007 Skier Development grants. "We offer a number of youth events including the JuniorBirkie, the CheqTel 5K and 10K, Prince Haakon 12K, and the 23K Kortelopet," hesaid. "We encourage youth skiers, new skiers and
long-time skiers from the U.S.and abroad to join us for a really great week." Ontonagon Snowshoe Race to honor mid-1800s mail carriers Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 16, for thefourth annual Jock Kemp Snowshoe Race in Ontonagon, Michigan, sponsored by theOntonagon County Historical Society The race draws inspiration from Ontonagon's mail carrierswho traveled by snowshoe in the mid-1800s. Usually, the mail would simplyaccumulate and get delivered after the spring breakup of Lake Superior's ice,but in the winter of 1858-59, the mail was sent to the nearest open facilityinstead, which happened to be Wausau, Wisconsin. The Wausau postmaster decided that he should try to deliverthe mail to Ontonagon, and so he put out a contract, receiving only one bidder– a man known only as Kemp. Traveling alone, Kemp snowshoed and drove a dog team withthe mail to Ontonagon, earning $100 for his efforts. His route was up theWisconsin River to the Watersmeet area, then down the Middle Branch of theOntonagon, which took him through some rugged country near present-dayPaynesville and north of Bruce Crossing. Kemp's contract called for monthly delivery to Ontonagon.However, he proved unreliable. He missed a month, then made a run and thenfailed to show for three consecutive months. By this time, 12 bushel baskets ofOntonagon mail had piled up. In desperation, the Wausau postmaster hiredanother man, Levi Fleming, and his unnamed assistant to deliver Ontonagon'smail for the final time. Fleming and company paddled upstream on the Wisconsin Riveras fast as possible, then hid their canoe in the woods and proceeded onsnowshoes since the winter's snow had not melted from the woods yet. Uponreaching the Ontonagon River, they found it open, built a raft, and floated themail on down to Ontonagon. To honor the intrepid snowshoers who carried the winter mailto Ontonagon back when the town was brand new, the Jock Kemp Snowshoe Race wasborn. Participants will be given a "letter" to deliver. Time ofdeparture will be recorded, as will time of delivery into the mail bin at thefinish line. Best time wins, of course. T-shirts will not be provided, but division winners will share half of the money taken in entry fees. If you have any questions, contact either Bruce Johanson at906/884-6886 or johanson@up.net, or Tom Jachim at 906/884-4692 or lostbowl@up.net, or the Ontonagon County Historical Society
museum at 906/884-6165 or ochsmuse@up.net. Bike Wisconsin announces2008 tour routes Bike Wisconsin has announced its 2008 dates for theGRABAAWR, Bike Northwoods and SAGBRAW bicycle tours, and will introduce a newnorthwest route for the Bike Northwoods tour. GRABAAWR (GReat Annual Bicycle Adventure Along the WisconsinRiver) is scheduled for June 21-28, starting in Eagle River and ending inPrairie du Chien. The overnight communities for 2008 include Rhinelander,Merrill, Stevens Point, Adams-Friendship, Baraboo and Richland Center. The Bike Northwoods Tour will celebrates its 10th anniversaryJuly 5-11 with a new route in the northwest. This week-long bicyclingadventure starts in Ashland and journeys though the Chequamegon National Forestbefore ending along the Mississippi River north of La Crosse. Theovernight communities for 2008 include Drummond, Hayward, Rice Lake, Menomonieand Pepin. SAGBRAW (Schramm's Annual Great Bicycle Ride AcrossWisconsin) is Wisconsin's oldest cross-state bicycle tour and enters its 31styear with a west to east route starting in La Crosse and ending in Kewaskum. From July 27 to August 2, cyclists set their own pace between overnightstays in Tomah, Mauston, Baraboo and Waupun. This family-friendly andfully-supported tour features a layover day in Baraboo, allowing folks toexplore the numerous opportunities of entertainment in the surrounding area,from a day at the Wisconsin Dells to an evening at the Summerset Theatre. For more information, contact Becky Afonso at 608/843-8412or Becky@bikewisconsin.com. Wisconsin state trails named 'Aldo Leopold Legacy Trail System' Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle in November named the Wisconsinstate trail system in honor of Wisconsin conservationist Aldo Leopold. Doylesigned Senate Bill 161 into law to name the Wisconsin state trails the AldoLeopold Legacy Trail System. The trail system will keep the legacy of Leopoldalive and teach a new generation about the importance of conservation andwildlife ecology. "Wisconsin has a storied history of conservation andpreservation of our precious natural resources," Doyle said. "Wisconsin's beautifullakes, forests and prairies are the essence of who we are in this state. Ourrich history of conservation has given us the beautiful state we have today andthe bright future we have ahead of us. The Aldo Leopold Legacy TrailSystem will carry on this tradition by allowing many to experience theuntouched natural resources of our great state." Doyle thanked Sens. Mark Miller and Neal Kedzie, and Reps.Scott Gunderson, Spencer Black and Gary Hebl for their work on the bill. The Aldo Leopold Legacy Trail System will preserve thepersonal experience of Wisconsin's natural landscape that was so inspiring toLeopold and his work. There are 42 state trails covering 1,728 miles in allregions of the state. The trails will continue to allow residents and visitorsof all ages to experience Wisconsin's unspoiled beauty, and students will beable to experience and learn about Wisconsin's natural resources hands-on. Leopold is widely considered as the father of wildlifeecology and management. He was a prolific writer in ecology and philosophy, andis most famous for publishing A Sand County Almanac. Leopold taught a landethic that encourages humans to embrace the land and its resources as part oftheir community. He received much of his inspiration while living on hisfamily's farm in Baraboo. At the ceremony Doyle was joined by Leopold's daughter, NinaLeopold Bradley. Devil's Lake StatePark trails to host new Aldo Leopold Trail Half Marathon Great Lakes Endurance, in collaboration with the AldoLeopold Foundation, will introduce a new half marathon on the trails of Devil'sLake State Park Oct. 25, 2008. "We share a rigorous environmental ethic with the AldoLeopold Foundation. As a result, our collaboration has been positive andinspiring. The race course will be equally so," said Jeff Crumbaugh, racecoordinator for Great Lakes Endurance. The course will ramble through the radically glaciatedterrain of the park near Baraboo, Wisconsin. The venue will provide runnersopportunities to run through rolling prairie, wind through stands of largewhite pine and climb into the rocky highlands overlooking Devil's Lake. Crumbaugh was first approached with the idea of hosting arace in the state park by Craig Maier, a Baraboo runner and communicationscoordinator at the Aldo Leopold Foundation. The foundation is headquartered atthe Aldo Leopold Legacy Center 10 miles north of Devil's Lake. "It's about connecting people to the land," Maier said ofthe mission his organization shares with Great Lakes Endurance. Pre-race events will include tours of the new Legacy Center– the recipient of the highest grade for energy conservation andenvironmental design yet awarded by the U.S. Green Building Center. Similar to other Great Lakes Endurance events, the halfmarathon runners will receive U.S. made, organic cotton event shirts. Thefoundation will give each runner a free copy of Leopold's Sand County Almanac. Post-race festivities will include a cookout featuring localand organic foods. Prizes will include Cedar Grove cheese and Vasque trailrunning shoes. Both a 5K run and a 2K Kid's Run will be featured along withthe half marathon. The event will raise funds for environmental educationefforts the Aldo Leopold Foundation (www.aldoleopold.org). Race and registration information can be found at www.greatlakesenduranc.com Navarino Snowshoe Adventureto debut March 1 The Navarino Nature Center trails near Shiocton, Wisconsin,will for the first time host snowshoe races organized by Great Lakes Enduranceon Saturday, March 1. Snowshoers will be able to participate in one or more of theraces, with distances of 5 miles, 2.5 miles and a 4x800 meter relay. An800-meter youth race and a 3-mile interpretive tour will also take place. The courses will feature about 60 percent groomed trails and40 percent backcountry singletrack through bogs, over ridges and windingthrough pine forest. There will be a campfire and locally-made gourmet food available. The nature center has available to rent 50 pairs of modern snowshoes for youth and adults and 30 pairs of traditional snowshoes. Register online at www.greatlakesenduranc.com |
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