BAYFIELD COUNTY CREATES NON-MOTORIZED RECREATION AREA
The North End Ski Club was very pleased with the recent decision by Bayfield County Forester, Paul Lundberg, to designate a large block of the County Forest in the Cable area as a Non-Motorized Recreation Area. This designation comes as a result of work Lundberg had been doing 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 ten to 15 years. The American Birkebeiner ski trail bisects the area and runs for about three miles from Telemark property in the north, 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 the county forest. For the past 11 years The Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA) has used this same area for its Sleigh Trail, Short & Fat and the recently constructed Ojibwe Trail. And of course, the North End Ski Club has its Birkie access trail and our 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 Non-Motorized 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 four square miles. Most major access points to the area have been gated or bermed. It should be noted that while the area has been designated for non-motorized 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.
WAYNE LINDSKOOG - In Fond Memory
The North End Ski Club and the entire ski community of the Cable/Hayward area was sadden by the passing of Wayne Lindskoog this past December. As you may know, Wayne was one of the original "Founders" of the American Birkebeiner - the elite group of skiers who skied the first 10 Birkies. Wayne went on to ski a total of 27 consecutive Birkies. He and his wife Jackie had recently retired and resided on Blue Moon Road in Drummond.
Wayne was a man of quiet intellect with an enthusiasm for life, family and the outdoors. We miss his wisdom and experience, dedication and most of all, his friendship. The North End Ski Club extends its sincere condolences to Jackie and her sons Mark and Alan.
NORTH END ADDS CLASSIC TRAIL
The big news regarding trails this year is the plan to create a new classical trail in the North End system. The new trail will largely use existing roads and trails not presently used as ski trails with only a couple of short segments of new construction. The classic trail will not be a single continuous loop, but rather a series of connecting segments that run between portions of the existing trail. The Classic will divert from the main trail at NE3 and head briefly to the west where it will gradually hook 180 degrees to the east. It will run parallel to the North End Trail for about 1.5 km until reaching the Birkie Trail. It will then be necessary to ski the Birkie Trail north about 100 meters to the top of the hill affectionately known as Big Bertha. At the top the classic resumes with a long gradual descent to the northwest. After a brief climb and a short quick drop it intersects the North End Trail just west of NE4 and continues up a hill to tie into the Bearpaw snowshoe trail. The classic will then run on the snowshoe trail until again reaching the main ski trail near NE2. The snowshoe trail will be rerouted to avoid the ski trail. The classical only trail will be about 3 to 3.5 km. We hope to incorporate portions of the new trail into this year's North End Classic race.
NORTH END TO BEGIN GROOMING TRAILS
Probably the biggest news coming out of the North End this year is our decision to begin grooming the North End ski trails on our own. For the past several years we have contracted grooming services. It was felt that it would ultimately be in our best interest to invest in some grooming equipment and do the grooming ourselves. Last spring we put a deposit on a Skidoo Scandic Widetrack snowmobile from Ave's in Hurley and recently purchased a used 6-foot Tidd Tech from ABR Trails. We will take delivery on the snowmobile in October.
Jack Moin has agreed to help advise our club groomers and in part coordinate the grooming. We will obviously need some volunteers to help keep the trail groomed at least twice and perhaps three times a week. Anyone with grooming experience or wishing to learn should contact us and get on our list. Once we get organized we will put together a schedule for the entire season. We're all geared up, so all we need now is snow!
FUND RAISING DRIVE TO BEGIN
The purchase of the snowmobile, Tidd Tech and other related grooming equipment and supplies will set us back in the neighborhood of $10,000. To help pay for the equipment we will be holding a special fund raising drive this fall and winter. We hope you can help us out. We will be sending out a separate mailing shortly with an appeal for contributions for the grooming equipment. Thanks in advance for your generosity.
WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS
We have had two openings on the North End board of directors since last season. Joining us are Bill Ton and Lon Anderson. Bill is a retired superintendent of schools and lives in Namakagon. Lon lives in Cable and comes from a highly competitive family of skiers, bikers and runners. Both will be great additions to our team. Welcome guys!
WORK DAY - OCTOBER 11
Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 11 for our annual fall North End work day starting at 9:00AM at the North End Cabin. We have a lot to do to get the North End ready for the ski season. Projects include trail maintenance - picking rocks, trimming brush, repairing ruts, and a few cabin projects. All tools will be provided as well as food and beverages.
MEMBERSHIPS - IT'S TIME TO RENEW North End Ski Club memberships expire on November 1. We hope your will use the form on page four of this newsletter to renew your membership as soon as possible. Your support is needed and much appreciated.
NORTH END CLASSIC - FEBRUARY 8, 2004
Mark you calendar for the fourth, yes fourth, annual North End Classic on February 8, 2004. The Classic continues to gain popularity and we hope to see a good crowd on race day despite a very crowded race calendar this year.
RACE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
It's never too early to offer your assistance for the North End Classic. This year we anticipate a need for course control monitors and assistance at the start/finish area. If you have the day open please consider lending us a hand. Contact Ron Bergin at 715/798-3599 or rbergin@cheqnet.net.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED
The 2003 Preston and Dottie Morrell Memorial Scholarship was awarded in May to Drummond High School graduating senior Angela Jordahl. Angela was the unanimous selection among several entries. She submitted an extremely well written application and was the obvious choice for the $350 scholarship.
WANTED
Groomers to help groom the North End Ski Trails this winter. Experience - good, but not necessary. Call 715/798-3599 or email rbergin@cheqnet.net.
Coming soon to a trail near you the North End’s new Tidd Tech! (caption)
North End Ski Club
MEMBERSHIP FORM
All members receive periodic mailings informing them of progress and other developments, invitations to Club ski and other social events, opportunity to vote for the board of directors, opportunity to serve on the board of directors, and opportunity to attend and participate in the Club annual meeting in April. Most of all, you will have the knowledge that you have been part of an historic development, one which will have significant long term benefits, not only for you as a skier, but for the entire Cable area.
o YES! I would like to RENEW my membership!
o YES! I would like to become a NEW member!
MEMBERSHIP LEVEL:
o Individual Member - $15.00 o Family Member - $25.00
o Business Member - $40.00 o Premium Member - $75.00
Name
Street
City
State ______________ Zip ____________
Telephone _________________________ E-mail ___________________
Please clip and mail with your check to: North End Ski Club, P.O. Box
192, Cable, WI 54821
Thank You!
Tamarack Point