Chequemegan Dilemma

[JHM]

Up north with too many options: the sun is shining, wind is still and it is 48 degrees, should I go fishing or riding?

Any recommendations for single track in the Hayward/Cable area. Also any recommendations on bike shops in the area?

Thanks

[noise_is_life]

Umm, you're asking the wrong crowd, riding of course :)

The Ojibwe Trail is pretty sweet, 12 miles of burly singletrack that starts (and ends) at Telemark Lodge. You should be able to get maps at the Cable Chamber of Commerce.

[halls]

there always the Namkagon Cluster of trails. Rock lake is about 10miles ,all single track. It's about 4 to 5 miles past Telemark close to lake woods resort. Bring your fishing pole and trek back in the woods on the pasty trail (12.5mi) . A couple of nice lakes back in there. I don't know about carrying your pole though.

[Magic]

For maps of the trails, stop into the new moon bike shop just out of Hayward on the way up to Cable. There is a great trail just out from Telemark Lodge that a friend and myself did last fall. Don't remember the name of the trail, but it's on the map. I'd call up there to see how much rain they've had lately. The trails get very wet up there and stay wet for some time. My choice is for riding. Have fun and keep the rubber side down.:laugh: :)

[GearDaddy]

I'm going up there this weekend too. Definitely must do riding! The Cheq trails actually do dry out pretty well, although some trails can have large puddles for weeks.

As far as bike shops, it's pretty much New Moon on Hwy 63 at the north end of Hayward, and there is still a bike shop in Seeley (used to be right by Hwy 63, but now is in the new lodge a little further from the highway). Maps should be available at these shops or at any of the cluster trailheads.

As far as singletrack, the Ojibwe trail at Telemark, Rock Lake/Patsy Lake trails at the Namekagon cluster, the North Country trail (going east from Hwy D about 5 miles south of Grandview), and the West Fork trail in the Delta cluster are the best. But the real great thing about Cheq is that you can string together many trails of singletrack, doubletrack, and fire road for some good loooong rides.

Looks like rain is in the forecast, but that's OK as you can still find lots of great riding besides the singletracks. My favorite place to go for rainy day conditions is the Seeley cluster. It has lots of good fire roads, doubletrack, and the Birkie trail that all traverse hilly terrain. There are a multitude of ways to construct a route that brings you to the infamous Seeley fire tower vista.

[TrailPatrol]

We held training up near Telemark last week, and pulled off Ojibwe because it was so wet. Stick to the fire roads and forest lanes until things get dried out. The forest stays wet longer than the roadways. There is a new Rock Lake Trail route, and maps are available from the USFS in Hayward, or the Cable Chamber. The old RL trail is closed.

Riverbrook Bike from Spooner opened a new shop in Seeley, in the old church just south of the Saloon. Looks like it is not quite up to 100% yet, but it's getting there.

Weather permitting, you should see some new patrollers from the Barmy Dogs MTB Patrolout in the RL area. Make sure to say "hi!"

Ride safe,
:banana:
Hans

[nigel]

Up north with too many options: the sun is shining, wind is still and it is 48 degrees, should I go fishing or riding?

Any recommendations for single track in the Hayward/Cable area. Also any recommendations on bike shops in the area?

Thanks

Ya know, Id rather go fishing :) A kick ass bike ride is always around the corner, but a great day fishing may never repeat itself, and you get to eat it! But then again i ride too much too sometimes!

D

[Ogre]

You should be at work before VL, DO and BL screw everything up!

[JHM]

Ya know, Id rather go fishing :) A kick ass bike ride is always around the corner, but a great day fishing may never repeat itself, and you get to eat it! But then again i ride too much too sometimes!
D
I may have made the wrong choice on Friday. I went fishing, caught three really nice smallmouths (sorry Doug, catch and release only in Wis 'till June sometime). Maybe I'll fish for the boring but tasty walleye in the rain today.

Anyway, now the storms are rolling into the forest. I guess I will just have to stay up here until it dries out. If anyone knows my boss tell him I'll be back if this global climatic change thing ever gets back to the much missed drought phase of last year.

[Tim Wegner]

Just spent the day in Cable WI on the Rock Lake trail--not riding, doing trail design and training some people on the Bobcat. The new trails that are currently being worked on will challenge all levels of riders. We found some great rock gardens and sent the trail right through the middle of them. We have some tremendous sideslope exposure. 70% sideslope with 20-30 feet of open ground on the downhill side of the trails.

Showed the trail boss up there how to build some additional challenge into the trails as they exist in other words, make an easy line and a hard line or one with a drop in off of a rock. I spent much of the day with the ranger, Dave Nelson, and he is really excited about adding challenge to the trail. He is 61 years young and has dreams of having the entire trails system re-done before he retires in 4 years. Dave loves this forest and knows it like the back of his hand and can he move--we must have hiked 6-7 miles today and I had one heck of a time keeping up with him.

Dave is hoping this area will once again become a destination for mountain bikers. The segement of the trail that we designed today should be almost completed by September. The section that Dale Gundberg and I built last year is open and boy was it in nice shape even after 3/4" of rain last night. I think that this fall the trails up there should be in excellent shape for riding. It only took me 3 hours to get to the trail head this morning so it is not far from the cities. I think as the system develops we should focus a bit more attention on it and make a visit to the area to take in some great trails.

TW

[ryno lite]

I've always loved taking a weekend to head up there and I can't wait for that set of trails to be done! Can't wait to see CAMBA's, Dale's and your work on the trail!

[TML]

Great work Tim. Thanks for the update. I'll be anxious to get back up there and ride some of the new stuff. Sounds like a great fall trip.

Thanks for all your work.