TrailPatrol
07-18-2004, 09:21 PM
Spent four days in the Chippewa this week, and came away very pleased with our trails up there. Thanks to Backcountry Patroller Tom Rodengen for the help at Simpson on Friday. Pulled out almost a dozen downed trees, and re-discovered that Simpson is not just ski trails...there is some neat singletrack in there too, surrounded by tall pines and Big Winnie Lake. Reporters from both the Deer River and Grand Rapids papers came out to interview us on our work in the Simpson Creek area on Friday, and more specifically about the trails there, so hopefully more locals will come out and ride, and maybe even join the patrol!
The trails are in very good shape, but due to a beaver problem, the trail bridge over Simpson Creek is an island with railings, located about 50 feet from either shore. Right now the only option is to go around on Eagles Nest Rd. USFS crews are supposed to repair the damage in the next week or so, blow up the dam and re-locate the rodents. Tom R. will keep us posted on when it gets done. Deer flies are bad right now, but not as bad at in the Ely area earlier in the week! Best riding is in the morning, before the flies wake up.:D (Well, it worked for us!)
If you ride at Simpson, make sure you stop in the Visitors Center and let them know you're a mountain biker. The area is still seeing scant MTB use, which is why we did the interviews.
I then spent Saturday and Saturday night in at Trout Lake and the Joyce Estate. On previous trips I have used panniers and other patrol members have used the BoB trailer, because I have a rack for panniers. Something I did not remember about Trout Lake Trail is that the first mile and a half are basically uphill. It made for an interesting, uh, ride, with 30 lbs of BoB and gear behind me! (Was much more fun going out!)
Unlike Simpson, people are riding at Trout. I saw two sets of tracks going in, and a new set when I left this morning, plus I encountered a biker on the trail on my way out. We didn't talk long, as the deer flies were getting bad. He lives in the area and said the MTB traffic has increased a lot in the past two years since we have been publicizing the trail. I know five or six riders in a weekend is less than a drop in the bucket of say, Leb, but for us it is a real good increase. Also encountered six hikers, a bunch of people who boated in to the estate, and two USFS Law Enforcement Officers who drove in in their truck. (Got to get bikes for those guys!)
The highlight of this trip was exploring Day Lake Trail, which is a spur off of the main Trout Lake route. This is beautiful singletrack that leads past Day Lake, a wilderness (no motors or easy access) lake about 2/3s of a mile from Trout. I will post a couple pictures in the photo area. Local riders have evidently cleared out any blowdown, and it was a fun, rolling, scenic ride.
I continue to be impressed with the perfomance of my new Trek 4600, and it did quite well with the BoB on the back. Wish I could say the same for me!
Fatbaldpop, I guess you were at Suomi while I was across the street at Trout. Sorry I missed you! Maybe next time!
Ride safe,
Hans
The trails are in very good shape, but due to a beaver problem, the trail bridge over Simpson Creek is an island with railings, located about 50 feet from either shore. Right now the only option is to go around on Eagles Nest Rd. USFS crews are supposed to repair the damage in the next week or so, blow up the dam and re-locate the rodents. Tom R. will keep us posted on when it gets done. Deer flies are bad right now, but not as bad at in the Ely area earlier in the week! Best riding is in the morning, before the flies wake up.:D (Well, it worked for us!)
If you ride at Simpson, make sure you stop in the Visitors Center and let them know you're a mountain biker. The area is still seeing scant MTB use, which is why we did the interviews.
I then spent Saturday and Saturday night in at Trout Lake and the Joyce Estate. On previous trips I have used panniers and other patrol members have used the BoB trailer, because I have a rack for panniers. Something I did not remember about Trout Lake Trail is that the first mile and a half are basically uphill. It made for an interesting, uh, ride, with 30 lbs of BoB and gear behind me! (Was much more fun going out!)
Unlike Simpson, people are riding at Trout. I saw two sets of tracks going in, and a new set when I left this morning, plus I encountered a biker on the trail on my way out. We didn't talk long, as the deer flies were getting bad. He lives in the area and said the MTB traffic has increased a lot in the past two years since we have been publicizing the trail. I know five or six riders in a weekend is less than a drop in the bucket of say, Leb, but for us it is a real good increase. Also encountered six hikers, a bunch of people who boated in to the estate, and two USFS Law Enforcement Officers who drove in in their truck. (Got to get bikes for those guys!)
The highlight of this trip was exploring Day Lake Trail, which is a spur off of the main Trout Lake route. This is beautiful singletrack that leads past Day Lake, a wilderness (no motors or easy access) lake about 2/3s of a mile from Trout. I will post a couple pictures in the photo area. Local riders have evidently cleared out any blowdown, and it was a fun, rolling, scenic ride.
I continue to be impressed with the perfomance of my new Trek 4600, and it did quite well with the BoB on the back. Wish I could say the same for me!
Fatbaldpop, I guess you were at Suomi while I was across the street at Trout. Sorry I missed you! Maybe next time!
Ride safe,
Hans