Chippewa National Forest Trails

[TrailPatrol]

Technically, the trails in the Chippewa Natonal Forest are open now, but because of the weather, they are, like everywhere else, a bit, shall we say, "soggy." We postponed new patroller training there this weekend because of the wet and cold conditions.

We are planning to have a trailwork weekend at Simpson Creek, probably late in July. Two big priorities this year are establishing some sort of bridging over the boggy sections of the Cutfoot Sioux Trail, just east of the Visitor Center, and clearing back vegetation on the D-E and I-J trails. Local patrollers will be handling the latter assignment, and we will be working with the MN Horse Council to resolve the bridge problems. The bike-in campsite on the E-M trail will be re-cleared by the Forest Service by early June, and is otherwise ready to use.

Similarly, our opening patrol of Trout Lake Trails was put on hold for a week due to the weather. The local XC ski club has been keeping the trails clear all winter. (The had over three feet of snow on the ground up there, and a very good ski/snowshoe season.) We plan to place special emphasis on the Spider and Day Lakes singletrack trails this year. These are both really spectacular trails, with a very "near-wilderness" feel to them. Day Lake (and all interior lakes in the Trout Lake system) are non-motorized. For further information, check out our websites, www.trailpatrol.org (http://www.trailpatrol.org/), www.wintersnowtrails.org (http://www.wintersnowtrails.org/) and www.backcountry-trails.com (http://www.backcountry-trails.com/) and click on the "Trails" links.

Ride safe,
:banana:
Hans Erdman
Director-Backcountry Trail Patrol
Chippewa Trails Steward
IMBA/NMBP Regional Rep.-MN, WI, SD & ND
MORC Member

[TrailPatrol]

We had planned to start patrolling up there on Satuday, but it was too hard to pedal in a Goretex snow suit, ;) so we have not had anyone on the trails yet. We should be rolling by next weekend. It will probably be wet on the east side of 46, on the Cutfoot, and at the "bridge" on Simpson Creek (Actually more of an island.) Most high ground on the west side of the creek should be good.

Have a good ride, and remember to post the conditions you find on the MORC Trail Conditions page.

Hans Erdman, WEMT
Chippewa Forest Trails Steward
Patrol Director
Backcountry Trail Patrol-MN
www.trailpatrol.org (http://www.trailpatrol.org)

In the incomparable splendor of long trails through the forests of the north, I have ridden with bears, watched the eagles soar, and seen the gray wolf watching me ride.

[jkalla]

The bridge on Simpson Creek was inaccessable last October when almost all of the rest of the trail (Cutfoot and Simpson Creek) was dry. I think that the beavers are responsible for the bridge being surrounded by water. Are there plans to correct that?

[fatbaldpop1]

We rode in the eastern area of Chippewa, NE of Deer River and west of Suomi. We rode Thursday and Friday. Almost no real wet spots, very little blow down (we cleared everything we found), lots of ticks and the mosquitos were in warm-up mode for the summer.

We rode many of the deer path spurs and those are great. Be prepared for 6" wide trails and lots of meandering and blowdown that should be left alone. It is great, and as the leaves come in getting lost is less likely.

Get out and hike, bike, run, whatever..it's all good.

[TrailPatrol]

Just to let everyone know that the Backcountry Trail Patrol will have patrollers on the Simpson Creek, Cutfoot Sioux and Trout Lake trails over the Memorial Day weekend, and into the middle of next week. The Simpson Creek patrol will be during the days on Friday and Saturday. The Trout Lake patrol will be an extended (overnight on the trail) patrol Friday through Monday, and the Cutfoot patrol will also be an extended patrol, Monday through Wednesday. If you see us out on the trails, please stop and say "Hello!"

Ride safe,
Hans Erdman, WEMT
Chippewa Forest Trails Steward
Patrol Director
Backcountry Trail Patrol- MN
www.trailpatrol.org (http://www.trailpatrol.org/)

"In the incomparable splendor of backcountry trails through the
forests of the north, I have ridden with bears, watched the eagles soar, and
glimpsed the gray wolf watching me ride." H. Erdman, Journal entry, May, 2005.

[TrailPatrol]

Three days in the Chippewa and all I can say is get up there and RIDE. Simpson Creek is in great shape except for the bridge. Few trees down, but we'll have the trails clear for the USFS Centennial. If you've never ridden up in the Chippewa, you don't know what you're missing. The ticks were even tolerable!

I posted a couple of photos in the gallery, so you could see what I mean.

Ride safe, ride NORTH!
:banana:
Hans

Hans Erdman, WEMT
Chippewa Forest Trails Steward
Patrol Director
Backcountry Trail Patrol- MN
www.trailpatrol.org (http://www.trailpatrol.org/)

"In the incomparable splendor of backcountry trails through the forests of the
north, I have ridden with bears, watched the eagles soar, and glimpsed the gray
wolf watching me ride." H. Erdman, Journal entry, May, 2005.