TrailPatrol
06-05-2005, 07:12 PM
As you have hopefully seen in other postings, July 1st marks the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the US Forest Service. For all of it's six-plus years of existence, first as part of NCMBP and then on our own, the Backcountry Trail Patrol has been a volunteer partner with the Forest Service in the Chippewa National Forest. On Saturday, July 2nd, we have a chance to celebrate this special occasion with the Service at our "home away from home," the Cutfoot-Sioux Visitor Center, as part of the centennial activities there.
As a bit of an explanation to those who do not usually get mailings on the Backcountry Patrol's list-server, the Visitor Information Center, (VIC) located near Inger, MN, 17 miles NW of Deer River on MN Hwy. 46, is the hub for both the Simpson Creek Trail System and the Cutfoot-Sioux National Recreational Trail. We adopted the Simpson Creek Trail in 1999, and have been patrolling and maintaining the system every year since then. In "Mountain Biking Minnesota" Steve Johnson described the Simpson Creek Trails as "one of the best rides in the forest." Following the examples set in IMBA's excellent "Trail Solutions" book, and the CAMBA trails system in Wisconsin, the Backcountry Patrol has been working to publicize and draw users to these beautiful trails. Last year both the Deer River and Grand Rapids newspapers ran feature articles on the Simpson Creek Trails and the patrol. The Forest Service Centennial is a wonderful opportunity for people to come up to the scenic Chippewa National Forest, ride some great trails, find out about the USFS history and future and do some great fishing!
For other National Mountain Bike Patrol members, we welcome you to come ride with our patrollers on group rides through the Simpson and Cutfoot trails. We will have free camping in a very rustic setting about five miles from the VIC, or you can take advantage of the variety of lodges, resorts and motels and six National Forest Campgrounds, which are on or adjacent to the trail system. Further information can be found on the Chippewa National Forest website (http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/chippewa/ (http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/chippewa/)) the website of the local tourism association, (http://www.edgeofthewilderness.com/attractions.htm (http://www.edgeofthewilderness.com/attractions.htm)) or www.trailpatrol.org (http://www.trailpatrol.org). On Sunday, July 3rd, we plan to lead an overnight group ride into the Trout Lake Primitive Area trails and the historic Joyce estate for anyone who would like to experience "bikepacking." (camping by mountain bike) In 2002 we added the Trout Lake Trails to the ones we have adopted in the Chippewa, and it represents some easy to moderate, but truly unique, historic and beautiful rides.
We hope that the mountain biking community will come to experience the great riding the Chippewa National Forest has to offer, if not for the Centennial, than sometime this summer. And if not this summer, the Simpson Creek and Trout Lake trails offer great snowshoeing and skiing in the winter, too!
Ride safe,
:banana:
Hans Erdman, WEMT
MORC Chippewa Forest Trails Steward
IMBA/NMBP Regional Rep. (MN, WI, ND & SD)
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.
As a bit of an explanation to those who do not usually get mailings on the Backcountry Patrol's list-server, the Visitor Information Center, (VIC) located near Inger, MN, 17 miles NW of Deer River on MN Hwy. 46, is the hub for both the Simpson Creek Trail System and the Cutfoot-Sioux National Recreational Trail. We adopted the Simpson Creek Trail in 1999, and have been patrolling and maintaining the system every year since then. In "Mountain Biking Minnesota" Steve Johnson described the Simpson Creek Trails as "one of the best rides in the forest." Following the examples set in IMBA's excellent "Trail Solutions" book, and the CAMBA trails system in Wisconsin, the Backcountry Patrol has been working to publicize and draw users to these beautiful trails. Last year both the Deer River and Grand Rapids newspapers ran feature articles on the Simpson Creek Trails and the patrol. The Forest Service Centennial is a wonderful opportunity for people to come up to the scenic Chippewa National Forest, ride some great trails, find out about the USFS history and future and do some great fishing!
For other National Mountain Bike Patrol members, we welcome you to come ride with our patrollers on group rides through the Simpson and Cutfoot trails. We will have free camping in a very rustic setting about five miles from the VIC, or you can take advantage of the variety of lodges, resorts and motels and six National Forest Campgrounds, which are on or adjacent to the trail system. Further information can be found on the Chippewa National Forest website (http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/chippewa/ (http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/chippewa/)) the website of the local tourism association, (http://www.edgeofthewilderness.com/attractions.htm (http://www.edgeofthewilderness.com/attractions.htm)) or www.trailpatrol.org (http://www.trailpatrol.org). On Sunday, July 3rd, we plan to lead an overnight group ride into the Trout Lake Primitive Area trails and the historic Joyce estate for anyone who would like to experience "bikepacking." (camping by mountain bike) In 2002 we added the Trout Lake Trails to the ones we have adopted in the Chippewa, and it represents some easy to moderate, but truly unique, historic and beautiful rides.
We hope that the mountain biking community will come to experience the great riding the Chippewa National Forest has to offer, if not for the Centennial, than sometime this summer. And if not this summer, the Simpson Creek and Trout Lake trails offer great snowshoeing and skiing in the winter, too!
Ride safe,
:banana:
Hans Erdman, WEMT
MORC Chippewa Forest Trails Steward
IMBA/NMBP Regional Rep. (MN, WI, ND & SD)
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.