MAKWA TRAIL COMPLETED

The Makwa Trail from Mosquito Brook to the Birkie Cabin at Hwy OO is finished. We tamped the golden shovel of dirt at the foot of the picnic table hill on Thursday, Sept 3. What seemed an optimistic dream four years ago is now a reality. You can now traverse the woods on bike or on foot via 21 miles of sweet single track between Hatchery Creek Park in Hayward and OO. Through the fall there will be some volunteer work tweaking the details on this summer's 7.8 new miles of Makwa from Gravel Pit to 00. But the trail is all open and ready to ride. Volunteer opportunities will be on Monday evenings at 00 at 5:30, weather permitting.

Thank you, one and all, who helped on this epic CAMBA project. We employed 32 people during the four summers. The volunteer hours numbered in the thousands. (Which means we lost count, but we're sure there were at least that many.) The project was funded entirely by CAMBA through grants and contributions from enlightened business owners, wise governmental bodies, interested groups and organizations, cycling enthusiasts and generous CAMBA members. (If I am leaving anyone out, my apologies and Thank You.) Contributions are still needed, both to replenish the CAMBA coffers for this trail and to fund more trails in the planning stages. Send your dollars to CAMBA, P.O. Box 141, Cable, Wi. 54821.

Access the Makwa at the Birkie rest cabin at OO 3 miles east of Seeley, at Gravel Pit Rd. east of Hayward (100 yards south of the Birkie Trail/Gravel Pit Rd. crossing), and at the Birkie parking lot at Mosquito Brook Rd. The Makwa is a two way trail except for a 3/4 mile loop that starts and ends at the Birkie Cabin on OO. Hatchery Creek Trail extends from Mosquito Brook Rd. to Hatchery Creek Park two miles east of Hayward off Hwy 77 and is a one way trail with loops at both trailheads. Both trails are challenging but non-technical, meaning no major obstacles to ride over, and suitable for riders of all abilities. The easiest section, for beginning off road riders, runs south from Gravel Pit Rd. The most difficult sections are from Hatchery Creek to Mosquito Brook and south from OO. The loop at OO is rated easy to moderate.

The trails are entirely on Sawyer County Forest land. Expressing your appreciation for the use of the forest to the Sawyer County Forestry Committee would help build our rapport with a governmental body whose support is crucial to our goal of building cycling opportunities in the area. Email the county forester and the chairman of the committee and tell them where you are from and what the trail means to you. By the nature of our activity, we are invisible to them unless we make the effort to let them know we exist. The more aware of us they are, the more willing they are to work with us in the future on new trails, protecting our existing trails from logging and motorized use, etc. Here are the links: greg.peterson@sawyercountygov.org and james.bassett@sawyercountygov.org.

Ride on, Steve Morales for CAMBA