CAMBA IMBA Epic Trail Dedication to Highlight Festival of the Trails

Earlier this year the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) announced that the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA) trails had received an IMBA Epic Trail designation. This prestigious recognition is only one of six Epics announced last year.

The IMBA Epic route will be formally dedicated in a brief ceremony on National Trails Day, Saturday, June 4 at 2:00 p.m. The dedication will take place at the Rock Lake Trailhead, seven miles east of Cable on County Highway M and is part of the third annual CAMBA Festival of the Trails. CAMBA officials will address the attendees and acknowledge the hard work that went into creating these trails.

CAMBA’s IMBA Epic trail is actually a compilation of trails in the Namakagon Cluster of the CAMBA trails. It combines the Rock Lake, Namakagon and Patsy Lake trails. With the exception of a couple short segments of linking double-track, it is otherwise entirely singletrack trails. The total route is approximately 31 miles.

Following the dedication ceremony, guided rides on the Epic route will be offered from three different trailheads, Rock Lake, Namakagon and Wilson Lake for Festival participants wishing to ride all or part of the Epic route. Riders not wishing to do the more technically challenging portions of the route may opt for the Patsy Lake segment, which starts from the Wilson Lake Trailhead.

For more information about the Festival of the Trails, visit www.cambatrails.org.

Taste de Trails - Fine Dining on Two Wheels

Imagine pedaling your fat tire bike around the forest periodically pausing to snack on delicious treats provided by some of the top restaurants from around the region and you’ll get an idea of what Taste de Trails is all about.

Part of the third annual Festival of the Trails presented by the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association, the Taste de Trails will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 4. “The ‘Taste’ is essentially a rolling food fest,” says CAMBA executive director Ron Bergin. Six area restaurants, from Hayward to Cable to Namakagon to Delta have been invited to participate in this year’s Taste de Trails. Each will be providing a sample of their wares to the 150-plus participants in Festival of the Trails. By the time they visit each of the six stops on the eight-mile route, riders will have consumed a progressive trail lunch.

Riders will depart from the Festival base at the County Hwy OO Trailhead in Seeley at 10:00 a.m. after first enjoying a cup of coffee and scone from Mooselips Java Joint. A short ride down the Makwa bike trail Lakewoods Resort from Lake Namakagon will provide the next course in the day’s feature event. Another short ride will bring participants to the Delta Diner soon followed by the Rookery Pub from Cable. The Rivers Eatery, also from Cable, will conclude the main courses. Upon returning to the OO Trailhead riders will finish up their ride-meal with a dessert treat from Cable’s Brickhouse Café.

If you’re looking for a bike ride with a decidedly different “flavor,” then the Taste de Trails should be on your menu. The Taste de Trails is just one of many fun, non-competitive events offered at this year’s Festival of the Trails. Registration is available online until Thursday, June 2. On-site registration begins at the County OO Trailhead at 12:00 noon on Friday, June 3 and again on Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. For more information visit www.cambatrails.org.

Remaining Trails to Open Friday, May 13

All CAMBA trails will officially be open on Friday, May 13, including all trails in Sawyer County (Hayward & Seeley Clusters).

With several major storms rolling through the area this week and up to a half inch of rain predicted for Saturday, riders should exercise good judgment when deciding to ride immediately follow substantial rainfall. The good news is that most of the trails drain well and quickly. However, if you are leaving more than a knobby tire tread impression, the trails are too soft and you should limit your riding to fire roads.

Trails with grass and other vegetation tend to retain water longer and for this reason CAMBA requests that riders refrain from riding any of the area ski trails at this time, including the Birkie and Birkie Classic trails. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Remaining Trails to Open Friday, May 13

All CAMBA trails will officially be open on Friday, May 13, including all trails in Sawyer County (Hayward & Seeley Clusters).

With several major storms rolling through the area this week and up to a half inch of rain predicted for Saturday, riders should exercise good judgment when deciding to ride immediately follow substantial rainfall. The good news is that most of the trails drain well and quickly. However, if you are leaving more than a knobby tire tread impression, the trails are too soft and you should limit your riding to fire roads.

Trails with grass and other vegetation tend to retain water longer and for this reason CAMBA requests that riders refrain from riding any of the area ski trails at this time, including the Birkie and Birkie Classic trails. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Limited Trail Openings This Weekend

Despite yet another rainy spring day (at least it's not snowing), we anticipate several trail openings this weekend. Conditions have dried up considerably since last week, and with a 60-degree, dry day expected for Friday, riding conditions should be very good this weekend.

As always please exercise good judgement and discretion when deciding to ride after wet weather. If you're leaving a tire impression deeper that a knobby tire tread, conditions are too soft and you should ride on firelanes and gravel roads.

Open Trails - May 7, 2011

Cable Cluster
Ojibwe Trail
Telemark Springs Trail

Namakagon Cluster
Rock Lake Trail
Namakagon Trail
Glacier Trail
Patsy Lake Trail

Drummond Cluster
All trails

Delta Cluster
All trails

PLEASE DO NOT RIDE ON THE BIRKIE OR BIRKIE CLASSIC TRAILS.

At this time we do not know if trails, other than fire roads, in the Seeley or Hayward Clusters will be open this weekend. Watch for updates.

CAMBA Trail Work this Saturday, May 7

Looking for a way to help CAMBA advance its trail building program

without breaking your back?

Several volunteers are needed to help "swamp" the new trail being built from Cty Hwy OO north. Work is light-duty, compared to digging the trail, and entails picking up and removing from the trail corridor brush and deadfall that have already been cut and is still lying on the ground.

Plan on meeting at Cty Hwy OO Trailhead at 9:00 and then driving to the work site.

Please contact Stan Walczak who will be leading the project at smwalczak47@msn.com if you have any questions.

The trail building season has begun.

Thanks for your help!