55 Minutes in Old Town

Went out for a quick ride tonight in Old Town Negaunee. Found a new spur that came out on top of a great vista. Trails are in prime shape. Amazing what 7" of snow can do to settle the dust and start greening up the trails. Sunset was around 9:30pm. Great light, nice temps. Get out and ride this weekend. It looks to be golden.

7-Day Forecast for Latitude 46.54°N and Longitude 87.53°W (Elev. 1456 ft)

7-Day Forecast for Latitude 46.54°N and Longitude 87.53°W (Elev. 1456 ft)

Westward Ho! Well, at least to Duluth.

The first shipment of UPMTB print has been mailed to shops in the western U.P., Wisconsin and Minnesota. For a list of shops look below.

Iron Mountain, Michigan:
-Mortl's Sports Center

Iron River, Michigan:
-Hobby Wheel Ski & Bike

Ashland, Wisconsin:
-Bay City Cycles

Hayward, Wisconsin:
-New Moon Ski Shop
-Riverbrook Bike & Ski

Green Bay Metro Area:
-Bike Hub
-Gear N Up Bicycle Shop
-Wheel & Spocket

Duluth, Minnesota:
-The Ski Hut
-Continental Ski & Bike

Limited copies will be available. If you don't get a chance to pick one up let them know they need more.

Gotta' Love the U.P.

Where It All Began

I recently took a spin on Blue Loop of the South Trails, Marquette. These trails have a certain nostalgia for me because this area was the first trails that I experienced when I moved to Marquette 20 years ago. The Blue Loop circumferences Mount Marquette, aka Mount Mesnard. Typical direction takes a rider in a counter clockwise rotation on the trail.

The most popular starting point is the Co. Rd. 553 trailhead heading south of Marquette, just before the ski hill. It is located on the east side of the highway with a distinct open parking area which is almost always occupied by a least two or three vehicles and somedays over a dozen.

From here the ride starts with a moderate climb to the east connecting to a section of trail locally referred to as Southern Cross which then links into the Doctor's Trail.

An overlook road, open to vehicular traffic accesses, the area from the east of Marquette along the Carp River road. It's a gravel road which is open to one way traffic in the summer and serves as a snowmobile trail in the winter. The west exit of the road comes out on Co. Rd. 553 just down from the South Trails main trailhead.

Taking the trail to the right of the overlook road entry is Up the Creek. A very gentle trail which follow a trickle of water that flows down the from high ground to the Carp River. A series of small bridges criss-cross the valley bringing you along the back hills of the Shiras sub development.

The Goat Trail is one of the original namesakes on this loop, but shows very little resemblance the original gnarly decent from the top of the lookout. Erosion was the main factor for which re-routes were cut in and wild decent was tamed. However, it still keeps its essences as the winding single track leading riders to the top of bottom of Mount Marquette.

The Split Tree section of the loop offers a roller coaster decent along the northwest section of the loop. It was named after a large oak tree that grew up into multiple trunks from a main stump. There are some incredible old growth oaks along this loop. Some so large that they resemble Greek columns.

Upon completing the decent of Split Tree, riders have a choice of taking an easy out to Co. Rd. 553 and returning to the main trailhead or opting for the Gurly Trail which is a technical rock trail that is very narrow and has potential for severe consequences if a rider should mishap off the right side of the trail or go over the handle bars.

After negotiating the tight stairstep decent a short section of single track returns you to the start.

UPMTB Print Hits the Streets Tomorrow

Let's Get the Season Started

An obviously staged video, but spontaneously produced.

CHFT Festival

The 16th annual Copper Harbor Fat Tire Festival held its claim to being one of the epic events of the summer.

Click Here for Full Results

More pics and text to be added.

Ishpeming Wednesday Night Ride

I knew it was going to be a tough one when we left the parking lot of Jasper Ridge Brewery and there were several "Uh, ho's..." uttered. Riding north could only mean one thing. We were headed for Danny Hill Country and he wasn't even riding this one. There was talk of a new section of trial, but that has been happening for the past four weeks now.

We ascended an old stone stairway to a top of a ridge and rode a twisted single track to the backside of the Al Quaal trail sytem. It had a nice flow. Most of what we rode was the old Ride for Glory Course. The coolest visual was decending the switch-back section.

MGHS Ore to Shore MTB Epic #10

Full write-up to come.

Just picked up a newspaper tonight and will be making some e-mails tomorrow.

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