Blog Posts

Three New Trails Completed in the Big Ravine Network!

9/12/2020

Bayfield Area Trails volunteers and the community are celebrating three new trails completed during the summer! Extension of the Gil Larsen Trail, and the addition of the Sweeny Switchback and the Iron Bridge Link, have improved a beautiful, leisurely walk up the creek and created exciting new accesses to the Big Ravine. These new trails have added roughly 0.4 miles, filling gaps that have been needed for years.

“While building these trails during the summer, it was amazing to see how many people of all ages enjoyed them. The Gil Larsen Trail is especially great for families. It’s not too long or steep, kids get to play in the creek, and parents can enjoy the diverse forest,” said Keith Ray of the City Parks and Recreation Committee.

Work on the Gil Larsen Trail

Over 25 BATS volunteers, wearing COVID-19 social distancing bibs, participated in six, two-day trail building sessions between June 12th and August 22nd under the leadership of professional trail builder Will Krift of Trails Anonymous. The project was funded by a grant from the Apostle Islands Area Community Fund to build volunteer trail crew capacity for the Bayfield Area Trails. Not only did the volunteers gain skills and learn trail building techniques, they even had fun!

Volunteer Bob Wood remarked, “This has been a really rewarding experience. Building a community of volunteers who have a passion for trails is also exciting for the future of trails in our area. I look forward to continuing the momentum we’ve started this summer.”

The volunteers also reclaimed several “social trails” that had developed along the sensitive creek banks and had caused erosion and vegetation damage. Hikers are asked to stay off these fragile areas to help protect the Big Ravine for others to enjoy. “Over the years we’ve seen human impacts increase. While we encourage folks to visit the Big Ravine, it has been really good to get ahead of the potential for serious damage,” commented BATS (Bayfield Area Trails Stewards) volunteer Genevieve Johnson.

Will Krift on Sweeny Switchback

These trails are among several that were professionally planned by Trails Anonymous under a contract with the City and funded by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program. Two more of these trails have yet to be built. The Pine Bluff Trail is slated for construction before winter settles in. Pine Bluff will link the Gil Larsen Trail in the Ravine bottom to the East Rim Trail, creating access all of the way up to the North Ravine Trailhead on Meyers-Olson Road. If grant funding comes through for 2021, the final link, Hemlock Heights Trail, would make a similar connection between the Gil Larsen Trail and the trail network northwest of the Bayfield school.

Kate Kitchell from the City of Bayfield Parks and Recreation Committee and Bayfield Area Trails Committee has been inspired by the generosity and spirit of all who pitched in. “It’s truly remarkable to see what we’ve been able to accomplish!” My heartfelt thanks to Sue Aiken, Katie Barningham, Adrian Bethel, Bill Bland, Ian Campbell, Matt Carrier, Abe Clark, Mike Eldred, Liz Fentress, Bob Feyen, Neil Howk, John Ipsen, Genevieve Johnson, Dave Judd, Mike Kinnee, Kate Kitchell, Gene Lemmenes, Chris Nybo, Anney Olson, John Olson, Mark Peterson, Sheree Peterson, Keith Ray, Janel Ryan, Erik Scott, Kris Wegerson, and Bob Wood. “You’re the best!”

Please let us know what you think or if you’re interested in joining in by clicking here or sending an email to bayfieldareatrails@gmail.com.

Hope to see you out on the trail!

0 Comments

Iron Bridge Update

8/17/2020

0 Comments

BIG RAVINE TRAILS MAP

Will Krift at the top of the Iron Bridge Link

Will Krift of Trails Anonymous worked with a crew of Bayfield Area Trails Stewards (BATS) on Saturday afternoon, August 8, on a connecting the trail from the east end of the Iron Bridge down to the Gil Larsen Trail in the Big Ravine.

“The trail is looking good,” Krift said. “The hardest piece is building the turning platform, connecting the upper and lower sections of the switchback—but we lucked out and the dirt’s really good here.” The crew had pretty much finished the work on the connecting trail—but Krift thought he’d wait until the next work session to put in the steps at the top.

On the previous day the crew completed the Sweeney Ave. Link, the connector from the end of East Sweeney Avenue down to the Gil Larsen Trail. During this work session, volunteers included Adrian Bethel, Bill Bland, John Ipsen, Genevieve Johnson, Michael Kinnee, Kate Kitchell, John Olson, Mark Peterson, Keith Ray, Kris Wegerson, and Bob Wood.

Will Krift and Bob Wood on the Sweeny Ave. Link

“It’s pretty cool to see the community involvement—the blood, sweat and tears, all of it,” Krift said. “And the community-building around these trails. I didn’t have too many expectations but there are so many returnees getting into the swing of things; they come back and they already have the skills. The progress we’ve made is really cool.”

Volunteer Genevieve Johnson was working with a rogue hoe, a tool for digging up dirt and scraping the trail. She said the day was “a steamy one.” And then she summed up what’s made it all worthwhile: “We’re already getting feedback from locals and tourists hiking in from the trailhead; they’re excited to see what’s going on. They say, ‘Thank-you for your work.’”

Well said.

0 Comments

What’s So Special About the Bayfield Area?

8/17/2020

0 Comments

The cultural and natural history around the Bayfield area is heavily intertwined; you can’t talk about one without the other.

This area of Wisconsin was heavily glaciated, and glacial meltwater continued to erode and shape the landscape until the end of the last glaciation 11,700 years ago. Today, residents and visitors can still see signs of this time period including valleys, ravines, and ridges. They also enjoy the over 966 lakes and 400 miles of streams throughout Bayfield County.

Mt. Ashwabay Spring 2018 - Photo Credit: Tony Jeannette

Sugarbush State Natural Area Fall 2019 - Photo Credit: Tony Jeannette

This varied landscape supports diverse flora and fauna, and has also been important to human inhabitants throughout history.

Trails throughout the peninsula, including those in the Bayfield area, provide opportunities to experience these remarkable natural features. Whether it is on foot, a pair of skis, a bike, an ATV or snowmobile, everyone can enjoy the dense and diverse forests, views of Lake Superior, and glimpses of wildlife.

Arriving here from the east, the Anishinaabe (also referred to as the Ojibwe or Chippewa) settled here, and were sustained by the area’s natural resources for many years. From Lake Superior, they would obtain fish year-round. In the fall, they would harvest wild animals and gather wild rice. In late winter, they would tap maple trees for sap, and summer offered a variety of foods.

Kewadinoka, Red Cliff, 1923 - Photo Credit: Bayfield Heritage Association 2002.23.3

Old Mission Church, La Pointe, WI - Photo Credit: Bayfield Heritage Association 1983.20.11

The same resources that supplied the Ojibwe people also attracted others to the area. In 1622, French explorers reached the shore of Lake Superior and fur traders followed quickly behind. Missionaries also came to Wisconsin, including Madeline Island, in the 1600s.

European immigrants established fishing and lumber industries, and several quarries, and these natural resources were exported first by water and then by the railroad. When the forests were finally depleted, families - mostly immigrants or second-generation Americans - moved to the Bayfield area to build new farms on the now-open lands. Today, orchards and small farms still exist on the more fertile lands while the forests have grown back elsewhere.

Bayfield’s unique location and its plentiful natural resources continue to draw people to the area - for either a visit or a longer stay. We hope to see you on the trails!

Logging on the Bayfield Peninsula - Photo Credit: Bayfield Heritage Association 1980.56.2

Quarry at Houghton Point - Photo Credit: Bayfield Heritage Association 1980.1.515

Headwaters of Brickyard Creek in the Orchards 2019 - Photo Credit: Tony Jeannette

0 Comments

Gil Larsen Trail Work Update - June 29, 2020

7/2/2020

0 Comments

BIG RAVINE TRAILS MAP

Congratulations to volunteers with the Bayfield Area Trail Stewards (BATS)—18 of them!--who are working hard on improvements to the Gil Larsen Trail—also known as the Iron Bridge Trail—in Bayfield’s Big Ravine.

On June 12, 13, 26 and 27, under the leadership of professional trail builder Will Krift of Trails Anonymous in Ashland, the group began construction of a new, sustainable walking trail; they have completed three new creek crossings and several rock retaining walks, and they have improved drainage. Ultimately the work will double the length of the trail, also flattening it for easy travel.

Krift identified the trail route and flagged it. Using hand tools, volunteers cleared vegetation, established trail tread approximately four to six feet wide, created the proper slope and drainage to mitigate erosion issues, and constructed rock creek crossings and retaining walls. Certified operators did some chain saw work.

Many of the trails through the Big Ravine already exist as “social trails” developed by people finding their own way. These social trails can cause damage to vegetation and soils, and also present safety concerns. This project aims to construct the trails to protect resources, ensure safety, and provide a quality walking experience for citizens and visitors.

The next work sessions are July 10, 11, 24 and 25. Work will focus on constructing trail access into the Ravine from the end of Sweeny Avenue off of 2nd Street and, after that, a trail link between the Gil Larsen Trail and the Iron Bridge. Signs will be installed to mark trails and provide clear direction.

The Gil Larsen Trail can be accessed from parking lot on Washington Ave. Work sessions will continue through the summer, every other Friday and Saturday.