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NEWS | Bayfield Area Trails |
 During September and October, Bayfield Area Trails Committee partners contributed lots of time, equipment, and energy to prepare the Upper Pileated Woodpecker Trail for hikers and snowshoers this fall and winter. And now it’s ready for YOU to enjoy! The trail can be accessed at the start of the nordic ski trails at Mount Ashwabay. A trail sign marks the start of the trail and provides information about distances to trail intersections and the Pikes Creek bridge. Although the trail between the bridge and the fish hatchery is still closed to public use due to a land ownership dispute, it is a nice 1.8-mile hike to Chickadee Point and 2.2-mile hike to the bridge, making it about 4.5 miles round trip from Mount Ashwabay. The fall colors may be starting to fade, but the grouse are still drumming and the woods are peaceful.
Status Update on the Hatchery Access
Reestablishing public access behind the Les Voigt State Fish Hatchery remains a priority for the Wisconsin DNR. The DNR and Bayfield County are working on a land sale that would transfer three small parcels of property from the County to the DNR. This will be the first step toward reestablishing trail access. DNR continues to research the legal status of the old access road that had been used for many years for public access. The findings of this research will be pivotal in reestablishing access. The DNR recently met with the private landowner to convey their intent to reestablish public access.
Please continue to respect the trail closure until legal public access is reestablished. Thank you for your cooperation!
Ted May, Gene Lemmenes, John Ipsen, Kris Wegerson, Tracy May, Mike Kinnee and Jeff Martin put in the finishing touches by hand, clipping overhanging branches; digging out exposed trippy roots and stumps; cleaning up or fixing water diversions; and adding a couple small water diversions.
In addition to leading to Chickadee Point and Pikes Creek, the Upper PWT connects to the Jolly Long Loop and ultimately to the Jerry Jolly Trails. Follow the signs and discover the adventure out there!
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 A total of 18 volunteers turned out for two beautiful autumn mornings to work on repairing the Brownstone trail below the Wild Rice Retreat on October 17th & 18th. The three amigas, Kris Wegerson, Cami Smalley, and Suz Thomson also worked on a segment near the Waterford Condos. Thanks to everyone who made it happen! Crew Leaders Extraordinaire: John Ipsen & Kris Wegerson. Track Loader Operator, the magnificent Mark Frazer. Hard working hand crew members who did it ALL: leaf raking & blowing, weed trimming, branch lopping, ditch digging, gravel raking, trail tamping, and culvert installing -
Thank you, donors! This would not have happened without donations of time and funding from Rex Dollinger, Mark Frazer, David Sonstegard, Viking Motors, Wild Rice Retreat, and two anonymous donors.
Crew leader John Ipsen remarked, “This was a pretty complicated project with lots of moving parts and players. But I’m always impressed at how advance planning, the right tools and equipment, and enthusiasm about the trails enables us to accomplish so much in just a few hours.” I think we will call this “the year of Blue Brule” said Kate Kitchell. “We added 31 yards of this gravel in key locations on the west and east sides of the Big Ravine in late September; and now Dan Maki from Viking Motors brought us another 13 yards for the Brownstone Trail.” It’s amazing how the Bayfield Area Trails volunteers rally together to continuously improve the trails. |
