Silent Sports Sounds Off

From Minnesota Cyclist magazine:

“Last week, residents of one of the most scenic bicycling areas in southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin were hit by the worst disaster of a lifetime. Many families were forced to evacuate, leaving their devastated homes and memories behind. To make the situation even worse, many residents found that their insurance does not cover this type of disaster. …

“Over the years, many of these now-displaced people have served the bicycling community through their work and volunteer efforts along the bicycling trails in the affected areas (the eastern section of the Root River in Minnesota; the Great River Trail, the Lacrosse River State Trail and Sparta-Elroy Trails in western Wisconsin; and other bicycle-friendly roads in both states).

“Many of us have ridden our bicycles, traveled or visited these very scenic areas. Among those affected by this disaster are people who have served us, either on one of the bike trails, or in local cafes, taverns, service stations, motels or B&Bs.

“We now have a chance to repay these wonderful people for what they have done for us in the past, and help them rebuild for the future. These people need our help now!”

Consider contributing through the following organizations:

American Red Cross, Southeast Minnesota Chapter, 310 14th St. SE, Rochester, MN 55904. 800/HELP-NOW (435-7669)

Salvation Army: 800/SAL-ARMY (725-2769)

Root River State Trail

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reported on Aug. 24 that the Root River State Bike Trail was closed between Lanesboro and Whalan and between Peterson and Houston due to flooding. The trail was open and undamaged west of Lanesboro to Fountain, Preston, and Harmony for 40 miles.

Surgery for 2008 Olympic marathon hopeful Jenny Crain has been postponed until the swelling in her brain subsides more, according to a message posted yesterday by Crain’s family on a hospital website.

Crain, 39, sustained multiple injuries when hit by a car Aug. 21 while running just blocks from her home on Milwaukee’s eastside.

Milwaukee police said Crain ran against a “Don’t Walk” traffic signal when she was struck in the crosswalk by a southbound car in the left lane of N. Farwell Ave. approaching E. Brady St. at 7:44 a.m. The driver, a 22-year-old, was not charged and no tickets will be issued, a police spokesperson said.

Silent Sports columnist Teri Dwyer – also a Milwaukee native the same age as Crain but not an acquaintance – is among the many runners who have said “it could have been any of us.”

“I literally count my near misses with cars every time I go out for a run in Saint Paul. It sounds like she may have crossed against a light, but even still, running can be pretty scary,” Dwyer said.

Crain’s family has set up a fund through M&I Bank “so Jenny’s relatives, friends, teammates and colleagues can help with Jenny’s care.”

There are two ways to make a donation:

1) Send a card with a donation to:

Jenny Crain - Make It Happen Fund
c/o M&I Bank - Mail 098-9120
Attn: Cathy Haukedahl
651 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55402

2) Visit any M&I Bank and let the teller know you want to contribute to the fund. To find M&I Bank locations, look here.

On Aug. 25, the Crain family likened Jenny’s recovery to running a marathon “with some miles better than others. Up hills and down hills. The wind at times in her face and at other points at her back. Most importantly, with her fans and supporters by her side cheering her on throughout. We all know that Team Jenny will ‘make it happen.’”

The masses await the start of the 2007 Smokin Spoke WORS Marathon on Aug. 26.

Dusty and bumpy might best describe the Smokin Spoke WORS Marathon course at Camp Tesomas near Rhinelander on Sunday.

About 40 percent of the 10-mile loop was mogul-like singletrack. After three trips through the course, this rider was bruised but not beaten. Flats, cramps and crashes took out many of my fellow racers, but I bided my time and stayed upright.

This was the third and final race in the inaugural WORS marathon series (although three regular WORS races have yet to take place) and by all accounts it was the toughest.

Here are a handful of the other finishers of the 30- and 40-mile races.

ATV trails need not mar the Northern Highland-American Legion (NH-AL) State Forest.

It is true the NH-AL Sustainable ATV Trail Stakeholders Group has proposed 60 miles of ATV trail in Wisconsin’s largest state forest after a year of exploring the possibilities. A majority of the stakeholders was intent on providing access to ATV’ers

But the Natural Resources Board (NRB), which will make the final decision sometime this winter, did not direct the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to map out ATV trails no matter the cost to the forest’s ecosystem or nonmotorized visitors.

In an attempt to clear up a “misunderstanding in some people’s minds as to the nature of the instructions” the NRB gave the DNR back in 2005, well before the stakeholders group was established, a letter has been sent to the group’s chairman.

“Apparently, some people feel that the board (NRB) expressed a desire that there be ATV trail development in the Forest and instructed the department (DNR) to report back with plans for one or more routes. I feel that it is important to clarify this question before ATV options are presented to the public,” wrote NRB Secretary John Welter on Aug. 22.

“In fact no desire or instruction on ATV use was expressed.”

Welter emphasized that the NRB remains neutral on the question of ATVs in the NH-AL State Forest. Once the DNR “presents the findings of the stakeholders, along with its own recommendations,” he wrote, “we will consider alternative proposals, the environmental impacts, the impacts on residents and other forest users, and the costs. We may decide to adopt the proposals that have emerged from the stakeholders process in their entirety, or to adopt a portion of the proposals, or to decline to permit ATV trail development.”

The stakeholders’ will soon make their desires known. Silent sports enthusiasts can and must make their case against an ATV incursion to DNR officials at the upcoming public meetings and by writing to NRB members.

Public information meetings on the stakeholders group’s ATV trail proposal will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Mon., Sept. 17, at the Best Western Midway Hotel, Wausau
Tues., Sept. 18, at the St. Germain Community Center, St. Germain
Wed., Sept. 19, at the Manitowish Waters Community Center, Manitowish Waters

Wisconsin legislators remain at loggerheads over the state budget. But a breakthrough could be imminent, and with it some sense of the future of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund.

Since 1989, the Stewardship Fund has helped save more than 475,000 acres of Wisconsin woodlands, prairie, parks and trails from development. The $60 million annual program will end in 2010 unless reauthorized.

Budget negotiators at the state Capitol held their first public discussion on the Stewardship Fund on Tuesday.

“No agreements were reached on the fate of the program, but a decision on Stewardship could happen very soon,” wrote Vicki Elkin, who is leading the Stewardship Fund reauthorization campaign for the Gathering Waters Conservancy.

Elkin’s organization is backing Senate Democrats who want to increase the land conservation program to $105 million per year between 2011 and 2020. Assembly Republicans have proposed cutting the program to $25 million annually.

For more, see the Gathering Waters website. To find out how to contact your legislator, look here.

Due to heavy rainfall, the Badger State Trail remains closed to all users until further notice. High water, washouts and downed vegetation have required clean-up and repairs.

For the latest conditions, contact Steve Johnston at 608/527-2335; for construction information call John Olson at 608/275-3232.

Alyson Chapman of Appleton, Wis., after finishing the first ever WORS Marathon, the Big Ring Classic at Nine Mile, Wausau, on June 3. Photo by Rusty, fattires-n-beer.com

Equal parts amazement, relief and mud streak this mountain biker’s face. I know, because I looked just like her – we all did – after that multi-lap race. But I look at her now and think I see a reflection of the pre-race angst I’m feeling for this weekend’s third and final WORS marathon, the Smokin Spoke at Camp Tesomas, Rhinelander.

Where I’m at in east central Wisconsin, each day brings more rain. But it hasn’t been falling in Rhinelander, thankfully.

Still, recent WORS events have been deluged. Besides the Big Ring Classic, last weekend’s Subaru Cup at Nordic Mountain, Mt. Morris, was one of the biggest mudfests of the season.

When the precip persists and the races go on, at least there’s ample precedent for WORS riders contributing to any post-event trail rehabbing needed. It’s only right when you think about the thousands of hours folks like Wayne Fish and his crew have put into building singletrack.

All this may be a moot point since the Rhinelander area has not received the rain we’ve gotten to the south. The forecast is favorable for that continuing to be the case. And having knobby tires that grip rather than slip would be a welcome change.For more info, go to wors.org.

Elite Wisconsin runner Jenny Crain, 39, remained hospitalized in critical condition Wednesday after she was struck by a car while running on Milwaukee’s east side, just blocks from home, Tuesday morning.

Described by many as a talented, focused and energizing force on the local and national race scene, Crain was considered something of a long-shot to make the U.S. marathon team at the 2008 Olympics.

Many fellow runners, both friends and admirers, have expressed on message boards here and here shock at the tragic accident and prayed for her speedy recovery.

To help flooded residents in southeast Minnesota, two Rochester area skiers will raise money for the Red Cross by rollerskiing across Minnesota this weekend.

Henry Walker and Michael O’Connor, both board members for the multidisciplinary Rochester Active Sports Club, will start from Lake Hendricks on the South Dakota border on Friday morning in hopes of reaching Red Wing by Sunday evening.

Their 212-mile route will pass through Marshall, Redwood Falls, New Prague, Cannon Falls and finally Red Wing, requiring the duo to cover more than 70 miles per day. “Given that neither of us has ever rollerskied more than 40-50 miles in a day, this will be an interesting experience,” the pair said in a press release.

Those willing to support the rollerskiers’ efforts on behalf of flood victims are asked to give generously to the Red Cross. The men are taking per mile pledges, so would-be contributors are asked to e-mail O’Connor at mkoconnor@mayo.edu or Walker at walker.henry@mayo.edu.

“We’ll contact you after the trip with a report and instructions on paying the pledge,” they wrote. “It should not be too difficult to raise at least $1000 from local skiers in Minnesota.”

O’Connor and Walker suggested the following pledge levels (all donations are 100 percent tax-deductible and the Red Cross will provide receipts):”50¢ to $1 per mile: For crazy skiers, strong supporters of the Red Cross, those who have received disaster relief help from the Red Cross, those who think rollerskiing across Minnesota is really cool, and those who expect never to see us again.

“25¢ to 50¢ per mile: For good friends, regular supporters of the Red Cross, anyone who ever tried rollerskiing but thought it was nuts.

“10¢ per mile: For those with a morbid fascination in watching two old men (well one old and one getting there) trying to do something that only the young and foolish should do.”

Donations of any set amount – $25, $50, $100 ect. – are welcome too.

The time is drawing nigh to defend Wisconsin’s beautiful Northern Highland-American Legion (NH-AL) State Forest from the environmental damage 60 miles of proposed ATV trails would bring. The ATV trail plan will be the subject of three public meetings in mid-September before it is presented to the Natural Resources Board (NRB) for final approval or rejection.

It is crucial that the silent sports community – from mountain bikers and hikers, to cross-country-skiers and campers – make known their concern for the harm ATVs will do to the state forest and their enjoyment of it.

There are two things you can do.

1) Attend one or all three of the public information meetings scheduled from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on …

Mon., Sept. 17, at the Best Western Midway Hotel, Wausau
Tues., Sept. 18, at the St. Germain Community Center, St. Germain
Wed., Sept. 19, at the Manitowish Waters Community Center, Manitowish Waters

While DNR personnel will be on hand to provide information and answer questions, no formal presentation will be made or public testimony recorded. However, it is still important to let DNR officials know in person that you oppose ATV trails in the NH-AL state forest.

2) Send written comments to the DNR. A 30-day comment period will follow the public meetings. The comments received will then be forwarded to the NRB along with the ATV trail plan produced by the NH-AL Sustainable ATV Trail Stakeholders Group. The ATV trail plan itself can be viewed here.

Questions and comments should be directed to:

Steve Petersen, NHAL State Forest Superintendent

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

8770 Highway J, Woodruff, WI 54568

715/358-9225

steven.petersen@wisconsin.gov

The NRB is expected to vote on the plan in December or January.

In related news, NH-AL stakeholder group member and ATV opponent Sue Drum of Vilas County will be a guest on the Glenn Moberg’ “Route 51” call-in program on Wisconsin Public Radio Program, Thursday, Sept. 6 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. She will share the hour with Wisconsin ATV Association President Randy Harden and a DNR representative. Tune in to WHBM 90.3 FM out of Park Falls and call in your questions at 800/780-9742.