Silent Sports Sounds Off

I feel spoiled. I’ve now skied two American Birkiebeiners – first in 2006, then this past Saturday – on days with ideal conditions for a hilly, 50-plus kilometer grip-and-glide. (Last year, when 50-degree temps melted the course to a 20K recreational ski outing, I just skipped it; packed up my skis and high-tailed it home.)

I’m a bit late with these observations, but Saturday was lovely. Cloudy and a few degrees below zero at the start, but by the end we had a clear blue sky, a radiant sun and temps in the mid 20s. Although the new classic trail added 2K to my fellow striders’ race, it was a wonder to behold. I imagine elite and Wave 1 skiers are accustomed to trails that pristine. But for mid-packers like me, it was a welcome gift. And the hills on it were not so easily scaled, as some predicted. I had waxed for grip wisely so I was able to stay in the tracks for the most part.

I was practically out of gas by about 30K, though. But at 35K, Adam caught me. That’s the same brother-in-law who, a month earlier, had finished the Noquemanon an hour after me. But having set aside his waxless classics for this, his first Birkie, he pulled me for the next several K. I went out ahead of him after the last feed stop and he fell back. I finally found my stride again on Lake Hayward – “Someone who still has grip!” a spectator observed with as much surprise as I had – and finished just three minutes ahead of Adam.

We were pleased with our sub-five-hour finish. Then we were humbled to learn that John Kotar, 68 – who was about 5K from the finish of his perfect streak of skiing all 35 Birkies when Adam and I passed him – beat us by more than 30 minutes because he started in an earlier wave.

Actually, I was pretty pokey compared to the rest of “Team Silent Sports.” It proved to be a much faster race for columnists Mark Parman and Mitch Mode, who also classic skied the full distance, and Donna Marlor, Tom Kaufman, Bruce Steinberg, Bob Richards and advertising manager Jim Wendt, all of whom skated from start to finish.

Goat Farm proprieter and trail groomer Paul Walker, despite passing away Feb. 12, was still very much present at the race he skied some 25 times. A giant banner reading “We Love You Paul Walker” greeted us at the top of Bitch Hill, and several skiers wore “Team Goat Farm” signs on their backs. Walker’s friend and ours, Phil Van Valkenberg, toasted him at The Moccasin after the race. Written tributes can be found here and in the March issue.

Yes, the 35 anniversary Birkie is another for the history books. I was just thrilled to be a part of it.

– Joel Patenaude

A little more than five months since he was appointed secretary of the Wisconsin DNR, Matt Frank appears unconvinced ATVs ought to be allowed in the state’s largest and most ecologically diverse state forest.

Maybe he’s been convinced by the more than 2,500 public comments overwhelmingly opposed to the development of 60-some miles of ATV trails through the Northern Highland-American Legion (NH-AL) State Forest.

Maybe his own resource managers have impressed upon him the widespread damage ATVs would cause to that unique natural resource.

Or maybe the nearly $13 million price tag of the ATV trails – $110,000 to $179,000 per mile – has soured Frank on the whole idea.

Actually, I’m not certain Frank would come out against one or all three ATV trails proposed for the NH-AL if the Natural Resources Board (NRB) asks him for a recommendation. But in a 4 ½-page memo from Frank to NRB members, dated Feb. 13, he included few unqualified reasons to support ATV traffic anywhere in the 225,000-acre state forest.

In the memo, Frank describes how “extremely challenging” it would be to locate ATV trails where they won’t harm the state forest’s 900 lakes, 300 miles of waterways, 14 threatened or endangered species, 79 rare species or displace the more than two million hikers, campers and bicyclists who visit every year.

“Substantial improvements, with significant costs, would be necessary to avoid, minimize and mitigate environmental and social impacts stemming from summer ATV use,” Frank wrote.

One option is a 49-mile linear ATV trail from Lake Tomahawk in Oneida County to the community of Sayner in Vilas County; a trail that would “dead end” for lack of connections to existing or likely ATV trails outside the state forest.

“Some positive economic impacts to local businesses are expected, but these may come at the expense of displacing other users, which may negatively impact other businesses,” Frank wrote.

This trail would unavoidably conflict with users of a paved bike trail, three campgrounds and the Bittersweet-Prong Recreation area. And although the trail would mostly follow existing forest roads and snowmobile trails, Frank said it would nevertheless cost more than $5.4 million to develop.

There are also two options in Iron County – an 18-mile trail connecting existing town and county ATV trails at a cost of $3.3 million or an 11.6-mile trail that would incorporate 8.1 miles of town roads and snowmobile trails for nearly $4.3 million.

The first of those two trail options would greatly impact a remote campground and paddlers on the Manitowish River. The trail would need to cross the high-quality stream twice and State Highway 51 twice.

The Iron County alternatives would also pose significant law enforcement and maintenance challenges, Frank implied, because the trails would be located more than 23 miles from the nearest DNR facility.

The various ATV trail plans generated more than 2,500 emails and letters, mostly critical. “Local opposition far outweighs local support, and support is generally from statewide ATV users,” Frank wrote.

It has taken three years of study and rancorous public debate to bring the issue of ATVs in the NH-AL before the NRB. Until its agenda was amended last week, the NRB was set to hear one last round of testimony on Feb. 26.

Instead, the board will hear next week only from NH-AL Superintendent Steve Peterson, who will summarize the recently completed NH-AL Trail Feasibility/Suitability Assessment. The board has put off a public hearing and a vote until it meets again March 26 or April 23.

In the mean time, the public can review the trail plans, read a summary of the comments about the plans, the subsequent assessment as well as Frank’s memo. All of that has been posted here.

What is not being released in advance of the March or April NRB meeting is the section of the DNR feasibility study titled “conclusions and recommendations.”

But if Frank’s memo is any indication of what most concerns the DNR, there are numerous reasons for the NRB to keep the gates closed to ATVs altogether.

– Joel Patenaude

A final hearing and decision on whether ATVs should be allowed in Wisconsin’s Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest (NH-AL) will not take place on Feb. 26 as planned.

For reasons not yet clear, the Feb. 26 meeting agenda posted yesterday includes the NH-AL ATV trail plan as an informational item only.

NH-AL Superintendent Steve Petersen will be given 45 minutes to speak on the feasibility and suitability assessment of the plan to develop 60 miles of ATV trails. But the public will not get an opportunity to speak and the NRB will not vote on the issue.

It is now likely the NRB won’t take testimony or discuss the issue until it meets in March or April.

– Joel Patenaude

From the Wisconsin Off-Road Bicycling Association:

Wisconsin has a Governor’s State Trails Council (STC) that advises the DNR regarding the planning, acquisition, development and management of state trails. There are presently nine members on the STC with none of the positions identified as specifically dedicated in the legislation. These members are typically aligned with a specific interest group such as snowmobilers, hikers, bikers, etc., but they are responsible for representing all trail users. There are two members who are aligned with snowmobiles and ATVs respectively, one who represents the DOT, another who represents individuals with disabilities, and the rest are aligned with the “silent sports.”

Assembly Bill 600 would increase the number of STC members to eleven with four of the positions being specifically identified for motorized users – ATVs, snowmobiles, off road motorcycles and off road trucks. This would significantly change the complexion of the Council by giving more representation to motorized users. The motorized users feel that the change is appropriate because the federal Recreational Trail Program (RTP) funds administered through the STC are generated from federal exercise taxes levied on motor fuel sold for use in off-road vehicles. RTP funds are used for both motorized and nonmotorized trails.

Many motorized users do not feel that the STC, as currently constituted, has been attentive enough to their needs. Nonmotorized users point out that their numbers/usage is much higher than motorized users and that the present distribution of STC positions is appropriate.

Mountain bikers have had, and in some areas, continue to have, a history of conflict with and nonacceptance by other trail users. The Wisconsin Off Road Bicycle Association (WORBA) was born out of the need to resolve some of the conflicts and to establish mountain bikers as legitimate and responsible trail users. Mountain bikers can sympathize with the frustration and problems that motorized trail users have in gaining access to recreation sites. However, WORBA does not believe that enlarging the STC and dedicating specific seats to motorized users is appropriate.

Mountain bikers do not have, nor see a need for, a dedicated mountain bike seat on the State Trails Council. Bikers of all ilk – bmx, road, commuter, mountain, cyclocross, etc. – are represented by a single biking representative. Our interests and needs are not the same and may even be in conflict at times, but we do not need separate representation under the current arrangement. Our position might change however, if STC seats should become assigned to specific user groups.

WORBA opposes AB 600 because it provides special privilege to certain user groups to the exclusion of others and therefore is inherently unfair. The RTP fund argument is without merit. The federal government regularly spends tax dollars in ways with which the taxpayers do not agree. Furthermore, it appears that the addition of dedicated positions has the real potential to further polarize the STC and thereby inhibit its ability to function effectively for the best interests of all trail users.

WORBA encourages all members, as well as non-affiliated mountain bikers, to voice their opposition to AB 600. Contact your state representative by referencing www.legis.state.wi.us and tell him/her to vote NO!

You can monitor the progress of AB 600 by registering for notification services on the legislative website. The bill has been forwarded to the Assembly Committee on Rural and Economic Development. Assembly sponsors of this bill include:

Ann Hraychuck, 28th, Balsam Lake, (608-267-2365)
Dan LeMahieu, 59th, Cascade, (888-534-0059)
Joel Kleefisch, 38th, Oconomowoc, (608-266-8551)
Phil Montgomery, 4th, Green Bay, (888-534-0004)
Jeff Mursau, 36th, Crivitz, (608-266-3780)
John Townsend, 52nd, Fond du Lac, (888-529-0052).

Senate sponsors include:

Senator Breske, 12th, Eland, (800-334-8773)
Senator Grothman, 20th, West Bend, (800-662-1227)
Senator Lazich, 28th, New Berlin, (800-334-1442)

Mr. Mursau, one of the Assembly sponsors, is also chair of the Rural and Economic Development committee. Other committee members include:

Jeffery Wood, 67th, Chippewa Falls, (888-534-0067)
Al Ott, 3rd, Forest Junction, (888-534-0003)
Mary Williams, 87th, Medford, (608-266-7506)
John Murtha, 29th, Baldwin, (608-266-7683)
Thomas Nelson, 5th, Kaukauna, (888-534-0005)
Phil Garthwaite, 49th, Dickeyville, (608-266-1170)
Steve Hilgenberg, 51st, Dodgeville, (888-534-0051)
Kim Hixson, 43rd, Whitewater, (608-266-9650)

If you live in the district represented by any of the above be sure to contact him/her, let him or her know you vote in the district, and urge them to vote against the proposed legislation.

No sooner had I bagged the first of two ski marathons this season by completing the 51K Noquemanon on Jan. 26, my 18-week running marathon training program began.

I wasn’t adequately prepared for the Noque – a “race” that took me 4 hours and 41 minutes to stride. My longest ski outing before that was less than three hours. I’m still hurting.

Even with that painful lesson and now the Birkie on Feb. 23 breathing down my neck, I’m still not concentrating solely on skiing. I’ve got the May 18 Green Bay Marathon in my sights, too. As someone who’s run 10 marathons but never one in the spring, training over the winter is proving to be unique challenge.

This past Saturday I skied 9 miles in 90 minutes and on Sunday ran 13 in 1:50. I’m no speed machine (be it in snow on the trails or roads), but I’ll be further tested in the coming weeks as I attempt to do faster and longer outings in both disciplines.

I need only survive the Birkie. But less than three months later in Green Bay I’m hoping to shave two minutes off my PR and earn my place at the starting line for the Boston Marathon.

To do this, I’m running just three days a week and cross training two or three days more per instructions found in the book Run Less Run Faster. I know this approach, promoted by the Furman Institute of Running & Scientific Training in Greenville, South Carolina, goes against the grain. It is more widely believed that to do well at distance running you need to do a lot of distance running. Well, I’ve found I’m not biomechanically cut out for high mileage. And besides, I would like to have time and energy to ski and bike, too.

So we’ll see. So far the book’s very specific program for a Boston qualifying time in my age group is intense. Running 800- and 1,600-meter repeats in snow and sub-freezing temps ain’t easy, I’ve found.

The first 20-mile run on the schedule falls on the day of the Birkie. But I expect to ski 30-odd miles and call that “close enough.”

– Joel Patenaude