UP Trail Updates
November 5, 2002
Improvements at Ishpeming's Al Quaal Recreation Area
By Dennis Whitley
The City of Ishpeming, Michigan is nearing completion on
an expansion of its cross country ski trails at the Al Quaal
Recreation Area. Over the summer, the city used more of an
existing Community Development Block Grant to build an additional
seven and a half kilometer trail in the northern-most section
of the park.
The trail, being called the Deer Lake Trail, is an intermediate
to expert trail similar to the nearby five kilometer Olympic
Trail (formerly the Green Trail). The two trails share a trailhead.
According to City Manager John Korhonen, all that remains
to be done on the Deer Lake Trail is the installation of two
culverts. They are expected to be in before the season starts.
Also, the city hired the Upper Peninsula Power Company to
install lighting for night skiing on four kilometers of the
Teal Lake Trail (formerly known as the Blue Trail). The entire
five kilometers of the trail is expected to be groomed, but
only four Kilometers will be lighted. The lighted cut off
will eliminate a huge uphill climb at the back of the loop.
The poles and wiring are in and Kohonen says the lighting
is expected to be up and running in time for this season.
Once the snow reaches sufficient depth, these trails are VERY
nicely groomed by city personnel.
[ A warning: Being that they are new trails, and are
located in a rocky area, it would be a good idea to either
use rock skis for the early season, or wait until there is
a very good amount of snow in the Ishpeming area. ]
The Al Quaal Recreation Area is the site of the start of
the Noquemanon Ski Marathon in January. The National Ski Hall
of Fame, with exhibits on Bill Koch and others, is just a
few blocks up the street. Trail passes, $5 daily, are required.
For more information, call the Lake Superior Community Partnership
in Ishpeming at (906) 486-4841.
Michigan Tech Ski Trail Updates
By Mike Abbott
Michigan Tech has one of just four known Nordic systems
on a college campus in the nation. To date, the University
has invested over $200,000 in improvements to our trails this
year. Prior to this year we had 8K of trails that were groomed
off and on with a snowmobile pulling a Tiddtech drag. That's
it.
New this year: 11K of new ski trails (including 4K striding
only & 1.5K for skijoring), a new YTS Ginzugroomer and competition
tracksetter to pull behind the snowmobile, a Bombardier PLUS
MP cat with a 15 ft. tiller and dual YTS tracksetters, and
a storage building for all of the grooming equipment with
a timing room on the second floor that overlooks the stadium
area and the finish line. We've also widened the original
trails to 20+ feet to accommodate the new groomer and we've
installed 40+ culverts (some as large as 72 in. dia.) throughout
the trail system to take care of various water issues. With
the new equipment, the trails will be groomed 7 days a week.
Remediation of the old trails alone was a huge job. We fixed
spots that had been mud holes for 25 years (since I was a
student here). The trails were designed by local skiers and
the MTU Nordic team and meet NCAA guidelines. Our stadium
area is designed to meet FIS standards and FIS homologation
is something we plan to strive for in the future.
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