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"We've worked hard on putting together our Torch Run schedule," Lea Justice told the all knowing editor.
With arrogance and "know-it-all" composure of one who has been on many such "Fam tours," I laughingly responded to the optimism of the Cable (Wisconsin) Area Chamber of Commerce executive director.
"If you are within an hour of the schedule's times," I opined, "You will have a successful outing."
After all, I knew. Didn't I? I had been on these tours before. Moving up to 60 snowmobilers from location to location for trestle and trail dedications would be no easy task. Snowmobile safaris just don't move along smoothly.
Well, insert my foot. Eat crow. And don't ever underestimate Wisconsin snowmobilers with a mission. At least in Bayfield County.
Lea, I was wrong. I apologize. And I am absolutely amazed at how efficiently this 100-mile tour was pulled off. The tour, when it wasn't early, was easily within ten minutes of the schedule at virtually every planned stop. By the tour's end, a previously unplanned stop had to be added so that the riders could arrive at Cable's planned finale just before dusk.
Lea Justice, a veteran organizer who has earned my respect, was holding some trump cards, letting the all-knowing magazine editor dig himself a hole that he could never dig out of.
First of all, the tour was held in conjunction with the Wisconsin "Torch Run" which is the kick-off ceremony for the annual Badger State Games, an "Olympic-type" event for winter sports. Second of all, the tour was designed to dedicate three new trail bridges. And, third of all, the tour included a group of very savvy snowmobilers. Among them was George Lendved, president of Wisconsin's state snowmobile association. Ron Bartholomew, who has conducted professional tours of this region among others, was on hand. Also on the tour was Patricia Bonavia, executive director and snowmobile coordinator for Bayfield County Tourism and Recreation. (I knew I was in trouble when I saw Pat sitting astride a brand new Mach I! This was no novice directing the operation!)
This was one of the most enjoyable outings of the winter and one of the top five tours I've had the privilege of attending. It was informative, educational, and, well, fun.
To kick off the trip, everyone gathered for breakfast at the Port Bar in Port Wing, where we were the guests of Phyllis Beeksma. The first dedication was slated to take place about a quarter mile from this snowmobile pit stop.
Between 9:30 and 9:45 AM on January 24th, the Lee "Red" Ardell bridge was dedicated in Port Wing. On schedule. Mr. Ardell's wife made a brief speech, thanked every one for their assistance in making this bridge a reality and underscored how "Red" loved snowmobiling and helped the sport grow around the Bayfield area.
By the way, that bridge was built by Continental Bridges of Alexandria, Minnesota, and later placed into position over the river. Continental Bridge spokesman Randy Eggen was on hand to witness the dedication and to ride the entire trip. Off the record, Randy was kind of hoping that his bosses don't ever figure out that representing his company on such an outing is really a little hard to classify as work. He seemed to enjoy squeezing the throttle of his Indy 500 and getting in a few miles away from his snow-starved Minnesota office.
After the dedication we rode over to Iron Mountain for a lunch stop at the Rustic Roost in Iron River. With smooth trails and tremendous trail leadership, we had time to detour to Old Baldy Mountain which overlooks Lake Superior and lets you view Duluth and Two Harbors on the Minnesota side of the big lake. It was a worthwhile stop.
It was a very interesting tour as well. Being a native New Englander, I especially enjoyed this section of trails with its up and down winding hills which wound in and out of hardwood and pine forests. It reminded me of my snowmobiling youth. The terrain is very similar to New England's. It was a little like taking a nostalgic trip back in time- with better trails and faster snow machines!
The second bridge dedication came at Mason, about an hour or so after lunch. Arrival was on schedule. I was really sorry now that I had opened my big mouth back in Cable the day before.
It only got worse as we arrived right on schedule for the Grand View trestle dedication in mid-afternoon. By that time my mouth was accommodating a size 10 Sorel.
Like the three converted trestles that were dedicated this day, the Grand View trestle had a unique history stretching back to the days of loggers and iron horses.
Back in the late 1800's and early 1900's, lumber was big business. As more forests fell to lumber barons and new stands of white pine could only be found in remote regions of the upper Midwest, railroads were needed to get crews into and lumber out of these remote areas.
If you've ever traveled the northern reaches of this Wisconsin landscape, you can appreciate the problems of trying to put in railroads. Rivers needed to be bridged. Trestles were mandatory.
The Grand View Trestle, which was dedicated as a recreational trail bridge, had started life as "18 Mile Bridge." It was so named because it was about 18 railroad miles from Cable, Wisconsin, and because it spanned a flowing waterway and gorge created by 19 Mile Creek. That was in 1882.
By 1889 the original wooden trestle was replaced by an iron bridge built by Lassig Bridge and Iron Works of Chicago, Illinois. It spanned 580 feet in length and set 75 feet over 18 Mile Creek.
Eventually the "Iron Bridge" went the way of the railroads in northern Wisconsin. The nearby railroad in Grand View was torn down in 1964. The tracks were torn up. Industry was gone.
Recreation was arriving. The rail bed became a hunting trail. Snowmobilers planned trailways and linked towns and businesses that catered to their special winter needs. Like the other trestles and bridges dedicated this late January day, the Grand View Trestle gained new life as a recreational span that bridged the gap between the old railroad days of the lumber barons and the new days of winter tourism.
Wisconsin's snowmobilers have put a great deal of effort into creating the greatest network of snowmobile trails in America. This series of bridge and trestle dedications underscored the state's commitment to snowmobiling.
These bridge dedications drew nearly a hundred snowmobiles by trip's end at Cable. As the safari grew, you could see the strength of Wisconsin resolve to create and preserve an excellent network of safe trails. Groomed trails. Maintained trails. Signed trails.
Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs' president George Lendved said that when "...I see a bridge built, I see ties built between county, state and tourism that brings a lot of people closer together."There are 22,000 snowmobiling families that belong to the AWSC. There are 600 snowmobile clubs signed on with the statewide association. It is an influential voice in state politics.
Lendved points out the impact and power of snowmobiling. He says that in 1970 only six resorts were winterized for tourism in Vilas County. Try it today he asks! Especially on Derby weekend in Eagle River, we ask!
Resort and business owners like those who helped promote and support the bridge dedications recognize the importance of snowmobiling to the region. While these businesses make money from snowmobilers, they give back to the sport in many ways. Phyllis Beeksma donated time and breakfast at the Port Bar. Woody's in Mason donated snacks and a warm place to take a break. The Rasmussen's at The Lakewoods offered a site for a day ending banquet. The Lakewoods also donates use of its trail groomer to maintain local trails.
On this day, bridges were dedicated in Port Wing, Mason, Grand View and Cable. People like Jack Nelson, Mrs. Lee "Red" Ardell, Howard Potter and Iris Moe dedicated the bridges.
Jack Nelson was one of the first snowmobile activists in the area. Howard Potter has been a key and influential personality in the sport and in both Wisconsin and national snowmobile affairs for the past quarter century. Iris Moe, serving as Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson's personal representative for the area, underscored the political importance of snowmobiling to the state.
A fitting end to the day's activities came in Cable. Lea Justice of the Cable Area Chamber of Commerce asked how things had gone on the tour. I knew what she meant. It was a flawless trip, run on schedule, precise in virtually every way.
A special welcome by the Cable Lion's clowns was planned for the 100 or so riders making the last leg of the trip. Leisure Lawn & Sport served as the last pit stop as we all waited for night to fall. A special night time celebration was planned for the Cable trestle dedication.
At dark, everyone mounted up and rode about a mile south of town. A bonfire was lit and served as both welcome and warming station. Multi-colored lights lined the trestle as the distant hum of a portable generator could be heard in the background. A speech was made. A ribbon was cut. And fireworks zipped into the black sky.
The dedications were over.
Only the banquet at The Lakewoods was left. A few speeches would be made. Earned congratulations would go to key tour and dedication workers.
The impact of what had been accomplished cannot be measured in a day of dedications. The impact will be measured and felt in the winters ahead. These bridges signify cooperation between local and state governments, businesses, clubs, tourism groups and snowmobilers from all over Wisconsin, the Midwest and beyond.
Railroad tracks that had been torn up in the late 1970s have been replaced with recreational snowmobile trails. Industry dollars that rode the trails into small towns like Port Wing, Cable, Grand View and Mason are being replaced by tourism dollars that come from snowmobilers riding the trails.
Friends of "Red" Ardell, the White River Ramblers, the Namakagon Trail Groomers, and others like Pat Bonavia, Ron Bartholomew, and members of the Northwest Wisconsin Snowmobile Association have every right to be proud of their accomplishments.
And they did it all on schedule!