Trail U is Open

But it never really was closed because the loggers did a super job keeping it clear.  They have some skidding left to do but the cutting is done.  Beth, Beth, Paul, Pat and I finished the clean-up and had time for some nice improvements.  Thanks to the loggers and the Lincoln County Forestry Department for their cooperation on keeping the trail open.

Before

After

Honey Badger Burgers

Chocolate Veggie Burger Energy Bars

A yummy cheap way to get all you need.  All of these measurements are approximations, but cooking should be a surprise anyway.

• 1.5 cups cooked rice
• 1.5 cups cooked pinto beans (Make sure you haven't added red pepper already to the frijoles, but it does give it a kick.)
• 1 cup or so oatmeal
• Half cup or so flour to fill in the gaps
• 1 quarter cup cocoa
• 3 espresso Hammer Gels 
• 2  eggs (3 to make them more rubbery)
• 1 t baking powder
• Half cup or so sugar or honey if you care
• Raisins can be a nice touch

Beat the heck out of it with the mixer and grill them on the Foreman.

Looks like meat. Tastes like a brownie. It's beans and rice.

Watch Out

Loggers have started working on the east lobe of trail U.  They are leaving things rather clean and don't cut on weekends so the trail isn't closed, but if you meet them out there give them plenty of room or just turn around and go the other way.  They are doing their job and have other things to worry about besides dropping logs on you.  They will be done soon so we can get in to clean things up on Sunday the 18th.  It shouldn't be a big job unless we get carried away and make the trail better than it was to start with. It would be great to have help starting around 10AM on Loop Road.

Loggers are saving the job on X and KK until fall.

Hornets that bothered us on trails W and G have been eliminated.

Raspberries are at their peak of ripeness.  There are tons of them, especially on the old trail U clear cut and by the homestead.

Gravel Cue Sheets

BURGR 95 (95.5 miles, 66.2 gravel) The Toughest in Every Way! Start at Z's Fork Horners (formerly the Lighthouse) on X.

Fork Horners 47 (Bloomville BURGR) (47 miles, 41 gravel) Leaner and Tamer. Start at Z's Fork Horners on X.

Jack Lake-Elcho-Summit Lake (32.2 Miles, 14.4 Gravel) Fun gravel and fun pavement too.

Start at Jack Lake County Park in Langlade County.

Summit Lake Road

Tomahawk 90 (90.7 Miles, 66.3 Gravel) Start at Sarah Park in Tomahawk.

Bearskin-Hiawatha Trail

 Bearskin-Hiawatha Trail

Little Rice Dam

Kelly Fire Lane

Gobler Lake Road

Gobler Lake Road

Gobler Lake Road

Gobler Lake Road

South Turcott Road

South Turcott Road

South Turcott Road

South Turcott Road

Town Hall Road

Tomahawk 57 (57 miles, 30 Gravel) A shorter version

Rozell Road

Rozell Road

Honey Badger BURGR (274 Miles, 191 Gravel)
Merrill, Gleason, Summit Lake, Hazelhurst, Phillips, Prentice, Ogema, Rib Lake

Download here.  Photos and details here.

Ride the New Features

10AM Saturday at the Underdown Parking Lot

and we'd love to have you at the Washburn Trails Sunday from 10AM to 6PM to get things in shape for the Rock N Root.

History Made

Complete Ride Re-cap Here!

Randy, Rich and I became the first riders ever to complete the BURGR95 and Grand Tour of Underdown Singletrack in the same weekend so I hereby induct them into the Order of Bill, a society for those who are up for all I can throw at them.

The BURGR95 is the longest gravel packed ride I can  muster - a ride with plenty of fast single-lane gravel, but also plenty of tough, tough terrain from countless hills to sand and rock.
The Grand Tour* is the longest pure singletrack loop you can ride in the Underdown.  It measures 19.4 gnarly miles of constant ups and downs.  Both rides are among the toughest to be found in Wisconsin.

So if you add the toughest gravel ride to the toughest singletrack ride, you've got one hard core training camp for Randy and Rich.  Congratulations gentlemen.

Applications accepted for 2014.

*Trails Z,B,C,CC,XX,N,D,E,U,T,TT,S,SS,U,W,V,F,G,H,I,LL,L,J,K,KK, and A

Did It

5 of us came out for the BURGR95. Joel, Randy, Rich and I stretched it out to 100 in about 6:10 of riding.  Tom Wittman was up from Chicago and got his skinny wheels over the rocks of Langlade County and the mushy mile of Cinder Road before passing too close to his cabin in Harrison Hills to continue.  Joel was super strong, and Randy and Rich put in a great effort that will pay off  at their next race.
Oneida County roads through the Enterprise block were the best.  Beaver Trail Road was a sandy challenge in Lincoln County.  The Lighthouse had a delightful hodge podge.  Karie's Custom Awards painted some great pints.

BURGR 95 Updates and Answers

• It looks like we might have some temporary rain on Saturday, but nothing too bad.
• You can have a drop bag delivered to the 45 mile mark.
• Sunday at 10 looks like a great time for an Underdown mountain bike ride.  Trails are perfect.  Check out new boardwalk on KK, M and N to keep you clean.  LL and U have some good surprises.  New berms and water bars everywhere.  
• No raspberries yet. A few wild strawberries.
• Anyone who finishes the BURGR95 on Saturday and also completes the Grand Tour of Underdown Singletrack on Sunday will be inducted into the Order of Bill and have their name permanently etched on the official website.  The Grand Tour uses trails Z,B,C,CC,XX,N,D,E,U,T,TT,S,SS,U,W,V,F,G,H,I,LL,L,J,K,KK, and A.  This is about 20 serious miles of continuous singletrack which is even too long for a WEMS race.  Any permanent marker, medallion, or privileges for inductees are yet to be determined.

Full details.

2013 Stubborn Mule Adventure Race

Watch this and then try not to do an adventure race.

Great Conditions

The post-trillium mowing is done in the Underdown.  Trails are clean and have a lot of new features.  With some sun,  this should be a great weekend for riding.

Watch for Stubborn Mules on Saturday.  Bear tracks have been seen by the old car this week.

BURGR95 riders on Saturday July 13th should bring their mountain bikes to ride Underdown the next day.  CLICK HERE for details.

A men's ring was found in the parking lot.  Let us know if you are missing it.

Go Ride

All the digging in the dirt is done until fall!  Beth, Paul, Steve and I just added some flow to the Hollow.  Check out the new updates on trails A, C, M, S, U and Z.

Trails are drying out, but mosquitoes will carry you away one drop at a time if you let them.  Trail mowing will be underway this week.  Have fun.

Last Work Day for a While

On Saturday, June 15th at 2PM we'll be adding some flow to the north end of the Hollow Trail (M) and possibly moving to Billy Goat Hill, Stumpjumper and White Lightning for some fun updates.  Park where the Ice Age Trail crosses the west side of Loop Road and walk in to the east.
After this weekend the mowing begins.

RASTA Boardwalk on Trail A

Bear

Riley was out riding Oktoberfest by himself today when he heard a crashing through the brush behind him.  He turned to see an angry bear charging.  Yelling at the bear behind him, he lost track of the trail and crashed into the brush.  The bear was watching when he got up so Riley kept yelling at it.  It stood, growled, and walked away.  Riley always gets the close encounters.

Things can get exciting out there.  It reminds me of the close call last year when Gregg and I were riding close on trail U, but a bear still managed to shoot out of the brush and get between us.  I haven't come that close in seven years when a bear jumped out in front of me as I was launching the stump jump and landed with a broken frame, but it's only been a month since I got to watch a wolf chase geese on the Manthe Marsh across Heineman Road from Underdown.

We'll be working on a few downed trees this month. It should be a wild year.

Trails Open May 24th

And we'll be doing a little update to the top of Oktoberfest on the morning of the 25th.  We'll put off the trail A boardwalk until June 1st when we'll have an army of cordless drills.

BURGR 95

• Bill Underdown's Roubaix-style Group Ride will start and finish at the Lighthouse Bar & Grill this year!  They've got great burgers and pizza. 
•  The course will measure 95.5 miles including 66.2 miles on gravel. This a self-navigated, unsupported, free "group ride" through the wilderness dirt roads of Lincoln, Langlade, and Oneida counties.  Like with any other training ride, you will be responsible for yourself and should not count on rescue from anyone.  You will be on the road for 5 to 7 hours and will not pass through any town ever.  You will be in bear and wolf territory most of the time.  Your phone will work most of the time.  All traffic laws and laws of nature apply.
• RSVP with a comment here so the restaurant and I know what to expect.

Start: 10AM July 13th Lighthouse Bar & Grill on Highway X 2.5 miles south of Gleason, Wisconsin.

Gear:

• This is a cross bike ride.  Mountain bikes would make it, but without compromise tires they will be tougher to ride that far.  Road bikes will not survive some fire road segments.
• I'm using the same 700x32 tires that got me across Iowa.  Sometimes those aren't quite enough, but overall they are an efficient and durable choice.
• You will receive a cue sheet with turns, road names, and mileage.  You will need an accurate computer unless you plan on never getting dropped from the group.  You will need a way to hold your cue sheet whether a stem bag with a window, clip board, binder clips, or the cuff of your shorts.
• Because the route really doesn't have to be top secret, and I don't want anyone getting stranded: Map Joel's Ride   THIS LINK IS THE 2012 ROUTE WHICH IS THE SAME EXCEPT FOR THE START & FINISH LOCATION!
• Depending on temperatures, start with 3 or 4 bottles and put the same in your drop bag.
• Sunday should be a good day to pick raspberries in the Underdown.

Not Yet

Trails won't be open on May 1st, but please come out on foot May 4th for a little improvement on trail Z.

Fun Stuff

A few fun projects to make the riding more fun!  All projects will get going by 9AM or sooner, but come whenever.

#1 May 4th: Widening 2 switchbacks on trail Z.  Meet at the main parking lot for the first one and along Copper Lake Road for the second.  Bring your favorite digging tool, but I've got extra.
#2 June 1st: This is the 90 foot double-bermed boardwalk on trail A!  We'll need a lot of cordless drills!  Walk in on the ski trail from Loop Road to the gravel pit.
#3 May 25th: Adding flow to the top of Oktoberfest (trail S).  Park at Underdown Lake and head up the hill.
#4 June 15th: Adding flow to the north end of the hollow (trail M).  Park where the Ice Age Trail crosses Loop Road and head east along the base of Heartbreak Ridge.

That should keep us busy until the logging is done for this year.  Post a comment if you've got a question.

The frozen days, they turn to mud that slides into the Springtime mud

It's time to give the Underdown a rest until opening day May 1st.

Rain Yesterday, Freeze Today

The last of the snowshoe trail signs were retrieved today.  On a frozen morning the trails are sidewalks with few ice patches best for boot hiking, ice biking, and crust snowshoeing.  Ski trails all have snow and should soften as the day goes on.