Pitch Black Photos

Photos from David Swanson

Photos from Coleman Retzlaff

Heineman Fire

This is one map of the extent of the 1910 Heineman fire that wiped out the town of 400.  Other accounts tell of fires moving south from the Underdown and narrowly missing two homesteads on Yanda Ave.

Thanks to Robert Rusch.

Railroads and Ghost Towns

Major Historic Railroads of Lincoln County

Dunfield Townsite just north of the Underdown on County J near Alta Junction where the Long Lake Line split from the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad System

Major railroads and logging railroads including the Wright Lumber Company line into the Underdown with Camps 1 & 2

Thanks to Robert Rusch of Rib Lake for the research

Old Underdown Railroad Map

 

A few days ago Irv Bork and I compared notes about historic sites in the Underdown.  As a kid Irv herded milk cows in the Underdown so he knows it well.

Lumber Camp 1 was found on the Wright Brothers rail line just east of county forest land.  Most of that line was graded by horses pulling slushers which were drags that would pull dirt from hills and drop it in the fills.  The Greek Fill was actually done with shovels and steel wheelbarrows.  The rail company had  immigrants work off their lack of a sponsor by filling in that low part of the rail grade with manpower.  The Kelsey (spelling unknown) Branch of rails was a good place to retrieve the cows in early summer when food was abundant.

The lumber camp just north of Underdown Lake was Camp 2, and Camp 3 was somewhere in the vicinity of Loop Road near trail X.  The bike trail crosses the Camp 3 branch at the Monster Bridge and Blackwater Bridge.  The location of Camp 4 is a mystery, but it was somewhere west of the others.  My hunch is somewhere near Henson Lake.

The stone foundation and furrowed pine plantation first believed to be the home of Bill Underdown is actually the Scheidlow (spelling unknown) Homestead.  The concrete and stone confirms it to be a more recent structure.  Most earlier homesteads were just logs laid out right on the earth.  A story I had heard recently was confirmed.  Underdown's homestead was on the grounds of the current Lincoln County Landfill.  The pine plantation north of the main Underdown parking lot was farmland at one time, and there was another homestead near the little parking lot on Loop Road.  There is barbed wire and a balsam plantation on the site.  I've also found barbed wire on the Roundtop Hill where the frost comes out early so the Borks could plant corn two weeks earlier than anywhere else before the county acquired the land by trade.

Before Camp Squawberry was a Girl Scout camp it was the Anderson homestead.  A silo, foundation and chimney can still be found on the site.  Not much is left of the Heineman ghost town that was leveled by fire in 1910.  Some stone from the mill foundation hides in the brush near the railroad bridge pilings south of Heineman Road.

Where is this?

Go ride!

Radio Shows

Wegener
Lund
Schotz
Ek

Go Ride

August mowing is done.  The hornet's nest on trail U has finally been found and destroyed.
Try something new like trail V or trail M around the hollow.

BURGR Results

1. Joel Hynes 96 miles in 5:40
2. Chris Schotz a bit later
3. Mike Curtes some time later
4. Randy Wegener s.t.

Back next year.  Maybe a Lighthouse start-finish.

Single Speed Awards

Custom Awards by Karie.

Bill Underdown's Roubaix Style Group Ride

This a 96 mile, 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 7 hours or more and will not pass through any town for the final 90 miles.  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.

Start: 10AM July 14th Underdown parking lot

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 
• 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.

Wausau Recaptures Thunderdown Cup

Wausau 315
Rhinelander 301
Madison 186

Results
Photos

You're Not Alone Out There

Low flying eagles and deer at Oktoberfest
Loons on Underdown Lake
Bear tracks on U and KK
Ducklings on Dog Lake

The short course will run up Loop Road to visit the Round Top aid station instead of using trail X.

Where?

Long Course Profile

Data collected by Jason on Saturday: about 2000 feet of climbing per lap.


TEST LAP- 1:29 by #11
Someone will finish a lap around 1:20.

Building a new deck?

Why not donate the old one to your local trail builder?  Thanks Beth and Paul.

Steve and I gave White Lightning a new top today.  He's always up for some crazy trail project.  Between the two of us, the race course got mowed.

Any Questions?

Just like last year, the race will split on the top of the climb about 2 miles in.

Free Book Download

Underground in the Underdown will be free on Sunday, June 24th only.
It's not about bikes.  It was just written on one.

Group Ride June 23rd 10AM

By then the trail will be mowed, cleaned and partly marked.

The Muddy Angle

Not muddy anymore.

Start Time - June 30, 2012

10AM: 10 hour
12PM: Single Speed State Championship
1PM: 6 Hour
2PM: Junior (unless they all want to race at 3)
3PM: 3 Hour

 14 Mile Loop:
10 Hour Solo
10 Hour Duo
6 Hour Solo
Single Speed State Championship (2 laps)

 7 Mile Loop:
10 Hour Team
6 Hour Duo
3 Hour Solo
Junior (up to 3 hours)

 All loops are about 2 miles shorter than last year so we'll see more of each other.

Amenities

Camping is available on site. Register for a fee, probably $10. No need for reservations.
We'll cover trail passes, but let us know if you have a season pass so we don't pay double.
Gleason has the closest store. There is a convenience store, but I recommend Prairie Pines Country Store on the north end of town for fresh and bulk food plus ice cream.
Thanks to our sponsors for after race prizes and refreshment: Red Eye, Bikes N Boards, Mel's Trading Post, Rib Mountain Cycles, Sprocketz, and Builer's.

Thundertown in the Underdown

The 2010 Thunderdown Cup found a home at the Red Eye in Wausau, and the 2011 model is on display at Bikes N Boards in Rhinelander so I commissioned artist Blane Graeber to create this model that will travel to the most recent winning town - that is unless we have a new winner. The word is that the tough guys from Duluth are making a strong run at the Cup. Madison is having fantasies about it. The Thunderdown Cup goes on display in the town that turns in the most miles at the Thunderdown. Get your rosters turned in by 3PM on race day. The neutral local and arbitrator will again be Steve Engel.

BURGR

Spring Wildflower Hike in Harrison

NORTHWOODS CHAPTER ICE AGE TRAIL ALLIANCE SPRING WILDFLOWER HIKE Saturday, May 12, 2012 10:00 A.M. Northwoods Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance will conducting their annual Spring Wildflower Hike in the beautiful hills and rolling hardwoods of the Harrison Hills in Lincoln County. Terrain will be moderately difficult because of a few steeper hills. Bring a lunch and water to have on the trail. Meet at the Ice Age Trail head on Turtle Lake Road Directions: Take Highway 51 to County Road J at Irma-Go east on J- 5 miles to Turtle Lake Road. Go north 2 ½ miles on Turtle Lake Road to trail head. Or from the East-Take Hwy 17 to County Road J at Bloomville. Go west on County Road J to Turtle Lake Road (follow Ice Age Trail Event signs) Any questions contact Ruby Jaecks brjaecks@airrun.net or 715-443-3586

Nay

Even though the trails are pretty well dried out, we'll have to wait until they open on May 1st for the sake of harmony with other user groups. It won't be long.
When you do get out there you'll find 3 new bridges installed this spring around the Hollow. If you haven't been there since the last race you'll find some big changes near the Homestead and Oktoberfest.

Thunderdown to Host Single Speed Championship

On Your Own

I went out and retrieved the snowshoe signs while there still was a trail. Snowshoe hiking will be nice in freezing weather, but lakes are getting very sketchy and warm weather is ahead. Ski trails will be ice or slush from now on. Biking may have to wait until the May 1st opening.

Bikes Can Go Anywhere

Get Out There

I got out on snowshoes in the new snow tonight. Things were pretty and pretty deep. All lakes had slush that could be felt if not seen. I took baby steps to leave a causeway that should be solid by Sunday. Saw 3 otter scoots, and my light died on the saddle hill before Dog Lake so I never got to Mist Lake. I must have forgot to charge it after the last ride. I'm sure the slush on the lakes farther out is at least as soft as the lakes I crossed. I was half way back before a nice half moon lit things up, but I wasn't about to head back out by then. As it was, the Dog Lake loop took over 3 hours tonight. Got the car unstuck just as the fuel light came on. Must remember to park pointed downhill.

Buckets of Snow

Snowshoe trails will get tracks today or Thursday, Ski trails probably Friday.

Fat bikes should go to Levis this weekend and try back in a week.

No Blizzard Yet, but Mist Lake has Sprung a Leak

Maybe the blizzard will come Wednesday.
The slush is back on Mist Lake. You won't drown, but you will be wading over most of the lake.

Ski trails: Very good with some potential for icing
Snowshoe trails: Boot hike until the blizzard. Avoid Mist Lake until a good freeze.
Bikes: Great to Dog Lake. Fine to Mist Lake with drifting and a narrowing tread across open areas, but I don't recommend it unless you want to drag your bike through mush across the lake.

Snow Report

An inch or two of new snow this week
Green ski trail groomed - others mostly skied in
Fat bikes have made it at least to the big bog and back
More snow soon

It's Coming!

Mist Lake Ride

2 Inches of Powder

Ski trails have powder in the track, but should be skied in by now. Snowshoe trails have tracks all the way around. An eagle was hanging out at Mist Lake.

A fat bike has already been out to Mist Lake today. Conditions should be even better Sunday morning.

Ride Mist Lake

Conditions were even better that during the group ride last month so I was able to ride the Mist Lake loop with minimal dabs. Going fast, that's 1:15 of single track on snow.

Inch of New Snow

Ski trails are groomed. Snowshoe trails all have tracks, and there is no more slush on the lakes.
Fat Bike Conditions
Big Bog Loop: perfect
Dog Lake: fine
Mist Lake: difficult, but worth an attempt

BearPaw put on a fun bike race today. Next year's Underdown fat bike rally should have some kind of "race."

Little Icy

Ski Trails: Groomed Thursday,a bit icy but good
Snowshoe Trails: Pretty, tracks all the way around. Boot hike when frozen. Snowshoe when melty.

Riding:
Mist Lake Loop: Too soft
Dog Lake Loop: Good riding, soft or icy in spots
Big Bog Loop: Nice ride, rode the whole Bumpy Bog - fun
A & Z: Plush
Snowmobile trails: Good riding when frozen, Planning a Harrison expedition tomorrow morning
Prairie River east fork: Ice was unpredictable by Dudley. I knew I'd get soaked eventually so I turned around pretty quick, but found a nice ride on the river from Town Hall Road to Prairie Forks, but not quite all the way to Axen Road.

Snow Report

Underdown ski trails are all tracked including some of Loop Road. To avoid the brush on the east side, I recommend the Red Trail with the shortcut across the hollow or the Blue Trail with a detour coming home.
Snowshoe trails have tracks all the way around. There is some seepy slush on the lakes, but nothing to worry about.
No trails are viable on any kind of bike tonight, but the Big Bog loop could be good on a fat bike by Sunday.

No Shortage of Snow Now

About 5 inches fell Monday so there will be no more rocks to worry about on the ski trails. All ski trails were tracked today, and snowshoe trails will have tracks by the weekend. Fat biking will not be viable for a while.

Fat Bike Rally

Be careful out there.

Fat Bike Rally Saturday

It sounds like a big group is getting together for a ride at noon Saturday. I took the bike out tonight with 30 pounds in the Nokians and was able to ride fine. With 6 layers and the covers on the riding boots I was able to work up a sweat and ice up the eyelashes.
Last night I hiked across Mist Lake and was blind for a few minutes in a short snow storm so my path won't be too direct. Only about an inch of new powder fell. Riding out that far will have some great trail and some trudges. The Dog Lake Loop is great for riding now. The Bumpy Bog will be technical, but mostly ridable.

All Set

37 hikers came out today so all of the trails have a solid tread. Green, Red, and Blue ski trails all have a fresh track.

OK

I took a ride on trail Z tonight. Climbs were too soft for the 2.2" studs, but the fat biker seemed to have been floating fine. I rode around Loop Road instead of more trail. It has had truck traffic and was a fun little ride. I might try again when things freeze up.
If it doesn't snow, there will be no need for snowshoes other that crust hiking. Trails have some exposed patches.
Green and Red ski trails are tracked and icy. The blue trail just had work on the base.

Not Bad

Ski trails are a little icy, but have less dirt than I expected. Snowshoe trails have good tracks, and one fat bike ventured out at least to the Big Bog. Bogs will be lumpy until we get more snow.

Trails Tracked

The Red and Green ski trails were tracked this week. Hopefully the snow won't all melt, and we'll have something for the snowshoe hike.

Some Snow

Signs and tracks are on the snowshoe trails. Ski trails aren't groomed yet, but could be this week.

Hikers should come to the Ice Age Trail snowshoe hike at the Underdown on Saturday, January 14th at 10AM. Racers should check out the Snowshoe Hare.

Riding Lakes.wmv

Try some frozen lakes until the snow flies. Harrison is in great shape for riding with or without studs. Those are Nokian tires.

Snowshoes and Fat Bikes

Sometime around Christmas the trails will be knocked in and signed. Of course, keep bikes and snowshoes off of the ski trails.

The Ice Age Trail snowshoe hike is scheduled for January 14th. January 21st is tentatively scheduled as a fat bike group ride if conditions cooperate.