Location: 135 Fisher Hall, MTU
Cost: FREE; $3 suggested donation. Coffee, dessert, and facilitated discussion with Sarah Salo

Food is a local issue, a global issue, a development, health, political and economic issue. How can we design a food system that ensures health, accessibility and affordability for everyone? (49 min.)

Discussion facilitator: Sara Salo, School Food Tour. Sara is the Founder & Executive Director of the School Food Bicycle Tour. Join us as we welcome Sara back to Houghton (she’s a Houghton HS graduate) after her epic 6,000-mile solo ride with the goal of empowering students, schools and communities to advocate for equitable access to wholesome food. She earned a M.S. in Public Health from Oregon State University. Sara is fascinated with examining and strategizing how the roles of place, community and individual come together to create and maintain sustainable food systems.

Pro riders Andrew Shandro and Tammy Donahue are scheduled to join us for a jumping clinic at the Michigan Tech Trails on Saturday and will offer an exhibition Sunday on Flying Squirrel Trail in Copper Harbor.

Sunday of Ride the Keweenaw is the Ride Center Party in the Park fundraiser. For $25 you can get some good food, listen to some great music and contribute to the trails. Please help us plan for attendance by registering.

Make sure to read on for the complete weekend schedule and you can download the 2012 poster with the complete schedule.

Friday, May 25

8:00 pm – Mountain Bike Social at Keweenaw Brewing Co., downtown Houghton

Saturday, May 26

9 am – Guided group ride at Michigan Tech Trails (post-ride food at trailhead)
10 am – Jumping clinic/demo – Michigan Tech Trails – Andrew Shandro and Tammy Donohugh
Noon – Guided group ride at Churning Rapids Trails, Hancock (post-ride refreshments)
3 pm – Guided group ride at Swedetown Trails, Calumet (post-ride grill-out at Swedetown)
9 pm – Social gathering/music – Mariner North in Copper Harbor

Sunday, May 27

10 am – 4 pm – Demo Day in Copper Harbor Park
10 am – Women’s MTB skill clinic and ride, Copper Harbor
10 am – Group rides at Copper Harbor trail, Copper Harbor Park
Noon – 5 pm – Discounted shuttles up Brockway Mtn ($10 – Keweenaw Adventure Co., Copper Harbor
1 pm – IMBA Ride Center dedication – Top of Flow Trail on Brockway Mtn.
1:30 pm – Flying Squirrel Freeride Demo – Andrew Shandro and Tammy Donahugh
7 pm – Party in the Park (BBQ, beverages and music) – Copper Harbor Park

Copper Harbor, Michigan Tech, and Churning Rapids all report mostly dry conditions. Swedetown still has spots of snow on some trails, and others are fairly wet. Most of Swedetown still needs another week to dry out.

As always, you are asked to use common sense – if you are leaving a lot of tire ruts when you ride, it is probably too wet and you are causing damage that will last for much of the season and beyond.

The annual sale is a great place to recycle outdoor equipment by buying and/or selling. Buyers find great bargains on used gear. Sellers pay just 15 percent commission per item for the convenience, with a maximum of $50 commission per item regardless of price.

Sellers can check in their items on Friday (April 13) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., or Saturday morning 8:45 to 9:45. Sales begin at 10 and end at 12:30. Sellers pick up unsold items and/or payment from 1-2.

The swap usually features lots of cross country skis and sometimes a few alpine skis and snowboards; a good selection of boots, poles and other ski accessories; a variety children’s and adult bikes along with bike tools, parts and car racks; camping gear like tents and backpacks; a big selection of outdoor clothing; sometimes kayaks, canoes and boating equipment; soccer cleats, ice skates and other sports equipment; and other items that help us play outside and enjoy life in the Keweenaw.

The ski team will also glide-wax skis for summer storage – $10 for nordic, $15 for downhill and boards.

Contact Debby or Rich at 482-7534 or e-mai dhart@pasty.net

You have your choice of 26km or 50km freestyle and classic races, as well as the new 14km race. And for you snow bike enthusiasts, there’s a snow bike race on the 26km course on Sunday.

After the ski races, stick around for door prizes, raffles and the best free lunch you’ll ever eat. All proceeds from the 2012 Great Bear Chase will go to the Copper Island Cross Country Ski Club groomer fund (to help pay for the new groomer and groomer building).

The Keweenaw Trails Alliance (KTA) is a partnership of trail groups and users in the Keweenaw that is working to enhance non-motorized trail opportunities throughout the region. On the Pilgrim River project, to date, a 3-1/2 mile single-track trail has been constructed by Keweenaw Trails Alliance members, with approval for another 2-1/2 miles and plans for an additional 3 to 5 miles winding through the planned conservation easement property.

With funds raised by the Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival and Run the Keweenaw events, KTA will match donations on a dollar-for-dollar basis (up to $5,500 in total) to help preserve this important natural resource. For example, KTA will match a $50 donation with $50, or a $100 donation with $100. Funds will be 100% applied toward the purchase of conservation easements for 1,382 acres along the Pilgrim River.

We are honored to be a partner in the Pilgrim River Watershed Conservation Project, and we hope others will join in the effort to protect this area for watershed protection, public recreation, education, and sustainable forestry.

To donate, please go to: http://www.pilgrimriverwatershed.org/donations.html

Thanks for supporting trail efforts in the Keweenaw!

The event starts and ends at the chalet at the Houghton County Fairgrounds in Hancock. All proceeds go to trail improvements at Maasto Hiihto. lndividual tickets are $15 until Friday, March 2, and $25 thereafrer. Children under 12 with adult are free! Tickets will be available at the chalet on the day of the Glide.

The well-marked course will first guide you to tasty hors d’oeuvres. Kids of all ages can roast marshmallows by the fire. Afrer this warm-up, you’ll descend along the Swedetown creek on one of the prettiest trails in the Keweenaw! Next up is the main dish – piping hot chili and soups galore at a scenic spot along the creek. After noshing there, you’ll continue down the creek and then cruise up Sisu hill. Once back to
the chalet, you can celebrate the circumnavigation of the gorge. To get you in the celebrating mood, you’ll be rewarded for your effott with treats for your tongue and your ears: delectable desserts and live music!