News just in from over the pond
Greetings from Gitchee-Gumi, "the shing great sea waters" of Lake Superior, and Minnesota, the "Land of 10000 Lakes." We are excited about holding a Polaris Challenge here in our beautiful state, and we invite you to find out more about us, but checking out the following websites:
One other note:
What's the trail density per say 4 square miles?
Jerry
Watch it, there GL! My great-grandparents were from the Llewellynshire and Abergivenny area. Coal miners, though, not farmers. My mom's mother was born on the boat on the way to the US in the late 1800s.
Oops!!!!!!!!!!
Ther's no such place as Llewellynshire, AbergAvenny on the other hand is down the road. Pedantic little bugger aren't I?
I'll have to talk to "me ol' Mum" about the roots thing. I know she said AbergAvenny (although I American-ized the spelling) I'll have to find out the other place. In any event, I know I am half Welsh.
Hans - All this about the Welsh, Moose(s) and bear(s) just lends itself to a Polaris 'Cartoon'. They are free so let me know if I can do anything for you.
Yes, we are still planning on it, and the tentative date is...(drum roll)...October 19 and 20, in the Superior National Forest of Minnesota
More info as and when we get it
By Hans Erdman on Sunday, January 13, 2002 - 02:04 pm:
North-Central Mountain Bike Patrol: (Host)
www.ncmbp.com
Superior National Forest: (Location)
www.superiornationalforest.org
Explore Minnesota:
www2.exploreminnesota.com
We will try to keep you posted as frequently as possible.
Ride safe,
Hans Erdman
Race Director
By Hans Erdman on Sunday, January 13, 2002 - 02:27 pm:
In the USA, the term "wilderness" is also a legal designation. "Wilderness Areas" are so designated by Congress and the land managing agency, except in New York State, where the "forever wild" status of the 6-million area Adirondack Mountains Park pre-dates the federal Wilderness Act by 80 years. No permanent structures (with a very few exceptions for interior ranger stations) or mechanized travel--including bicycles--are allowed. The area we will be competing in is refered to as "wild forest" or "backcountry." Superior's wilderness, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, is to the north of where we will be. It is a very popular canoeing destination.
By jerry on Sunday, January 13, 2002 - 05:02 pm:
In Wales we have loads of legal trails on our national park edges, so route selection for polaris riders is multi choice. I would only expect that to be the situation on parts of your eastern seaboard and maybe the Appalachians, just a guess on my part. To my knowledge trails are where there have been past and dwindling rural populations. If the population curve doesn't follow this model one either has very few routes or they are nearly all covered in tarmac or concrete.
By GrahamL on Sunday, January 13, 2002 - 09:52 pm:
If you look at the web site you will see that there are logging trails and specific MTB trails. Hans is sending me a map so I will bring one to Wales for you to have a look at.
They have bears and we have Welsh Farmers not much difference there then
By Hans Erdman on Monday, January 14, 2002 - 07:02 pm:
We also have Moose. And a cantakerous bull moose during rut (mating season-about the time we'll be there) is a lot more testy than most black bears.
By GrahamL on Monday, January 14, 2002 - 08:50 pm:
There I go, just managed to get a PC off the ground in the US and I go and insult the organisers heirachy, but then never very good on PC.
So if Gerry goes he will have to look out for amourous moose then, whats the plural of Moose, Mooses? Someone sent me a video clip of a moose stomping on some one, not nice.
By Jerry on Monday, January 14, 2002 - 11:06 pm:
I was attacked by an irate welsh farmer only a month ago [neighbourhood watch], prefer that to Meeces though.
By Hans Erdman on Tuesday, January 15, 2002 - 01:33 pm:
The plural of moose is moose. Don't ask me why. I crammed four years of college into seven years or so, and my Wildlife Management professors never covered it. We do have the bears, too, but October is right about the time they go into hiding because of the hunters. Anyhow, the plural of mouse is mice, but the plural of moose is moose. Go figure.
By Geoff on Sunday, January 20, 2002 - 11:02 am:
PS They are always free to anyone supporting or promoting sporting activities in the Great Out Doors (beyond the backyard gate.) You can find me via Polaris or on [email protected]