News just in from over the pond
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

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:

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

One other note:
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.

What's the trail density per say 4 square miles?
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.

Jerry
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

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.

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.

Oops!!!!!!!!!!
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.

Ther's no such place as Llewellynshire, AbergAvenny on the other hand is down the road. Pedantic little bugger aren't I?
I was attacked by an irate welsh farmer only a month ago [neighbourhood watch], prefer that to Meeces though.

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.

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.

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.

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]

Just to update everyone a bit: Graham has maps from the two choices we were considering for the event, and it appears that the Chippewa National Forest, in north-central Minnesota is actually a "better fit" for a major MTB-O event than the Superior NF. Essentially, more roads and trails. (Less moose, LOTS more Bald Eagles!-largest concentration of eagles in the "lower 48" of the US) I have started the permit application process this week, and should know more next. Graham also said he felt our maps were less detailed than your OS maps. I don't agree...Having looked at the Kiedler Forest OS map, I think the detail level is comparable; it's just that we have a lot more open space in the rural US. There isn't that much to show but woods, water and trails. (It gets even more pronouced in the Rocky Mountain west but miles and miles of miles and miles!) The map of the area that I sent is small, about 80 square miles, however National Geographic Topo Division does custom make larger areas, and we will be working with them to get the exactly right map for our race. In a few days our website will be on-line, with a link back to the UK Polaris site. I will post the info here when it is final.

And yet more news: I am starting to see some of the problems that Doug had with the Forest Service in Tennesee. I have to scrounge up my copy of IMBA's Memorandum of Understanding with USFS, and get my butt into the Forest Service offices in Duluth and Park Falls, and get this thing on track. Right now they are saying a year's wait and an Environmental Impact Statement before they consider a permit. Not to worry (yet) I can always try the Chequamegon National Forest in Wisconsin, home of the largest MTB race in the USA. We are committed to doing this thing! Maybe Chequamegon this year and Chippewa next?

Also, our new website, "www.trailpatrol.org" is online, with a link to the Polaris Challenge site. With it, my new e-mail address is "[email protected]"

Ride safe,
Hans

To Jerry;
How about Glenmorganshire?

I think thats the name my mother gave me, but I can't find the note she sent at the moment.

Later,
Hans

Good News! I spoke with the District Ranger in the Chequamegon National Forest of Wisconsin, and they are open to our event, the paperwork turn-around is only a couple months, and we will be replacing a cancelled event, so we don't need an environmental impact study. The dates we want in October are open, and we are, for now, a go. Check out "www.trailpatrol.org" and click on the "Orienteering" page link, for the rules and more info. Still waiting for my frnchise package , though.

Hans Erdman