Mt Ashwabay--we did it!

Last week, Bayfield County purchased the last 160 acres of land on the Mt Ashwabay ridge!

BRC President, Ellen Kwiatkowski announced that the $240,000 Stewardship grant from the Department of Natural Resources was matched by contributions by many people and a much-needed boost at the last minute of a donation by Murphy Oil Refineries of Superior.

You can now ski 42 kilometers of nordic trails crossing from Star Route Rd over to Mt. Ashwabay. To print a map, go here and click on Maps.
The media coverage was phenomenal. You can read some of the stories online:
Superior Telegram
Ashland Daily Press
KUWS Wisconsin Public Radio
News Center 6 TV -- featuring Dave McCormick's song, "Letters to Leopold"

Skiing at Mt. Ashwabay

Beta and Jim Bodin at Mt. Ashwabay in an earlier era!

As you may know, the BRC was involved in helping acquire funds for the purchase of the Mt Ashwabay Ski hill and the adjacent lands that are used for the nordic ski trails. By the time we are done (with the help of Gov. Doyle, Sen. Jauch and Rep. Sherman) over 1040 acres will have been acquired for public recreation and wildlife habitat on the Ashwabay ridge.

Though we don't have much snow... the Ashwabay Outdoor Educational Foundation has been making snow on the ski hill to build up the base for the downhill ski runs. They also have added 15k of skating trails to the cross-country system. Here is a recent article on the ski hill.