What's a little cold--the party's on!

Bayfield Regional Conservancy and Mount Ashwabay Educational Foundation would like to thank you for helping acquire the last 160 acres on Mount Ashwabay!

You are invited to join us at the Mount Ashwabay T-Bar
(Warming house bar next to the Chalet)


February 10, 2008
Noon – 4:00 pm (cake cutting and recognition at 3:00 p.m.)
FREE Cross-Country Skiing Day Passes and Refreshments for all
individuals donating to the Mount Ashwabay Special Appeal this fall. (Lunch can be purchased at the Chalet) Check in at the t-Bar to receive your free day pass.

Mount Ashwabay is located approximately 10 minutes north of Washburn off of State Hwy 13. Turn left on to Ski Hill Road and follow it all the way to the top. (Summer Home of Big Top Chautauqua)

2007 Overview

This year has been the most active ever for land conservation in the Bayfield region. Details will be in our newsletter, but here are the highlights:

Capped off the Mt Ashwabay acquisitions which now holds over 1000 acres of deep forest habitat, 42 k of nordic ski trails and preserves the Mt Ashwabay Recreation Center--a family ski hill.










Protected a quarter mile of shoreline on Bass Lake on one of only two private holdings on the lake, which has a US Forest Service canoe launch.











Permanently preserved 85 acres and numerous ponds that are a wildlife magnet west of Mellon in Ashland County.











With a land preservation agreement with a private landowner, over 500 ft of Lake Superior shoreland, 2,400 feet of intermittent streams, and 600 feet of fields visible from Hwy 13 north of the City of Washburn are forever protected.







This work is only possible due to our generous members who make annual contributions to support our conservation programs to protect these places that make this region beautiful. You can join us by making a donation here.

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"

Pam Troxell 1959-2007

Pam passed on last Friday, November 9, 2007. You can read her obituary here.
The Wisconsin State Journal also published a tribute by columnist Susan Lampert Smith.
A memorial garden of native plants and a howling wolf sculpture will be created in honor of her life and life's work. You can donate to the garden by mailing a contribution to the Pam Troxell Memorial Fund at Associated Bank, 221 4th Ave W, Ashland, WI 54806. 715-682-9371.

You hang on for wherever this ride is taking you--benefit Fish Boil for Pam Troxell

A benefit fish boil will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2007 at the Four Corners Saloon (30015 E County Hwy E near Mason) to help cover the costs of cancer treatments and travel for Pam Troxell. Pam is a lifelong conservationist and has worked with the Timber Wolf Alliance and other programs at the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College.

I have worked with her with the Friends of the White River. Last June, the group was trying to find out how to get involved with a booth at Mason Days, and Pam took the practical approach of stopping in at the local bar to get support for the Friends having a booth at the event. In August, she and her husband took an extended wilderness canoe trip in the arctic with Bill Heart and others. The cancer that took one eye has now spread throughout her body. And I thought of her when I read Sam Cook's column today in the Duluth news Tribune.

Fall Colors in northern Wisconsin

Forrest Howk Studies Ice Records to Madeline Island

A fun thing to do in February is to drive the ice road across Lake Superior from Bayfield to Madeline Island. I usually drive with my window down in case I have to bail out of a sinking car. I know the ice depth is tested daily, but the experience elevates my heart rate and saves money.

Forrest Howk, a local Bayfield student, researched historical records back to the early 1800's and found the ice-over days are getting fewer and fewer. You can read the article in the Duluth News Tribune.