The trees are part of a park renovation project and will provide a buffer between the park and the road and help with water filtration. ReLeaf Michigan’s tree experts will be there to show volunteers how to plant a tree and oversee the event.

Please wear closed-toe shoes and bring a shovel, hard rake, and gloves if you have them. Event occurs rain or shine. No planting experience necessary. Families are welcome!

Workers completed the 2.6-mile segment in early spring. The new pavement extends from North Springwater Beach Road (the Evangeline/Bay Township line) and continues to Horton Bay.

The Charlevoix County Trail Team is taking the lead in tackling the first steps needed to complete Phases 4 and 5, which they hope can be rolled into one final project, instead of two.

Longtime ambassadors like Patrick and Susan Affholter, Jane Stewart, Michael Skirvin, John Esser, George Dubro, Earl and Sherry Bash, George Robson, Lawrence Graves, Kate Scollin, and more, each season log numerous hours of volunteer work meeting and greeting people on the Little Traverse Wheelway and the Packy Offield Trail Center. They hand out maps, answer questions, and share advice about a variety of things.

Visitors are often unaware of the area’s other trails, but are eager to learn. With their exceptional knowledge of our sprawling trail system, our Ambassadors have the knowledge and experience to offer expert guidance. If you are interested in joining in on the trail ambassador fun, email Becca at btn@trailscoucil.org.

Thank you to all our volunteer ambassadors for their time and commitment to ensuring visitors have a great vacation.

Registration is 10-11 a.m. The bike parade will be in two segments this year, with kids second grade and younger starting at 11 a.m., and kids third grade and older beginning at 11:30 a.m. The parade takes place on the Little Traverse Wheelway, starting at the museum and heading east toward Lime Kiln Pond. Helmets are required. A fleet of loaner bikes and helmets will be available for kids who are visiting the area, or don’t have their own.

Lynn Duse

As in past years, a variety of booths and activities are planned, including a free bike decorating station courtesy of Crooked Tree Arts Center. Prizes will be awarded for best decorated bikes. Top prize is a new Giant bicycle, donated by Latitude 45 Bicycles and Fitness in Petoskey.

There will also be free bike safety inspections, model trains display, a Little Traverse History Museum scavenger hunt, and more. Free healthy snacks are being provided by Grain Train Natural Foods Co-op.

Spectators are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs for the bike parade. Parade judges, who will dress in period clothing, include Petoskey Mayor John Murphy and others.

The idea for this event was conceived by the late Lynn (McCartney) Duse, a second generation owner and operator of the Circus Shop, a former children’s clothing store on Mitchell Street in downtown Petoskey.

Unfortunately, Duse died in 2023, not long after presenting her kids’ bike parade idea to the historical society, of which she’d been a longtime and active member.

According to her daughter, Marnie, Lynn’s conception of the event is just another of her civic-minded projects designed to showcase the community amid the fun and fanfare of a childrens’ parade of colorfully decorated bicycles.

“She enjoyed welcoming children and their parents in the Circus Shop, and promoting a Kids’ Bike Fest reflects her love of children and their joy. Lynn would be so delighted at how well it’s being organized and the interest of the Top of Michigan Trails Council and the Little Traverse Historical Society and the other community organizations involved. It is truly impressive how well it’s been organized.”

A historic, Northern Michigan ice storm decimated foliage and infrastructure recently, leaving tens of thousands without power while pummeling our trail network with fallen limbs and broken trees.

We are currently discouraging volunteers from helping clean up until trail safety assessments are made. There are many high hanging branches and other problems, we don’t want to jeopardize anyone’s safety. Anyone who does venture our for trail clean up should exercise extreme caution.

The Michigan DNR has a website detailing a number of park and trail closures. We encourage you to read this, particularly if you are planning a trip or vacation up north.

Our beloved Packy Offield Trail Center escaped major damage, but we will incur significant costs to have our once-beautiful-now-destroyed birch tree removed, along with numerous dead branches and hanging limbs. Other than that, the structure itself was undamaged and the rest is basically just a mess.

We know many of you are itching to get on the trails. But, we implore you to be patient until the danger passes. Please keep checking the Trails Council’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, as well as our webpage for updates on this developing situation.

The trails suffered extensive damage, and by all accounts it will take some time to clear them. Our government partners are assessing the trails, and we will let you know as soon as possible when volunteers are needed.

The trail paving appears complete. Workers continue to install concrete transition pads that link the trail to crossroads and bridge crossings.

When Boyne City and Charlevoix are finally connected after the remaining two phases, trail users will have a beautiful paved path that skirts the rolling road, offering a more challenging ride, walk or run than some of our flatter trails.

Young State Park, on the sandy shores of Lake Charlevoix is right on this trail, as are The Argonne House restaurant, Blue Dot Farm & Vineyard, and more.

None of this progress would be possible without the support of our trail partners and loyal, generous members.

The Ponshewaing Flag Stop on the North Western State Trail at Milton Road was officially unveiled Aug. 12 with a sign hanging ceremony. About 60 people attended the event.

Volunteers, including project leader Randall Crow, were on hand to be recognized, as were the dozens of donors who helped make the flag stop a reality. Project leader Randall Crow thanked everyone involved. Refreshments were then served.

This is truly a great addition to the North Western State Trail. An attraction such as this, with its shady rest area and interpretative signage, really enriches the experience for trail users and contributes to a genuine sense of place for Ponshewaing.

The professionally-timed running event features a half marathon, 10k, and 5k distances and takes place on the Little Traverse Wheelway, Petoskey State Park, and a few local roads.

The start/finish line is near Lime Kiln Pond at Bayfront Park East in Petoskey. Start times are as follows: half marathon – 7:30 a.m., 10k – 8 a.m., and 5k – 8:15 a.m. There will be aid stations along the way, with volunteers offering water.

Proceeds benefit event organizer Top of Michigan Trails Council and Petoskey High School track and cross country teams.

Aside from a few other freebies, participants who finish the event will receive a custom-made race medallion created by Lake Art in Harbor Springs. Top finishers in each race will also receive recovery gear provided by sponsor High Gear Sports.

Race Director Becca Nelson said the annual Festival of Races is a growing regional event with runners and walkers from across the state and beyond participating. “We love showing off Little Traverse Bay to our participants. It is truly a beautiful setting for this great event, which can be fun, competitive, or both, depending on the individual,” she said.

Stafford’s Hospitality is the event’s title sponsor. Other sponsors include the Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau, 4front Credit Union, American Spoon, Evening Star Joinery, Harbor-Brenn Insurance Agency, High Gear Sports, Oleson’s Food Stores, The Outfitter, Rotary Club of Petoskey, Nub’s Nob, Crooked Tree Breadworks, Grain Train Natural Foods Market, Brummeler & Associates, Citizens National Bank, Bay Pines Veterinary Clinic, Bearcub Outfitters, Gurney’s Bottle Shop, and the City of Petoskey.

Last year, Daniel Scarpino of Sault Ste. Marie was the top male finisher (1:18:05.3) in the half marathon event, while Samantha Jarrett of Detroit was the top female finisher (1:43:02.0). In the 10k race, Katie Connolly of Petoskey led the ladies’ field (44:57.6), while Quinn Bonnett of Cheboygan locked down the men’s race (40:19.0). The top male finisher in the 5k race was Chad Mikesell of Shorewood, Wisc., (18:53.1). Only one other runner outpaced him, and it was his own wife, Sarah Mikesell, also of Shorewood, (18:09.4). She led all 5k runners.

Same-day registration is available, but participants are encouraged to register in advance. To find complete details about the event and registration, visit /festivalofraces/.

Top of Michigan Trails Councils works to connect Northern Michigan by trail, providing recreation and transportation opportunities away from the busy roads. Learn more at www.trailscouncil.org.

I’m writing this down today, Feb. 20. March 20 is our official first day of Spring! Yippie!!

Now, all of us Northern Michiganders know that the weather could be anything but spring-like that day. But at least we can hope for some sign of a new season. For many trail cyclists it’s a welcome time of year.

Recreational cross-country skiers had a less than wonderful ski season and have a lot of pent up trail desire that spring trail cycling will seek to cure.

Once the snow and icy trail sections melt off and clear we will begin to do trail work to incorporate new trail signage, litter clean up, surface repair, and trail brushing as needed.

And, as always, we will be asking for volunteer help to get the trails back into good condition from winter’s wear and tear.

Spring Lake Park, a favorite starting trailhead for many LTW and NWST bicyclists, will open when the snow and ice have left. Typically, this is just before or by May 1.

Now is a great time to visit your favorite local bicycle shop for a spring bicycle tune-up. Beat the rush! Get some new cycling clothing, cycling shoes, a new helmet or – what the heck! – maybe even a new bicycle to get you fired up for a great start to your 2023 bicycling season.

A bicycle cycle computer is a great source of training information. Most of them include speed, trip distance, average speed, maximum speed, and an odometer for total cumulative mileage. It can be a great inspiration for getting and keeping you going when you’re trying to achieve any training fitness goals you may set for yourself. Bike computers are one of the best bicycle accessories.

And of course, don’t forget to have a bell mounted on the left hand side of your handlebar and a left bar end rearview mirror. Both are essential bicycle accessories when cycling on the LTW and the NWST.

Your local bicycle shop will help you with all these items and they will appreciate your support. After all, they support your trails!

So, get ready, get excited, and prepare for the trails!

Here at the Top of Michigan Trails Council we sure are!

Happy Trails!

Bill

When I began bicycle racing in 1960, bicycle helmets were only used by bicycle racers. They were required by the Amateur Bike League of America, the governing body of amateur bicycle racing in the United States.

However, these helmets were merely padded leather straps that offered very little protection against concussion and head injury in a crash.

When you have 25 – 50 racing cyclists all trying to be first across the finish line, crashes and, sometimes, head injuries will occur. I spent several nights in hospitals under observation, monitored for brain swelling from a head concussion. Fortunately I never had any further issues.

The following are excerpts from a statement developed by the American College of Surgeons on Trauma.

• Approximately 800 people die and 500,000 people are injured in the U.S. annually due to bicycle-related injuries. Bicycle crashes are the fourth largest contributor to childhood injury costs and quality-of-life losses and the leading cause of injury in school age children.
• Helmets reduce the risk of head injury by at least 45 percent, brain injury by 33 percent, facial injury by 27 percent and fatal injury by 29 percent.

In June 1994 I was on a mountain bike ride with friends on trails east of Good Hart. I crashed – over the bars and onto my head. Fortunately, I was with friends and there was a Readmond Township emergency crew nearby.

I suffered a severe concussion and a bruised brain. My modern, American National Standards Institute-approved, styro, hardshell helmet cracked apart – as designed – on impact. I spent the next three summer months relearning how to add and subtract.

But, that helmet saved my life.

You can find many opinions regarding bicycle helmet use on the Internet. I’m giving you mine from my personal, real-world experience:

I CHOOSE TO WEAR A BICYCLE HELMET WHEN CYCLING!

I hope that all you parents will get your children bicycle helmets and wear them yourselves to set an example for your children to follow when you ride together.

HAPPY TRAILS!
Bill