CAMBA Trails Open
As of May 1, all CAMBA trails are open. Warm, dry weather has hastened the departure of a late winter and soft, damp soils. All U.S. Forest Service and County trail closures have been lifted. Mountain bikers are still urged to exercise caution should heavy rains return to the area.

While the bike trails are open, it still would be a good idea to stay away from some of the area ski trails. Any trails with a solid grass covering may still be soft. This includes the Birkie Trail, Telemark Ski Trails, North End Ski Trails, Seeley Ski Trails and Hatchery Creek Ski Trails. The new Birkie Classic Trail should not be ridden at all, as it has no grass cover and is particularly vulnerable - more so than any other area trail.

Spring Trail Day - Outstanding Success
The 2007 Spring Trail Clean-up day was an enormous success. Over 30 people showed up to help get the trails ready for the season. Where possible, our trail stewards had already been out and done a lot of advance work on the trails. This allowed our spring clean up to branch out and do some additional work on a couple of our singletrack projects.

Cluster by cluster, here's the current status of the trails: Cable: Ojibwe and Terrain Park have been cleared of down trees. Terrain Park could still use a leaf blowing to redefine the tread. Sleigh Trails, Short & Fat and Out & Back are in good shape, but still need a final cruising. Delta: not much has been done, but should be in generally good shape. Drummond: All road trails have been cleaned and are in good shape. Drummond Ski trails still need to be worked. Hayward & Seeley: All trails are open, clean and rideable. The Bar Stool trail is now clear and a special thanks to the riders that kept us up to date on the condition and then went on to clean the trail and replace signs. In the Seeley Hills the Frost Pocket Trail needs some attention, during mid-May we will be clearing some down trees, replacing some sign posts and replacing missing signs. Namakagon: is in tip-top shape.

Thanks to everyone who came out to lend a hand on our kick off day for the season.

Trail Stewards - Keeping the Trails Open
If you should happen to spot any maintenance needs while you tour the CAMBA trails this season, feel free to let us know. The quickest way of letting us know is to simply email us at camba@cheqnet.net.

CAMBA is fortunate to have the assistance of several dedicated individuals who cruise the trails and help remove downed trees, replace missing signs and maps and tend to any other maintenance needs.

Trail stewards and their respective trails are: Cable: Jack Moin/Cable: Ojibwe Trail and Terrain Park - Ron Bergin; Delta: Bob Ferrara; Drummond: Ron Bergin; Hayward: John Saunders; Namakagon: John Leighton; and Seeley: Paul Butt.

CAMBA Trails NOT Affected by Major Forest Fire
A major forest fire in part of the Chequamegon National Forest started Sunday afternoon, April 30, on Pioneer Road about six miles northeast of Cable. The Pioneer Fire, as it became known, quickly spread in a southeasterly direction. Warm temperatures, extended drought, low humidity and high winds had set the stage with "perfect storm" conditions for this major fire.

There were no CAMBA trails in the area affected by the fire, which spread to near the dam at the head of the Namakagon River. By the time it was contained, the fire had burned over 300 acres of private land and 900 acres of National Forest. The Pioneer Fire is the largest fire on the Chequamegon National Forest in over 20 years.

Conditions remain dangerous with regard to fire throughout northwest Wisconsin. Burning bans are in effect; so if you're coming to the area and camping, don't plan on sitting around a campfire at night.

CAMBA to Take the Next Step with Hayward Singletrack Initiative
Work has resumed on the Hatchery Creek Trail, the first phase of the Hayward Singletrack Initiative. It will take two to four weeks to finish the remaining two miles of trail.

On Friday, May 4, CAMBA will meet with the Sawyer County Forestry Committee to present a proposal for the next phase of the singletrack project. This phase will move north from Mosquito Brook Trail Head with a 7½ to 8 mile looped trail to Gravel Pit Road. Following this phase, a linear connecting trail is planned to bring the trail all the way to the County Hwy OO Trail Head.

The Forestry Committee has been quite supportive of CAMBA's efforts thus far in the singletrack project. We look forward to continuing to develop this important trail.

This is why we ask people to stay off the trails during the spring break-up!

Someone in mid-April rode an extended section of the Birkie Classic Trail, leaving a three-inch deep rut. Whoever did this rode all the way into Telemark Resort, despite numerous opportunities to get off the trail, obviously oblivious to the damage being done. It is hard to comprehend why or how someone could do this, but it serves as a good reminder that in the early spring, caution must be exercised when deciding to ride.