Petitioners denied in Bond Falls case....

Vilas County Forest Management Plan-Vilas County News-Review

First ski at the Discovery Center...

Our first cross country ski trip of the year....we took it easy, just to test out my knee, which seemed to be fine. The track hadn't been laid for trail, but it was "panked down", as yoopers like to say. We had the trail to ourselves. Once again, our camera couldn't capture the beauty of the snow "fixed" in the trees. We both had on "classic skis", and whatever sins I had made in a hasty waxing were made up for by the smooth trail.

Lets hope for lots more snow!

From Joel Patenaude...a call for ATV damage reports

Dear fellow silent sports advocates,

In the waning days before the third and final State Trails Policy committee meeting on Jan. 4, I'm I'm marshaling the necessary argument in favor of the establishment of a ATV damage repair fund in Wisconsin. In order to do so, I need a better idea of the extent of the damage ATVs and other off-road motor vehicles have done in this state and the toll they have taken on our public lands, at the expense of other recreational opportunities and overall cost to taxpayers.


No one person or state agency can put a dollar amount on it, I realize. But we can get a snapshot if we ask one another what we have seen happening in our own neck of the woods. So I'm putting out a call for witnesses and other folks knowledgeable about specific problem areas. I need details: dates, repair cost estimates, photos -- all as well documented as possible. Also names and contact info for folks who can tell me more, either by email phone or site visits.


The loss to ATV'ers of about five miles of the Ice Age Trail in northwestern Wisconsin is an egregious example and demonstrates that nonmotorized trails are being destroyed or taken away from their intended users without consequence or compensation. This is but one example.


I know but endeavor to learn more about other places in Wisconsin that have experienced property damage, environmental desctruction and displacement of nonmotorized recreationalists. What I'm primarily looking for is detailed accounts of ATV damage that has resulted in costly repairs completed or still needed on public lands, private lands adjacent to legal ATV trails as well to nonmotorized trails.


Given the Jan.4 meeting date, the sooner I hear of such accounts, the better. (Some of this may find its way into my magazine after the meeting date, but not before I obtain permission from the sources of the information, rest assured.)


Please send your first-hand accounts, photos or leads to this address: silentsports@gmail.com.

Thank you in advance for your assistance,

Joel Patenaude,

Editor, Silent Sports Magazine
Public Member, Special Committee on State Trails Policy

P.S. What follows is my comparison between the draft ATV damage repair bill and existing legislation in Minnesota. Any comments you may have on the proposal would also be greatly appreciated. To read the bill in its entirety and other draft legislation that committee will discuss on Jan. 4, go to
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lc/3_COMMITTEES/Special%20Committees/2006/TRAIL/.

Stepping up for the Great Lakes....Green Bay Press Gazetter

Merry Christmas!

We have a beautiful snowy Christmas up north. A coating of ice keeps the snow clinging to the trees. So why am I not skiing? I took a dramatic tumble off of my steps, and did something to my knee. It is one of those liminal kind of injuries: Pain when I turn my leg, but no swelling, and nothing to keep me from walking. So should I go to the Doctor? I will wait a day, and enjoy the winter from my yard. I have fed the birds and the squirrels. Tomorrow I am skiing.

Two new snowmobile ordinances....

Congratulations for the snowmobile clubs of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin DNR working together on reducing speed and noise. I have two questions:

1. Will snowmobile clubs pressure dealers to stop marketing trail snowmobiles as racing machines?

2 Will snowmobilers actually confront other snowmobilers who modify their exhausts in order to be louder?

3. Will it be illegal for businesses to sell after-market snowmobile exhausts?

4. Will there be enough enforcement officers to realistically make a dent in the number of violators?

This winter will be an interesting test case-if we have a winter!

Legislative Agenda for State Trails Policy meeting

January 4th. Will there be a place for public comment on ATV trails in general, or only in relation to these topics?

Good news from Fond du Lac County-

From Joel Patenaude:

Despite the Fond du Lac County parks committee voting 5-0 on Dec. 6 to
allow winter ATVing on the 10-mile Eisenbahn Trail, last night the FDLC
Board voted 26-9 last night against any ATVs use of the trail, even on
a
one-year trial basis.

For it's part, the committee did kill a preposterous petition asking
for
year-round ATV access to all of the nonmotorized state trails in the
county.

So let this be a lesson: Turnout by silent sports enthusiasts can
protect trails. Thank you Fond du Lac County residents for showing us
how to make a difference.

Joel Patenaude, Editor
Silent Sports

From Brook Waalen; Quote from Polaris

Friends,

Polaris Industries is trying to distance themselves from comments their CEO made July 19, 2004 The statement is rather damning:

“About two-thirds of the ATVs that are sold are actually sold for a work application…that’s where the vast majority of ATVs have been used and are used… The recreation market is about a third of the total ATV industry.”

According to Tom Tiller, Polaris Industries CEO I have taken this quote out of context or worse. See the Polaris letter at http://forums.watva.org/Attachment82.aspx.

The beauty is that the 2004 statement doesn’t need to be taken out of context or misrepresented or paraphrased to work in our favor. WATVA will be using this Polaris letter to further their cause and misrepresent the popularity of ATV riding. Please carry this quote with you to your next public meeting on ATV issues. This has been a powerful tool.

You may listen to the entire Minnesota Public Radio Interview at http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/programs/midday/listings/md20040719.shtml#1. Click on “Running a Business in Minnesota”).

Brook Waalen
715-472-2922

Here’s the quote in its entirety:

“Most of the calls this morning would have you to believe that every ATV is used on a trail in the state of Minnesota. That’s not quite exactly the case. About two-thirds of the ATVs that are sold are actually sold for a work application so if you think of a dairy farmer or you think of a rancher or you think of maybe someone who owns some acreage up in the Brainerd area they might use and ATV to plow their driveway they might use it to clean up the barnyard to put up some fence posts that’s where the vast majority of ATVs have been used and are used… The recreation market is about a third of the total ATV industry.” Tom Tiller, Minnesota Public Radio Interview, July 19, 2004. (

No snow here in Green Bay....

I wasn't positive, but I think I saw the grass turning green in Pamperin park. It doesn't look good.

Snowmobiles face new limits

This will be a good test year for the DNR's new policies, if we actually get snow. The article states snowmobile retailers and manufacturers back the new speed limits. That is why they are withdrawing all advertising that conflates speed and snowmobiling. OK, I made that last part up. Manufacturers know the money comes from making machines that people can't safely use.

Rhinelander Area Silent Trails Association get DNR grant!

Money quote: "Oneida County is one step closer to its goal of becoming a mecca for silent sports lovers." I like the sound of that! Let's hope the Rhinelander Daily News becomes a strong editorial advocate for that kind of thinking.

Nothing sounds better to me than a competition between Oneida and Vilas county for being the major silent sports destination of northern Wisconsin. Think of a" grand circuit" of bike trails between the two counties....

Northwoods Link of the Week: Conserve School

At one time, I planned on having a "link of the week", where I would highlight the web site of an organization or group that reflected northwoods values. This week, it is conserve school....

From Ted Ritter: Invasive Species Cookbook!

Hello AIS Partners!

Are you still looking for a great stocking stuffer idea? How about a new cookbook?

The Invasive Species Cookbook - Conservation Through Gastronomy!

More information can be found at: http://www.bradfordstreetpress.com/

Thanks to Gail Gilson Pierce for sharing this hot tip!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Ted Ritter
Vilas Co. AIS Coordinator
330 Court Street Eagle River, WI 54521
Phone: (715) 479-3738
Fax: (715) 479-1978

What the Stakeholders mandate says....

It was pointed out to my by Sue Drum, a member of the stakeholders group, that its last line reads (p 166) "If no suitable sites are found to be feasible, no trail will be designated".

This seems to stand in sharp contrast to statements Dennis Leith has made that the committee is mandated to find a trail site. At any rate, we will need to take an active, outside strategy to get the trail off of "fast track" mode.

We've been had, really....

Now that the Stakeholders group is moving quickly and stealthily to bring ATV's to the NHAL forest, I can see the strategy that had been in place all along. We have been "punked".

The overwhelming opposition to ATV trails registered by the public during the NHAL Master Plan process set the ATV interests and the DNR on its heels. The DNR already had its marching orders-bring an ATV trail to the NHAL forest. So what kind of cover needed to be created to get a trail made? The DNR was told to come up with somethinng-so creatively, the Stakeholder's group was born. Under the patina of "inquiry", the committee became an ATV trail planning process. If the DNR had just went ahead and planned a trail, opposition would already have been ready to go publlc. Instead, we sat around and assumed that a neutral process was in place, and that a neutral process would probably decide that a trail could not be built in a sensitive area that had a history of opposition to ATV trails. In short, we went to sleep. It is probably too late, but certainly worth fighting. Write to the Stakeholders group, write letters to the editor, and make the public aware of what is going on.

Action Alert! State Trails Committee Meeting

Friends of Vilas and Iron counties should be aware that the DNR Stakeholders group has located two potential sites for ATV trails in the Northern Highland-American Legion Forest. The first site will pass along sensitive wetlands areas and the Manitowish River. The other site will end near Sayner, an area already rich with silent sports activities. The group is moving quickly, and has already approached Manitowish Waters about the use of town roads for the first trail. It is important that residents of Manitowish Waters and the surrounding communities be aware of town meeting notices related to approving ATV’s on town roads. Also, State residents need to make clear once again their opposition to ATV trails in the NHAL forest. You can find minutes of the Stakeholders group here: http://dnr.wi.gov/master_planning/nhal/NHAL-atvstakeholder.htm and you can register your views to the Stakeholders group here: Robert.Dall@dnr.state.wi.us

Mark Haag
Boulder Junction
quietnorth.blogspot.com

Time to talk to the town boards

People from MW should be looking for the meeting. People from other towns should be talking to their town boards. If the town OK's running ATV's on this road, they could be coming for your town road next.

Mark

ATV's are coming for the town roads!

From Kim Kost:


as you are probably aware, the stake holder's group has come up with a loop trail out of mercer to the south.
in order for it to work, a few town roads will need to be used in Mercer, Winchester and MW.
last night, there was a public hearing in Manitowish Waters to consider allowing ATVs on about 900 feet of Circle Lily Road, literally on the black top because the ditches are wetland.
what ensued could be judged anywhere between comical and ludicrous.

according to the MW town board (tb), there is presently a town ordinance that prohibits ATVs on roads in MW.
so the hearing last night was to amend that ordinance to allow ATVs on a portion of Circle Lily road.
I showed up early to read the ordinance, but nobody could find it.
so essentially, the tb had a public hearing about something they aren't even sure exists.
I also questioned the posting of the hearing.
it wasn't a 'typical' class two notice that needs to be posted something like 15 days in advance and in the newspaper twice.
it was merely posted last Friday at the town hall's bulletin board.
(and I didn't find out till 2 pm yesterday)
again, the tb could not say for sure if the posting was legal or not.
(can you say bozos?)

it was a very poorly run hearing.
I won't go into the 'testimony'.
it was more of a back and forth negation of the previous comment than it was a hearing.

after the 'hearing', the tb had a regular meeting.
to make a long story short, they postponed any decision on opening Circle Lily road because of the ambiguity of their being a current ordinance that prohibits such.
most likely, when they figure out something close to what it is they consider reality, they will hold a 'special' meeting to vote on the above.
when that meeting will be is anybody's guess.
more than likely, there won't be much advance notice.

so far, MW is the first town the stake holder group has approached asking permission to use their road.
if MW or Winchester says no, the trail may likely get scrapped.
(I'm assuming Mercer would give the green light to the use of roads)
one of our three tb members, Henry Bauers, is definitely for ATVs in town.
I think the other two could be persuaded to deny access, but that's not where they are leaning currently.

hearing details:
my memory is that there were about five people there who want the trail: Charlie Rayala, a buddy of his, an O'Brien (who's on the stakeholder group) and his wife Phyllis- the head of the Mercer chamber, Bill Schuman from the stakeholder group, as well as Denny Leath
in opposition were Mary Burns, John Bates, four elderly people from MW (whom I assume live near the proposed trail) and myself
I'm probably forgetting someone
perhaps Mary or John can correct me and/or add further comments

A song Dad used to sing to us when we were kids..apropos of nothing, maybe

Dad was able to flag the train a couple of times, but in the end the train always gets us.

Schopenhauer, silent sports, and grief.

I remember once cross country skiing with my Dad along the Manitowish river flowage above Fishtrap Dam, near the DNR canoe campsites. A beautiful place in winter, by the way, if you like making your own trail from the dam parking lot. Or from my house, if you want to come visit.

I remember it was sunny and still, but I can't remember how cold it was. Dad had stopped for one of his frequent cigarette breaks. I remember we were looking at the aged ruins of stumps and trees sticking up from the flowage. Everything was absolutely still and remote. There was nothing in it for us-nothing human. Nothing pretty. And yet it was beautiful. One of us, I don't know which one, called it a terrible beauty. We were awed by what we saw. Time opened up its mystery for a moment-and then we closed it up (unable to bear it very long?)

Moments like this can't be forced, and any time we try to make them happen, they fail. They only come out of the corner of your eye, to steal a Roger Waters line. Silent sports, in my view, just put us in the place where they might happen. But live long enough that loved ones die, and the terrible comes looking for you.

Blogger Beta Blues

For some unknown reason, I took the bait and switched over to the "Beta" version of blogger, which is somehow connected to google. From what I can tell so far, the predominant feature is to add another redundant layer of screens before you can get to the post setting. So I don't recommend it!

What makes a good ATV?

I am watching some television show comparing ATV models. How fast can they go? How well do they go through water and mud? How much power do they have? The riders look like power rangers.

On the one hand, ATV manufacturers know that their biggest profits are going to come from people who want to buy more powerful machines to go "mudding" and racing. On the other hand, they are convincing the DNR that somehow, people can be educated NOT to use the machines in the way they were intended (as all terrain vehicles)

Grief as the original silent sport

It is impossible to talk about things of the mind without analogies being built in. The full impact of my father's death hits me now and again. Grief as a moving force. I am in Boulder Junction right now, it is night, but the moon brings a luminescence in the snow. Its funny, I don't remember this miracle growing up.

He's gone.

Buy a Bike Ornament....

From Molly, Scott and Sally at the Homestead, just North of Boulder Junction. Proceeds go towards developing a North-of-Boulder Bike trail.

Bicycle committee meeting....

The Boulder Junction Bike committee met yesterday-I met some new folks, and was inspired by all of the energy. Mark Hiller from the St. Germain trail http://www.st-germain.com/newsite/rec/hike.htm graciously gave us a history of their trail development. One thing I could tell from the meeting was that lots of folks are very enthusiastic about connecting town to town.

Fit for an English countryside...

It would be great to see a discussion of aesthetics in northern Wisconsin. Some say we can't legislate aesthetics-but there are (supposedly, anyway) muffler laws, and laws against leaving junked cars on your property in view of the highway.

But even if we aren't talking about legislation, how about persuasion? Isn't humiliation a powerful force? I would like to see a


I think we should have a "best design, " "worst design" award for Lakefront development. What do you think?

Lake Effect effect, part two...

The weather has been teasing us north of Vilas County with enough snow to pretty things up. I did take my "beater" skis out yesterday for 1/2 an hour, long enough to scrape any residual wax from the bottom. But a person didn't need to be out long.

Lake effect effect....

I was pleased when we saw the snow coming down on Highway M-North of town, maybe just an inch of snow, but beautiful, quiet, still...and the wonderful sensation when you breath in, open mouthed. I fed the birds and we watched the deer munching on a brush pile. Just stay away from my baby hemlock, ladies!

Are ATV interests and the DNR in full steamroller mode?

Is the debate about whether to have an ATV trail in the NHAL forest over? Reading the minutes posted at the DNR web site doesn't leave me very optimistic.

Mark

Disappointing snow forecast....

For cross country skiers, this would be a great time of year for a blizzard. After deer hunting, a few weeks before the snowmobilers-"the quiet season". The only taste of snow is, well, the taste in the air. Places like Chicago and Madison, that don't really need it, are getting the blizzards again.

The callow idiocy of snowmobile manufacturers

This is so sad it has to be true: Artic Cat does have a "hybrid" snowmobile-apparently a hybrid between a "powder" machine and a "power" machine-in other words, a snowmobile that can go even faster to kill and cripple more riders. Faster snowmobiles are a hybrid between stupidity and manslaughter.

Hybrid snowmobile update...

It is time to check in to see if we have gotten any further in developing the hybrid snowmobile. I will be the first to buy one. Which snowmobile manufacturer will be the first to have the foresight to bring one to market?

Carbon emissions trading-effective or the "mother of all indulgences"?

We put on a lot of miles each week. We "semiretired" our truck and use our prius and an old prizm to get around, but we still...put on a lot of miles. We keep our thermometer at 62 (if I get ahold of it) 60 (if Gina does). But we still heat a lot of space for two people.

So, should we feel less guilty if we buy "carbon offset" credits, or are we fooling ourselves?

mitigation as the standard?

It would be great to have a DNR policy that was at once more flexible, more enforceable, and more effective at preserving our resources. Focus on impervious surfaces and mitigation over "conforming" or "nonconforming" structures-is this the right approach?

The devil is in the details. "Mitigation" might be in the eyes of the beholder, unless it was well defined.

"You can rip up dirt or snow trails at breakneck speeds"

How absolutely cynical, given the number of people who did accomplish the "breaking your neck" part.

If you are a family snowmobiler, are you complaining about this kind of marketing? It is endangering your family's life!

Used Snowmobiles for sale

Hey, what’s with all of the used snowmobiles for sale parked along Wisconsin’s roads? As forlorn as unclaimed “Gard” signs. Some look old and outdated, but others are shiny and sharklike.

Victims of global warming? But wasn’t there lots of snow last year? Hot new models? But new snowmobile sales are down. Victims of bad economy? The first things to go when your job has been “downsized?” How about….boredom? Is riding on a rattling trail anywhere near as fun as a good video game? Sleek machines and ads portray an image that reality can’t meet. You just can’t go as fast on a trail as they show in an ad.

There is an important lesson in considering a viable long term economy in the northwoods. There will be pressure to make the northwoods a racing ground (or battleground) to "compete" with the world of videogaming. But what about "counterprogramming?" The northwoods as a "non-virtual space", to watch and listen to nature.

Tournament Fishing

“I am opposed to the July and August ban,” said bass fisherman Ted Heitschmidt of Tomahawk. “I buy a fishing license, I should be able to fish however I want during that period.”

The thought that will kill the northwoods contains the words "I should be able to (fill in the blank) however I want..."

Another Pic from Bruce-before Thawsgiving

This picture reminds me perfectly of what people in Northern Wisconsin have to be thankful for. I am thankful for every piece of earth too useless to exploit, and therefore more valuable than all the rest put together.

Gratitude...

I got to Boulder Wednesday night, and the stars were magnificent. I wasn't happy with the warm weather, and I wasn't happy with the crappy rock music that drifted through the trees, taking away the silence that should go with the night. "Be thankful you can hear that well!", Gina says.

I get anxious at times about having this place, and this place having us. Over the next 20 years, more and more land will be developed north of town. Will there be more "frontier types", thinking that being up north will mean they can do what they want? Or will they be "wilderness neighborhood types", people who appreciate being here for the attributes the northwoods has?

I try to stay grateful for the moments of silence that I get. I can encourage, but I can't control. In the morning, when I refill the birdfeeders, I hear the nasal "Gonk!" of nuthatches.

From Bruce Card: Not yet frozen over...

New Pics from Bruce Card

"Three Lakes should be embarrassed"

I had the same reaction. It would be nice to think that communities, developers, and architects could be shamed, but they probably can't.

A danger to our loons! From Mike Meyer, DNR

"Dear Colleagues - I'll keep you posted on the situation described below, it could have an impact on Wisconsin's breeding loon population.

Kevin Kenow, USGS, found that nearly all Wisconsin loons fitted with satellite transmitters migrated through Lake Michigan during fall migration. The die-off described below has potential serious implications for Wisconsin's loon population as strong adult survival rates are critical to the long term stability of the population. It is likely many loons from the Michigan UP and Minnesota also stage in Lake Michigan during fall migration.


Original and complete post at the linke above...

Single Track Raven Trail?

I am not a "mountain biker" per se, so my comments here are based out of ignorance. Reconstructing trails to deal with erosion makes sense. I am not sure I understand how making a trail single track will help, though-I am skeptical of the "people will slow down, because of the technical difficulty". argument. Does a single track trail actually make the trail narrrower? Can that really be a good thing for a multi-use trail? I suspect that hikers and bikers may not be able to share some trails, if both sports become as popular as we hope.

Lets assume that we succeed in bringing more silent sports people to the northwoods-bikers, hikers, birdwatchers, orienteers and cache-ers. We may indeed have cross-sport conflicts that need to be addressed.

Grief, the original silent sport?

From Leonard Cohen:

"There is a crack in everything That's how the light gets in"

Walter Haag, my Father

My Father passed away last week, at home, after a long illness. My brother Fred, my Mother, and a good friend were with him when he passed.

I have had lots of thoughts about Dad, here, I will post some memories of this old school "silent sports" enthusiast.

When the environmental movement came on the scene, my Dad sounded skeptical: "If kids are concerned about the environment, let them start cleaning their rooms!" But on the very first Earth Day, Dad went with me to the "teach in" that my science teacher held at Lakeland high School.

Dad was very proud of his work as Boulder Junction town chair to restrict outboard motors on smaller lakes and to create an extra layer of protection by passing a 200 foot lakefront zoning rule. Dad worked for many years as the maintenance supervisor and unofficial mentor at the University of Wisconsin Limnology lab at Trout Lake. He made many good friends.

Dad skiied all over the northwoods of Boulder Junction as a kid, before anyone in the area had heard of waxing skis. When I bought my first true cross country skis, Dad was skeptical of the claims that wax would allow you could go up hill and not stick on the way down. But when he tried it, he was hooked. He skied well into his 60's, cigarette in one hand. I remember him telling us he followed a coyote up the Manitowish River. Now, that is a picture to remember my father by.

In the summers, he spent his free time walking old logging roads, for hours and hours.

Another animal story: When Dad lived in Boulder, he tried for a couple of years to grow a garden. He always railed about the hordes of rabbits, and he would say "I am NEVER going to garden again! But he was observed more than once just standing there, watching the rabbits chomping contentedly, as if he had grown the garden for them.

Dad never let anyone rest with their political opinions. He hated hypocrisy and cliches, and would call you out if you thought you guilty of them. But he would always come around to seeing something in an opinion that was different than his.

You couldnl't be around my father without being connected to him-he wanted to know about you, what you did, what you thought. He loved kidding, and being kidded. He loved reading, and wanted everyone in the world to read the play "The Iceman Cometh".

End of October regrets....

When it comes to regrets of things unnacomplished, I tend to divide the seasons into "snow" and "no snow" four seasons of regrets being too much to bear.


What did I accomplish this summer, from a silent sports point of view?

The Tri-it triathalon at the Nature Center, which I loved, my daughter Amanda...not so much. The men went first, which led to the absurd situation of fit atheletes starting behind me. It took me a month before the cry "passing on the left!" stopped echoing in my skull.

Unfortunately, that was the only competition I engaged in. It has been over a year since I ran a marathon. There is no "resting on one's laurels" over 50, and so I have to get myself ready for a spring marathon.

The canoing highlght was the three day trip down the lower Wisconsin River. (I reported on that in August). The temperature hit 100 degrees, which made it difficult to want to do much but float. But the scenery and the birdwatching was beautiful.

We also went into the Turtle-Flambeau flowage further than ever before. And I made a few exploring trips (way to few) up the Manitowish river.

More to follow....

Nature Mapping

A very cool idea!

Don't shoot the signs....

A snowmobile club member reminds people what they should know anyway, DONT shoot snowmobile signs. I post this link because mountain bikers and hikers share the trails with snowmobilers, but also to remind us mountain bikers and hikers of the volunteer efforts that snowmobilers make. If we were only organized....

From Sue Drum: Please attend the November 10th meeting!

Dear Friends,

Again I would like to encourage you to testify before the Special Committee on State Trails Policy, Chaired by Senator Roger Breske. This committee has the power to make laws governing ATV and other state trails. Let me know if you can testify and I will send all the names together to Beth Piliorus, Roger Breske's secretary. You will only be given 5 minutes to speak.
November 10th, Friday at 10:00 AM
Merrill City Hall
1004 East First STreet
Merrill Wisconsin

So far these people have agreed to testify: Norm Poulton(ECCOLA), Jerry Woolpy, Al Eschenbauch, June Schmaal, Sue Drum and Alan Drum.

If you don't wish to testify, please plan to attend. We need many warm bodies to wear green ribbons as a show of force for silent sport and nature lovers.
Molly Hegeman in Boulder Junction has been selling green ribbons at her gift shop, Homestead, as a silent sport symbol to show merchants that this group is an economic force. Molly presented her idea on Channel 12 TV. I will ask her to make ribbons for us and hope that you can round up enough friends, at least 50 of us, to make a strong statement to the Trails Committee. See my attached rough draft of my testimony to see how I would like to use you.

Please come and bring friends who support silent sports and the preservation of nature. I will supply the green ribbons.
For more information on the State Trails Committee they have a website:
www.legis.state.wi.us/lc/3_COMMITTEES/Special%20Committees/2006/TRAIL/index.htm
It is a 12 member committee: Senator Roger Breske, Chair, Senator Dale Schultz, Representative Alvin R. Ott, Representative Mary Hubler, Representative Mark Pettis, Ken Carpenter, Dave Marcouiller, Joel Patenaude, Jack Sauer, Richard Decker, Michael McFadzen, John Ruf

Sue Drum, Secretary, Northwoods Citizens for Responsible Stewardship
11384 CTH B
Presque Isle, Wi 54557
715-686-2655
drumsa@centurytel.net

Sue's testimony linked from the title....

ATVs near the Manitowish River?

http://www.arcticcat.com/atv/wpsaquad.asp

Friends;

Take a look at the photographs at this promotion at the Artic Cat site. When people fork out money for an expensive machine, this is what they will be expecting to be able to do. After all, the site says "you can harness this winning ground clearance and durability on your favorite trails." At least some buyers are going to be disappointed that they can only legally go on a trail they could have ridden with a good golf cart. They are going to want to use their machine to go ALL TERRAIN- (its in the name, after all). It looks like fun to me, actually.

The ATV industry promotes responsible trail use when it wants new rights to trails, but promotes irresponsible use when it comes to sales, because THAT IS WHERE THE MARKET IS.

Mark Haag
quietnorth.blogspot.com

How do you mitigate noise?

I am not a scientist, but I guess I have some training in empirical sciences. So when I read or hear a technical word being used, I try to ask myself what it means, and what it does. When I hear that the DNR's mandate is to find an ATV trail that will "mitigate" disruptions to other user groups, I have to ask: What does mitigation look like?

Some of us are looking into real world efforts to mitigate (or not) damage to wetlands, trails, etc. But what about users of quiet? Hikers, bikers, birdwatchers? How do you mitigate the consequences of the natural soundscape being disturbed? Are there any examples? Standards? Are there any proposals? Can we point to success in mitigating the sound of snowmobiles, for example? Anywhere?

Sandy Gillum to Gard, Green, Meyer; Can you hear us up here?

Sue Drum clarifies the mission of the Stakeholder's group

Sue Drum is on the Stakeholder's group. I posted her letter to quietnortharchives-you can link above. The mandate in regard to other forest users is much more stringent, but perhaps not stringent enough to make us comfortable. She is also alarmed at Dennis Leith's comments about other trails.

Action Alert! State Trails Committee Meeting

November 10th, 10 A.M. State Trails committee meeting at the Merrill City Hall, in Merrill, Wisconsin,

There will be lots of ATV interests there, encouraging the idea that ATV use is compatible with hiking and biking. Please attend the meeting, or e-mail Beth Piliouras at Elizabeth.Piliouras@legis.wiscon sin.gov or calling her at 608/266-2509 in the office of Sen. Roger Breske, chairman of the committee.

Selling out the Manitowish River?

Read this article on the ATV Stakeholder's group examining a section of the Manitowish River for a possible ATV trail bridge. The article either contains an important factual error, or things are much worse than I thought. The article states the Stakeholder group's mission was to find a site that "would not displace established State forest users".

Something is wrong here. Where did that meaningless goal come from? Even a demolition derby alongside the Manitowish River would not "displace" paddlers on the river. The issue is whether an ATV trail would significantly interfere with other users. We can only hope the slippage in language is an accidental construction of the reporter. (I am checking on it) If not, it is an alteration of the original assignment because an ATV trail along the Manitowish won't pass the test of not interfering with paddlers on the river.

The rest of the article is scary, too, including Dennis Leith's statement that if an ATV trail is found to be "sustainable", other trails can be built. The committee has yet to define precisely what "sustainability" would mean in terms of other users of the forest, and we can be sure who that slipperiness will benefit. We learn, for example, that the "deadline" set for next April is not a firm deadline, which means there will be no end to this process until the ATV interests get what they want.

Early October, Oswego Lake

Do we really want to drive anymore? next installment

A year or so ago, I asked the question in this blog: Wouldn't it be better if cars drove themselves? I had seen someone in a sports car passing me doing at least 80, while they were highlighting some journal. I thought: You know, he could be doing that in a Ford Focus. I was thinking about the trouble drivers were getting in multitasking, and also how technology was inching up to the point where we wouldn't need to drive. So here is the next step in the process: A self-parking car. If we can get a car to park itself, how far are we from a car that can drive itself?

I would think htat the Wisconsin Tavern League would be investing heavily!

Shamelessly Using Manitowish River sounds....

This person was observed using the Manitowish River's sonic attributes. Specifically, as he remembered, he used the sounds of wood thrush, loons, pileated woodpeckers, and also the sounds of wind in the pines, lapping water, and occasional fish surprising the surface of the water.

At other times, he has used the sounds of otters, and once, a bear crunching through the woods.

The benefits of his exploitation of these resources are too numerous to mention.

ATV documents..

I have posted three documents passed on to me concerning ATV trails. The first is the shockingly bizarre proposal in the Stakeholder's group to put a trail near the Manitowish river and the Circle Lily area. The second concerns a legislative "move" that could be the legislative "end around" I warned about. Click on the above link. I haven't had a chance to go over all of the documents, so I will have more to say when I do. The third is a letter from John Bates regarding the potential damage of an ATV trail in the Manitowish River Area.

Time to start writing letters and taking action!

ATV Alert....Important!

It seems that there is a lot of scary ATV news. I am linking you to some of the longer letters from Sue Drum, who sits on the Stakeholder's committee. Those of you who love the Manitowish River need to take note....the proposed river will hang about the Manitowish River and Circle Lily road in Manitowish....two segments from Sue, but please read the entire letters from the link......

" As you know one of the criteria the stakeholders were given was to find a trail that attached to existing trails. Iron County has the only ATV trails that come near the NHAL State Forest. The proposed trail route begins at the existing ATV trail along County J in Iron County and follows Cedar Lake Road until it hits Circle Lily Road across J. It follows Circle Lily road to the point where it runs along the County line between Iron and Vilas County and passes in front of about 17 homes on Circle Lily lake. The homes are on private land but the Town of Manitowish plows the road and owns it. The trail then jogs slightly into Vilas County following a powerline and curves back into Iron County following a powerline that runs along the North side of Hiway 51 and is also a snowmobile trail. The trail crosses Hiway 51 just East of Circle Lily Creek on state property that borders Lance's Repair Shop on 51. Still following a snowmobile trail the ATVs ride along Manitowish Access Road toward a Wayside on Hiway 51. When the road stops they have to bushwack a trail on the south side of 51 to the Wayside. This wayside has a canoe landing also used as an undeveloped boat landing, and an old bridge structure on the far side of the Manitowish River. They will build a bridge across the Manitowish to connect to Sandy Beach Road, which is a wide gravel town road and use a logging road to connect to an existing snomobile trail that runs parallel to Hiway 47 back toward Hiway 51 and picks up an existing ATV trails at Chuck's Bar on the corner of Hiway 51 and Hiway 47 and 182. There is a snowmobile bridge across the Manitowish near this corner."

"I don't see any clear action that our group can take at this point as far as Stakeholder meetings. Our next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 1st and the one after is Nov. 30th. They are open to the public and any of you who wish to come and listen can do so and can speak at the end of the meeting. As you can see from the attachments they are at Rueland's Catering on Hiway 51 just north of Hiway 70, from 10:00 to 2:00. If you would write a letter to Dennis Leith or Robert Dall expressing your views on the proposed trail and any trail in our State Forest that would be helpful. Dennis.Leith@dnr.state.wi.us Robert.Dall@dnr.state.wi.us
Let me know your suggestions."
Sue Drum

Two Octobers....

Two more pics. I have been trying all summer to get myself up early to see the sunrise. I had to wait till the sunrise was closer to my usual waking time! I was rewarded with a beautiful calm day and some surprises. Look closely at the middle of the picture.

And the other pic, taken this morning-Already melting, but I hope that it portends a lot of snow this winter!

Two Octobers....

3 or 4 inches on the ground in Boulder Junction. Very quiet last night driving in. Here are some contrasting pictures, one taken at the start of the month, and one taken today. I like the Jackson Pollock.

Confession in Swan shooting....

Two teens, it appears. Something Tolstoy once wrote impressed me, but I am unable to find the quote. We ought to note how variable a person can be, one moment a tyrant, another a saint. . I wonder: If circumstances had been different, maybe these teens would have met someone who could have taught them how to enjoy these incredible birds. Maybe someday, someone will.

Punishment is necessary, not out of anger, but to emphasize a point to these boys and to others. Lets hope a lot of parents will use the moment to teach there kids. But more than that, we need to find the lost threads of kids and keep them firmly tied to something good.

Silent Sports People: Don't Cede Use!

I am not familiar with the particulars of the Upper Mississippi U.S. Fish and Wildlife plan, or its criticism. Both candidates in the Governor's debate framed the issue as if the Wildlife Service consulted no users in making their decisions. I suspect that they consulted lots of people, but that some didn't like the outcome. I think waterfowl hunters as a whole are very thoughtful environmental stewards. But I don't like the way some politicians frame the debate as if it were between resource "users" and those who want to "keep" the environment from any human use.

Bird watchers, photographers, sight seers, hikers, and canoists use the environment just as much as duck hunters, anglers, and boaters. It is our resource, too!

A moose in Cloverland!

My Mother once saw a moose near the Manitowish River in Boulder Junction. They wander down once in a while from the U.P. I am told that a deer parasite, and not lack of suitable habitat, is what keeps them out of northern Wisconsin. But it is a reminder, along with the wolves, that the Northwoods is, if not a wilderness, a wild place!

Kurt Krueger has a good article on the value of fallen debris in lakes at the same News-Review page.

Philosophy and the environment...why we should be optimistic but realistic.

Three views of the environment that results in inaction:

"Things are inevitably going to get worse."
"Things are only going to get better with an extremely radical change"
"Things will get better eventually because of market forces. Since we don't have perfect evidence, It is silly or foolhardy to try to predict or control anything."

One view of the environment that results in action:

Realistic changes in behavior can make things better"

So, which philosophy is more accurate? I believe the fourth one. I am thinking of the rapid healing of the ozone layer after legislative action worldwide to reduce flourocarbon use. http://www.ozonelayer.noaa.gov/science/basics.htm

Now,as much as I like the idea of letting markets work their magic, market forces by themselves would not have "cured" the ozone layer. Legislation was proposed, industry balked, legislation was passed, the economy adjusted, and now, in 50 years, the ozone hole mayl be healed.



I am a strong believer in "techno-fixes" in this regard. I don't think we will stop driving cars, but we will be driving better cars. And just as legislation was necessary to build the roads for the automobile infrastructure, legislation will be necessary to help with the next wave of environmentally cleaner technology.

non-lead fishing tackle

Deciphering Loons....

As you know, one loon remains on our lake this October. I heard her making the "where are you?" call this morning. So what is the story? This look is hanging around much later than the last two years.

My first thought is that its mate took off-One of John Bate's correspondents reported large numbers of loons gathering on Trout Lake. But why has this one stayed behind?

I went through my loonwatch information for a clue: The information guide says that adults fly off in mid september, but chicks hang around nearly until ice comes in, practicing flight. Could this be this year's chick? It doesn't seem particularly small. It is dressed in the "fall" loon colors. And I really didn't notice that our pair had any chicks this year. I didn't see the nest. I assumed that they just used the lake for fishing. They do behave territorially, however, chasing off other loons, not to mention swans, geese, and ducks.

I am going to study these folks a little more this coming year. I know so little, but I want to learn.

Beautiful fall weekend....

A solo loon remains on our quiet lake, although he/she is pretty quiet. While I was building a cart in the drive, I heard the famiiliar call of our friend, the pileated woodpecker. She headed for the tree next to the suet feeder, and moved her head this way and that, trying to get a clear picture of things. Was she wondering where her stump went? She eventually flew quickly and smoothly to the feeder. It was interesting that she came back the one time I was in the yard. I had noticed at other times that I hear her calling when I am lowering the garage door. She is very wary, but also reasonably comfortable around us.

Superior Broadcast Network

While you are at it, look over Superiorbroadcast's site as well.

Laura Erikson's birder blog.....

Nick Vander Puy interviews Sandy Gillum re: Swan shooting

From Nick Vander Puy;

"Trumpeter swans are some of North America’s most elegant waterbirds. The birds are all white with long flowing necks, they stand up to four feet tall with a large wingspan. The birds pledge as mates for life and are devoted parents. Signs at the lakes warn about shooting these protected birds, but in late September a bird showed up dead on Seven Mile lake near Eagle River with two .22 caliber slugs in it’s carcass. The DNR is investigating. Sandy Gillum is a local biologist who cares for the birds. She talks with Nick Vander Puy from the Superior Broadcast Network about the dead swan."

Loons and Mercury: Vilas County News-Review

Sent by Sandy Gillum, who writes: "Here is an excellent summary of Mike Meyers' mercury loon research accomplished locally"

feeling bummed....

I am not in the best of moods. I couldn't be in Boulder Junction for an important meeting, in which they are discussing the 200 foot zoning rule, and possibly not hiring a new police officer. Then there is the news about the trumpeter swan being shot. (see previous posts). And I am thinking about bigger things, global warming, the war in Iraq, my father's illness...

DNR vs. Legislature: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Its lobbying money vs. the environment. Can you imagine what it would be like with one party controlling the Legislature and the Governorship?

More details on the Trumpeter Swan death: From Sandy Gillum

"My head continues to spin thoughts of utter disbelief of what appears to be the deliberate killing of trumpeter swan P73. I have had the good fortune for a number of years to be of field help to Pat Manthey, the avian ecologist in charge of tracking and banding the re-introduced trumpeter swans in this area. Many of you have helped band the cygnets of P73 and X88.

The success of this pair, from introduction and in later years...spring arrival flights and nesting on their territorial lake to the adults guiding their young on their fall foraging circuit...it has all been a delight to watch and to hear for now nine years.

Many of you have responded today. We appreciate all your interest, comments, and willingness to use this event as a teachable moment in stewardship.

The limited details relayed to me are: P73 was shot on Sevenmile Lake a little over a week ago with a 22 rifle. The warden recovered the bird and it has been X-rayed. He may have a lead on the shooter.

Details about this swan can be supplied by:

Patricia Manthey
Avian Ecologist, Bureau of Endangered Resources
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
3550 Mormon Coulee Road
La Crosse, WI 54601
Phone: 608-789-5651 FAX: 608-785-9990
email: Patricia.Manthey@dnr.state.wi.us"



Sandy Gillum
Wildlife Ecologist
1875 Bald Eagle Lane
Eagle River, WI 54521
Email: ssgillum@nnex.net
Phone & FAX: 715-479-6051


Delete Reply

Bulletin: Trumpeter Swan killed from upper ninemile area...

I don't know all of the details, but apparently a breeding male trumpeter swan was killed with two .22 caliber bullets. After seeing and hearing the beauty of trumpeter swans this summer, this news is very depressing. If you know of anything related to this incident, email me at marklhaag@yahoo.com and I will let you know who to get in touch with. As I said, I don't have the exact details yet but I will let you know when I know more.

From my friend Bruce Card: Madison Arboretum

taken in the early morning, several weeks ago-look closely. The UW arboretum is one reason we can't concede quiet areas to the Boundary Waters. Lets sqeeze unnecessary noise out of human activity...

Around the corner.....

A picture from last Thanksgiving...Lumberjack Trail....lets hope there will be some great skiing for you in Boulder Junction this year

Court reinstates Clinton-era roadless rules

Hurray! I haven't read how this will impact the Nicolet-Chequamegon forest-I will post when I find out.

Proposal for aspen management in the National Forest...

Interesting article by Kurt Krueger.

Letter: Fireworks don't belong on Northwoods lakes

A kindred soul objects to fireworks on lakes.

DNR to crack down on invasives-Rhinelander Daily News

More on "loud pipes"

Wow, I don't know why I have never googled that phrase before, given some of my complaints in this blog. Apparently, loud motorcycles are bugging more people than me:

http://www.outyourbackdoor.com/article.php?id=387

And this was mild...

What seems to be lacking is any citations to concrete research.

Many bikers in favor of loud pipes offer anecdotal evidence, but many other bikers don't buy it. Some said that "Loud Pipes Save Lives" is a philosophy. It isn't a philosophy, its an empirical statement that should be researched. Whether you care about showing off or enjoying the sound of roaring over other people's needs, that is a philosophy.

Do "loud pipes save lives?"

This article doesn't answer the question scientifically, but the author is very honest! Loud pipes are simply more fun! Thanks to derv, via an Althouse discussion thread...

New John Bates Book!

Our favorite northwoods writer reviewed by our favorite Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Columnist!

From Ted Ritter: Another AIS infestation....

HEADS UP TO NORTHERN ONEIDA & SOUTHERN VILAS COUNTIES

The Rhinelander DNR office has confirmed another Eurasian water-milfoil (EWM) infestation. This one is just below the Dam Lake dam in an area of the Sugar Camp Creek unofficially known as Eskimo Lake. Nicole Nikolaus of the DNR reported that boat trailers parked at an undeveloped, but seemingly popular, boat launch site contained substantial amounts of EWM. The infestation is apparently well established.

This confirmation follows the diligent efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Hodkiewicz who detected EWM on a trailer that was about to launch a boat in Muskellunge Lake in the town of Cloverland earlier this fall. The boat owner was fully cooperative when asked where the boat had been last and did not launch the boat without first cleaning the boat and trailer. While Eskimo Lake is not recognized as an Oneida County water body name, Mr. and Mrs. Hodkiewicz were able to determine the location of the lake and the undeveloped boat landing which in turn lead to the infestation confirmation. Kudos to Mr. and Mrs. Hodkiewicz.

It is hoped that this information will prompt appropriate surveillance of Dam Lake, the Sugar Camp Creek and other nearby water bodies for possible additional EWM infestations.

Ted Ritter
Vilas Co. AIS Coordinator
330 Court Street
Eagle River, WI 54521
Phone: (715) 479-3738
Fax: (715) 479-1978

And more on silence...

One small quibble with the Silent Sports article. You don't need to go into the wilderness of the Boundary Waters or even to northern Wisconsin to have silence. Turn off the television for an evening. Of course, silence in city areas is bounded by time and space. Right now, I am in a city, by the open window. The television is off. Inside of the traffic noise, silence curves through the house along with the wind.

More on silence...

While driving away from Northern Wisconsin, I was listening to WXPR. I can never remember the name of the commentator who lives on a lake"somewhere East of Eagle River", but I really enjoy him. He had a good quote from Seneca- Only on WXPR will you get a quote from Seneca: "Men trust their eyes more than their ears". I think Seneca was talking about rumours, but I think this applies to what I was feeling the night before. Acorns were being crunched. Should I turn on the light to see what was making the noise? Or, do I already have my prey: the noise in the night?

The battle between what we see and what we hear seems central in the northwoods. You don't really experience the northwoods until you stop focusing on sightseeing, and listen.

And that leads me to a great article in Silent Sports by Jim Jocque this last month called "The Search for Silence". I had a good quote from that ready to hand, as well, but now I can't find it. so pick up the magazine
http://www.silentsports.net/features_and_departments.html#features and you will also get a great article on the upper Wisconisn river, which gets a thumbs up this time from Mike Svob.

Missed a weekend... Yogi Berra comment of the day...

It looks like we missed a good weekend up North. The weekend before, we walked the Fallison nature trail, and experienced several moments where we stopped, listened, and heard no human sound. It does happen, but you have to be patient!

In the northwoods, quiet is the number one thing people look for.

Bike Path News...

I attended the first offical meeting of the North Boulder bicycle committee meeting. This is a committee to explore the possibility of a bike trail connecting north, first to High-Fishtrap road, then to Land O' Lakes or Presque Isle.

I was surprised by the scope and the interest. Of course, money will be more difficult!

I hope this sounds interesting to you! You can help by buying a bicycle ornament or a pin from Molly, Scott and Sally at the Homestead.

I see a bad moon rising....

I just discovered that some folks in Boulder Junction are considering getting rid of its 200 foot rule for lakeshore development. Unbelievable! I have to do some research on this. I have been clueless. My Dad helped write in the 200 foot rule over 30 years ago. It helped make Boulder special. What do silent sports people need to do to convince the town that this is a bad idea? More to follow....

Crisp as an apple weather....

We had a nice hike with friends on the Fallison nature trail, and we paddled around our lake. There is one lone loon on our lake now, dressed in its fall outfit, crying every night. Our guest saw a coyote cross the road in the early morning. The hummingbirds are gone now. We had a fire, but we will need a bonfire to start getting rid of all of the wood that has fallen.

On using town roads as part of a connecting system

I think there will be a debate about using low volume town roads vs. new bike paths in building connecting bike trails between towns. For example, one could imagine building a new bike path north of Boulder along M all the way to B, then run a bike path along B from Land O Lakes to Presque Isle.

But the alternative would be to use the quiet town roads that exist as much as possible. In this case, Boulder would only have to build a trail to High-Fishtrap road, (about a mile), then follow High Lake road all the way to the end, then build another one mile loop up to highway B. All in all, with only two new miles of bike trail, you are making a connection to the future LOL-Presque Isle link. High Lake Road is very scenic, running by Grassy Lake and primarily rural countryside.

But there are problems. Cars use this road, probably more than other town road segments of bike trails. Personally, I would like to see motor vehicle traffic slowed down anyway, but the chances of car-bike accidents might be increased unless the road was widened. On the other hand, as the Boulder bike trail becomes more popular, these roads are seeing more bicyclists anyway.

Beautiful country roads have their charms, but do they have the appeal a separate bike trail brings? On the other hand, riding along a town road might be quieter and more scenic than a separate bike trail that runs straight north on highway M.

Lets carry this idea further. With a little work, could "Old B" work as a bike trail? What if it was resurfaced but not paved, like the Bearskin trail? It would provide a connection nearly all the way from Land O' Lakes to our one mile link to High Lake Road. We would only need one mile of paved road along B. The Bearskin has a surface that works for bikers and snowmobilers-couldn't we do the same for Old B? Old B is a beautifully scenic country trail. But it is quite remote in places. There are no places to get easily get to "new B" if you have a flat tire. There aren't any watering places until you get to Miller's (the start of the paved bike trail to Land O Lakes). And what about the romance and safety of paved bike paths?





Let the debate begin!

Missing Links in the System...

Next steps in the bike trail system? Look at a Vilas/Oneida map and dream with me:

Connecting Woodruff/Arbor Vitae to the Boulder Junction-Sayner-St. Germain Trail. That connects Vilas and Oneida County.
Connecting the Boulder Trail to the Presque Isle-Manitowish Waters Trail. This has been proposed, but has stalled.
Connecting Land O' Lakes, and Conover,to the Eagle River/three lakes trail
Connecting the LOL l and the Eagle River to the "big trail"

So who will step up to the plate? I have hopes that Boulder Junction will be next, so that it will contine to be the leader. A hub to Land O Lakes would be the easiest start.

From a strategic point of view, Woodruff and Arbor Vitae could easily become the Bicycle hub of the northwoods. It would be a great marketing tool! A bike trail north from Witches Lake Road to the Sayner bike trail (parallel to the Plum-Vitae road) would only be a couple of miles long. It would generate such interest that Lake Tomahawk would fight to connect along 47.. And St. Germain would have more motivation to connect via highway J.

Connecting the Boulder-Sayner-St. Germain trail to the planned Presque Isle-Manitowish Waters-Flambeau trail will be the difficult but very important next step. It will be connected to the south if LDF connects to Woodruff along 47, But that is a long way around, and people would probably want a central connection north as well. Ideally, Presque Isle, Boulder, and Land O Lakes will work a trail along B, and Boulder could connect easily with a link North of High Lake. Think of a grand circuit, or several grand circuits.

Where will the money come? 1) users fees. 2) Highway funds. Bicyclists buy gas for their cars, too. They want some of that money to go for bike trails. 3) wealthy donors. My guess is there are some individuals and corporations who would love to see bicycle tourism in the northwoods. 4) Businesses that would benefit from a bike trail. 5) fund raisers.

Jim Holperin praises St. Germain bike trail

Possible next steps from St. Germain: O to the south, or J to Oneida county. J to Woodruff would be an incredible choice. That would provide the link between the Vilas County and Oneida county bike trails. With a better city path through Woodruff and Minocqua, you would have a connection to the Bearskin trail all the way to Tomahawk! And you would give momentum to finishing a bike link along 47 from Lac Du Flambeau to Rhinelander. I don't think we get it quite yet. These bike trails are more than just an "add on" activity. They represent a fundamentally new form of tourism for northern Wisconsin.

Q: What is the opposite of fishing? A: A Fishing Derby!

Great article by Jim Doherty of the Wisconsin State Journal. Thanks to Sandy Gillum for sending it. The rest of the article is at the link above:

Derbies Anathema To Sport Fishing
Wisconsin State Journal :: OPINION :: A10
Saturday, September 2, 2006
JIM DOHERTY
"Years ago, whenever my son and I got up early at our family cabin near Lac du Flambeau to go musky fishing, we usually had the 140-acre lake to ourselves.
We didn't care if we caught anything. The point was to enjoy a beautiful Northern morning together.
The other day when Jimmy and his son rowed out to try their luck, they counted nearly 20 motorboats on the water. As they watched, one boater reeled in a fish, held it over his head and whooped. Then he cranked up his motor and showed his catch to a friend. Finally, after several moments had gone by, he released the fish by throwing it high into the air. The fish landed on its side with a splash and the boater resumed casting.
Welcome to the boorish world of the Musky Derby, a contest to see who can catch the biggest fish..." Rest of article at the title link....

Fees unfair for bicyclists? Interesting Lakeland Times article

Bike trail users pay per person, snowmobilers pay per machine. According the article, some bike user fees are paying for snowmobile maintenance. This article is sure to generate some interest! Of course, I think fees for silent sports enthusiasts should go up, if only to ensure we will be listened to. (That is the ATV user's strategy).

Coyotes...

Driving south of Boulder Junction, just a block from The Granary, I saw a coyote wandering down the road. I have seen more coyotes just this summer than I had seen growing up in Boulder Junction. For a while, I heard of more coyote sightings around Madison than around Boulder Junction. (Gina saw one run by our street in Shorewood Hills!) Coyotes are back up north. Many summer nights, I have heard them. One explanation: For several years, Coyotes had been hit by the mange, and that disease is now on the decline.

Come to Vilas County, silent sports folks!

Most of the tourists have headed out. The bike trails are beautiful. There are no bugs. The weather is cooler for biking. A new stretch of the bike trail, from St. Germain to Sayner, is open.

Wisconsin River Pictures explained...

Top picture was our last night of camping-the temperature was 100 degrees. We were happy to find a site that was in the afternoon shade and out of the wind.

The next picture was a feline print taken near our tents. A bobcat, I suppose. Can you tell?

The next picture was typical of what you see on the river. Unfortunately, this photo does not capture the grandeur of these bluffs. My daugher and I usually quietly float by them, trying not to paddle at all. That worked until the afternoon winds came up.

The last picture was from our first night of camping, "the night of the cranes".

More details of the trip in the August quietnorth posts.

Lower Wisconsin River Trip Pictures....

I was disappointed in the pictures. First of all, they were disposable cameras. But our disposables took great pictures at Crater Lake, so I figured they would do. And, after all, I lost one disposable camera on the trip. But here are a few pictures that give you a little bit of flavor of what we experienced...

Lonely loon....more coyotes....quiet...

Up north after missing a week. I always shut off the radio and open the windows wide when I pull into the dirt driveway. One day, Gina and I surprised a number of deer, including a large albino buck, eating acorns. This time, only the quiet crunching of sticks. The white of the house and garage come into view. Nothing to envy, neither have changed much in 60 years, and they aren't preservation material. But I feel like I could be driving up in 1940 or 1950, and little would tell you different.

Some of my neighbor's light filters through the two big norway spruce, otherwise it is totally dark when I turn off the car light. There is that moment of uncomfortableness when I get out of the car and I sense I am in that in between world outside of human walls and light. As if to tease me, the oaks throw acorns loudly to the ground.

As always, I get to the house OK. I do a brief inspection. The basement is drying out from a water leak several weeks ago. A loon is calling, in fact, calls all night long. Coyote gangs are yelping excitedly. Acorns drop through the night. I fell more easily into the spell of quiet this time, my thoughts seem less scattered. I was able to sit patiently and very little happened.

In the morning, I walked down to the lake to see what what up with the loon, who was still calling. Were loons on the lake this long last year? I will have to revisit my archives. At any rate, this loon's mate seems to have disappeared. Often, they regroup on larger lakes in the fall. Is it that time yet? There is so much I don't know.

Thanks to Governor Doyle-From Sandy Gillum

Dear Governor Doyle,

It is with deep appreciation that I received the news that you have taken steps to reduce mercury in our environment. I was part of a WI-DNR research team investigating the impact of mercury in northern lakes. I am a mother, a grandmother, and a scientist, who understands the effect mercury has on women, young lives, and the economy of the northwoods.

Thank you for your leadership and courage to take corrective action.

Sandy Gillum
Wildlife Ecologist
1875 Bald Eagle Lane
Eagle River, WI 54521
Email: ssgillum@nnex.net
Phone & FAX: 715-479-6051

Mute swan DNR dust up.

I think it is a real problem that the DNR can be shouted down, either by a few vocal audience members or special interest groups pulling the Legislature's strings. After listening to the Trumpeter Swans this summer, I am biased on this issue. If the mute swans need to go, so be it.

Willow Flowage, Bike Tour, and John Bates Column-is The Lakeland Times going Green?

Two nice articles by Debbie Munson, one on a Northern Highland bike tour, the other on the Willow flowage. John Bates wrote a great column on beauty this week as well, though you can't get it in the online version. The bike tour article brings up the huge number of people riding the Sayner-Boulder trail (strangely not mentioning the St. Germain connection) and Will Maines shares the dream of many business people and bikers:

"With the success of the new trail, Maines said his vision for the future includes paved bike trails that would connect all of the towns in the county."

Make it so!

Hummingbird Madness...

Lots of hummingbirds chasing and scolding each other for a chance at the bird feeder this weekend, so we put up another hummingbird feeder. I am told that hummingbirds stick around for about another month. I watched hummingbirds going from cone to cone on the hemlock tree that is tucked next to our house. I didn't know they took sap from cones.

Good news from St. Germain

A letter from Mark Hiller, co-chair of the St. Germain Bike Trail Committee, in the Vilas County Review. Can't wait to ride it this weekend! Thanks to the Vilas County News Review for covering this story. I think we still haven't figured out how big the bike trail story is!

Sad news from Bond Falls Flowage issue....

"environmental consultants" work their magic by playing with the idea of subjectivity. This will be a chronic problem for people who truly care about lakes in Northern Wisconsin. On the one hand, it is hard to "prove" that piers cause environmental damage. A person could put a dozen purple plastic piers all the way across my lake, and and I don't think the bald eagles, loons, and fish would care. And it is hard to "prove' that it causes damage to the "naturalness" of a lake, because what you notice is "subjective". I personally hate the big colored rafts that people put on the water. But at some point, it is hard to prove why that it is less aesthetically pleasing than my dock (though it is).

I think that we have to learn to make better arguments about this. I think we have to confront the current notion that we can't regulate aesthetics. I think the state should be able to decide whether a dock diminishes a public resource or not. After all, we regulate the number of junked cars that can sit on a property.

the next step would be to make the argument that we are protecting future financial resources. Only a small number of people can benefit from the private use of lake property. But the number of people interested in ecotourism is increasing. Forward looking States, counties, and townships are going to move to protect what "place" there is by restricting what private landholders can do.

From the River Alliance of Wisconsin: Important!

From: Lori Grant [mailto:lgrant@wisconsinrivers.org]
Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2006 5:23 PM
te Hearing on ORW/ERW Next Wednesday
Importance: High

I had high hopes I could send you a message announcing that the Outstanding and Exceptional Resource Waters designations as unanimously approved by the Natural Resources Board were finalized. Unfortunately, I just got word yesterday that the Senate Natural Resources and Transportation Committee will be holding a hearing on the proposal next Wednesday, August 24, at 10:00. I've been trying to discover what, if any issues have prompted the decision to hold a public hearing, but all I've been able to find out is that the hearing was requested by Senator Breske, a member of the committee and representative of a large region in northeastern Wisconsin. Senator Breske's district includes Vilas, Oneida, Lincoln, Langlade and Forest Counties, which include 8 of the rivers in the proposal: portions of the Wisconsin, Manitowish, Trout, Squirrel, Tomahawk, Spirit and New Wood Rivers, and Swamp Creek.

This truly is our last chance to make sure the proposal is approved. Senator Kedzie, Chair of the Natural Resources and Transportation Committee, has a history of being fair and balanced on conservation issues, and has specifically told us that the best way to influence his committee is to contact him as well as your own Senator, even if they aren't on the committee. Short of a trip to Madison to speak in person at the hearing, emails and quick calls to their offices are crucial to this last step in the process. A handful of email and phone messages go a long way. The message can be very simple:

Please support DNR's proposal to classify 45 northern rivers as Outstanding and Exceptional Resource Waters.
Please give these pristine rivers the protection they deserve.
Maintaining the high quality of these rivers is good for our economy, and good for our families.
It is especially important to contact Senator Kedzie, and to also contact Senator Breske if you live in his district. If you live in one of the other northern senate districts, contact Senators Jauch or Decker in addition to Senator Kedzie. Be sure to give your address so they know you are a constituent. Even though they aren't on the committee, Senators Jauch and Decker will deliver and discuss you messages with Senator Kedzie.

Senator Kedzie
Sen.Kedzie@legis.state.wi.us
608-266-2635
800-578-1457

If you live in Vilas, Oneida, Lincoln, Langlade, Florence, Forest, Marinette, Oconto or Menominee Counties:

Senator Breske
Sen.Breske@legis.state.wi.us
608-266-2509
715-454-6575

If you live in Price, Rusk or Taylor Counties:

Senator Decker
Sen.Decker@legis.state.wi.us
608-266-2502
715-359-8739

If you live in Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Iron, Burnett, Washburn, Sawyer of Barron Counties:

Senator Jauch
Sen.Jauch@legis.state.wi.us
608-266-3510
715-364-2438

If I gather any intelligence as to why Senator Breske asked for a hearing, I will pass it along. In the mean time, this is it folks - one last, make-it-or- break-it push!



Lori Grant
Policy Program Manager
River Alliance of Wisconsin
608-257-2424 x 111
lgrant@wisconsinrivers.org

Wednesday invasive species meeting in Presque Isle

Last Wilderness Conservation Association invites you
to:

Invasives Among Us!
A Program on Terrestrial Invasive Species
Presque Isle Community Center
Wednesday, August 16 at 7pm

Details at quietnortharchives on the link above!

From Sue Drum: ATV stakeholder's meeting for August

An interesting meeting-click above for the link.

I just had a thought about these meetings:

Sue Drum mentioned that ATV proponents are using the "foot-in-the-door" tactic here-once a trail is authorized, they will push for more, until every community has a connecting trail.

I think Sue is right, but I also think they are planning on using the same technique that realtors used with the doc issue and agricultural intersts used the manure run off issue: When the DNR finalizes an agreement among parties, special moneyed corporate interests will pull legislative springs to invalidate the deal.

So I think those of us generally opposed to ATV's in the NHAL forest need to be on guard.

More to follow....

Legislature: "Let them eat manure!" From Tami Jackson

From Tami Jackson and the Wisconsin Association of Lakes. I posted the rest of the letter (with contribution breakdowns) at quietnortharchives: link to it by clicking above. Thanks to Sandy Gillum for sending it on.

"Those of you who have been following the NR 243 rules (Manure Management Discharge rules which apply to Wisconsin’s 150 permitted farms called Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) may be interested in the following campaign contribution analysis from the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. The NR 243 rules have been in development for 4 ½ years. The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign is a non partisan group."
Tami Jackson
Development and Communications Director
Wisconsin Association of Lakes
One Point Place, Suite 101 / Madison, WI 53719
608-662-0923 phone
608-833-7179 fax"

3 A.M., Saturday morning; full moon, coyote and loons

Movies never quite capture the sounds of coyotes howling. My first impression is that of a crowd disturbance coming out of nowhere. Only after a second does the thought "coyote!" come into your head. Between the impression and the thought is when hackles would be rising, if I knew where my hackles were. The coyotes got the loons' hackles rising, and they called immediately after. Since we had an unsolved plumbing emergency in the house, I decided to take advantage of the moonlight for a quick walk to the woods. When I got back to bed, I lay there, listening to cones from the big norways drop in the night...

ATV Deaths on the Rise in Wisconsin (again)-Check out ATV ads to see why...

Any investigation that doesn't look at how manufacturers conflate track and trail is bogus. I am hoping trial lawyers are getting on this one.

Spend a few minutes "soundhearing"

Sightseeing is the number one tourist activity in Wisconsin. (Reference unchecked at this time). But what about sound? We don't even have the equivalent word for sightseeing for the ears. "Ya, we are going up to Vilas county to hear what is up there..."

But if we asked: What are three things you think of when you think of vacationing in Northern Wisconsin, wouldn't one of the answers be "peace and quiet"?

Quiet is sometimes hard to come by in Northern Wisconsin, but it is around, and being that you are already here, it is free! So go ahead, close your eyes for a minute and just listen to the northwoods...

More on the farm runoff issue....

Sent by Sandy Gillum-A letter from Tami Jackson from the Wisconsin Association of Lakes. I posted the letter at quietnorth archives and linked to it above. Sandy Gillum calls the legislative action a "blatant disregard for public health". Here is a clip from the WAL press release:

"Let us be clear.

When people are getting sick from their own tapwater, that is not ok.

When manure runoff makes our lakes unswimmable because of e coli and fecal coliform bacteria, that is not ok.

When manure runoff makes our nationally renowned trout streams and lakes are unfishable because all the fish are dead, that is not ok.

When manure runoff changes clear lakes into algae basins, that is not ok.

When manure runoff creates nutrient rich waters invasives like Eurasian water milfoil prefer, that is not ok.

When our elected representatives take the paid lobbyist positions more seriously than the public health of their constituents, that is not ok.

We needed these rules before another spring pockmarked by manure runoff events, sick kids, and dead fish. The legislature has let all of us down."

Joel Patenaude from Silent Sports on WPR this morning....

Joel Patenaude, editor of Silent Sports magazine, will be a guest on
Wisconsin Public Radio's Ideas Network today from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30
p.m.

He and host Larry Meiller will likely talk about the recent Keweenaw
Trail Running Festival, the upcoming Pro Walk/Pro Bike conference in
Madison, the Dairyland Dare challenge bike ride and the Fox Cities
Marathon among other topics.

If you can, tune in and/or call in with questions and comments.

Recuperation...

My back is improving gradually. I am sitting in Kavarna, my Green Bay coffeeshop and restaurant. I still have glimpses of being on the river (funny how powerful 3 days of paddling can be on the "sensory manifold"). It wasn't much, but I am proud that we overcame inertia and were able to get out. I am already thinking about another, longer trip next year.

Factory Farms trump Rural Families...Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters

Once again, the legislature acts against basic health and safety of all in favor of a few moneyed interests. We need to consider what would happen if the Governor held the same general views as the legislature. I posted the newsletter at quietnorth archives, but you should also visit www.conservationvoters.org.

As I was reading this article, I was thinking about some recent Andrew Sullivan posts about green conservatism (green the movement, not Green the candidate). You can see the posts here:

http://time.blogs.com/daily_dish/2006/08/green_conservat.html and here: http://time.blogs.com/daily_dish/2006/08/green_conservat_1.html

It would seem to make sense that a conservative would want to conserve.

Wisconsin River Part Four...

I slept really well the second night-too well, actually, I was disappointed that I didn't wake up to hear anything interesting. However, I woke up at that great time when it is light enough to see, but the sun isn't up yet. The world was very naturally cool and quiet. I looked for signs of animal prints, but didn't see any new ones.

After a while, I woke Amanda up. After yesterday, we wanted to get out early before the wind started blowing. We had loaded up the canoe, and I had just reached to tie a rope, when it happened....

Intense Pain. Lower back. Felt nothing like it.

I remember feeling a bit lightheaded, it was that bad.

My daughter was concerned, so I wasn't putting up a good front. We had nothing we could do but go on, so we did. I was in agony getting into the canoe, but once there, the pain subsided to a dull, consistent ache.

So we proceeded. I have to say that the stretch from Woodman to Millville was my favorite of the paddle. You get to see the entrance of the Kickapoo, a river Amanda and I love. There were lots of wonderful hidden animal sounds from the banks. I think we heard a wild pig...it sounded like a pig to both of us. We saw lots of bald eagles, immature bald eagles, and maybe an Osprey. There are some beautiful sandbars for swimming. There were less moments of traffic noise. At one point, the river bumps right up against a bluff....

I enjoyed myself so much, that I mostly forgot about my back. But when we pulled up at Millville and I got out of the cano I knew it was the end. I couldn't move to sit or lay down without pain. Later, the doc said I had "back spasms", which sounded wonderfully non-surgical. I have never had real back pain before.

Since I don't want to end on a medical note, I want to leave with a few observations: Small roads you have never been on before are particularly beautiful. I encourage you to drive (quietly) on highway C along the river.

After you have been on the water a long time, don't you see the river when you close your eyes?

An antidote to the summer heat....

Wisconsin River Part three....

Enough ranting. I had those thoughts about motorcycles and airboats from time to time, but the loudest noise when you are on the river is the noise in your head. The river becomes more and more beautiful as you go on. The second day, mostly between Muscoda and Woodman, was a more difficult trip. The wind came back to the usual course and so we actually had to paddle and focus. Ordinarily, it wouldn't have been a problem, but in the 100 degree heat it was a chore.

I will post some pictures when I develop them. The second night, somewhere near Woodman, we found the perfect campsite: A sandy beach next to a wood to keep us out of the sun and wind. We were next to a dry creek bed that, had it been a cool evening, would have been fun to follow. As it was, we weren't doing any more moving than we had to. There were a number of animal paw prints, including an intriguing cat footprint. A bobcat?

By the way, I haven't mentioned the wonderful driftwood on the river. We saw many animals "carved" out of the trees by water and wind. It is wonderful to see much of the river left alone to do its work.

I will publish the last dispatches of the trip, and why we got off the water early, tomorrow...(hint: it wasn't the weather)

Motorcycle with after market muffler sound file...

Just kidding. But it needs to be said. Highway 60 runs along the north side of the Wisconsin river. I would say about 70 percent of the highway noise you hear on the river is the sound of motorcycles with obviously loud mufflers. It is frustrating. One can accept the tire noise of trucks because we haven't figured out how to reduce it. But motorcycle noise is a voluntary noise with no other purpose than sounding loud. Don't give me the "loud pipes save lives" argument unless you wear a helmet, and your bike is only used for transportation purposes. But even then i need to tell you: No matter how loud your muffler, I can't hear you when I am driving with Radiohead on. At best, you have loud pipes because you like the sound, at worse, you are saying "screw you" to the quiet places of the world.

What worries me is the growing popularity of motorcycles. In the past, a few motorcycles didn't make a difference. But everyone seems to want to be Peter Fonda now. We can't give motorcycles a pass.

Sand Hill Crane sound files

You really have to turn this one up! Imagine it 10 times as loud, from birds all around you, and sounds echoing off the river valley...these birds sound mellow compared to the ones we heard. Just listening to them was worth the trip.

Great Blue Heron sound file

Wisconsin River Part two...

We got on the water Sunday at about 10:00. One of the problems of Wisconsin River paddling is that "downriver" usually means "into the wind". But for the first day of paddling, the wind was actually behind us! We made great progress, though we weren't hurrying to "progress" anywhere. The water is very low, and we were gawking to much to try to read the river well, so we got hung up many times on future sand bar. But on a 90 degree day, getting out of a canoe is NOT a problem.

There weren't many people on the river-but it was an interesting mix. A few small fishing outboards (how DO they navigate? They must carry a bushel of shear pins). three or four families with young children playing on bars. Three people sitting in lawn chairs fishing, nearly as deep in the water as their prey. The only surprise was an airboat, called "air ranger", something so unbelievably loud that I couldn't decide which was stranger: that it was allowed, or that people were ignorant enough to use it.

Most of the banks along this stretch of the river is undeveloped, thick with trees and undergrowth. Bird sounds are fantastic, I heard many birds sounds I had never heard before. But of course the most interesting sounds came from the Blue Heron and the Sand Hill cranes, which were thick all along the river, but especially where we camped, just below Muscoda. That first night, it sounded like a great turf battle was taking place among the birds, every time a pair would fly, another pair would yell at them. Here are some reproductions of the sounds. At one point, just when it got too dark to see, there was a great screaming coming from the woods, a sound I couldn't identify, then more croaking, then what sounded like keening at a wake. Here are some links to sound files of these birds. Plug them into your speakers, and turn it up to get a sense of what its like.

Sound issues...good letter in the Lakeland Times

I have not written about the "dust up" between Minocqua bed-and-breakfast and bars over sound at night. I will post a link in a bit, but in the mean time here is a thoughtful letter that addresses the comprehensive issue related to sound in the northwoods. Decibel meters are PART of an overall strategy to reduce sound, but meters or no, governments will not enforce the rules until people appreciate that quiet is an important resource.

Three hot days on the Wisconsin River...part one

My daughter Amanda and I took a long planned and oft delayed canoe trip on the lower Wisconsin river. The original plan was to go in spring for a week, to do all 90 miles from the last dam on the river. WE had to postpone, then scale back our plans. We started out in Lone Rock with the intention of going all the way to Wyalusing. Just to summarize, the weather was very HOT, the person who shuttled us said it hit 100 one of the days. We were probably crazy to be out. Actually, canoing was OK, hotter than you would like, but we were floating downhill and we jumped in the water when we needed to. It was actually sleeping that was hard, with no wind at night our tents seemed especially hot. We also ran through more water than we expected, and so called the good folks at Wisconsin River Outings when we hit the boat landing at Boscobel, they were good enough to shuttle me into town. So this afternoon I will tell you about what we saw and heard, which was extraordinary.

Hot, dry summer

Part of St. Germain bike trail open....

Important: Fire ban in Vilas County

Woodpecker and her child...

You may remember me posting about this pileated woodpecker and her offspring, who was as large as mother but still being fed by her. The picture is taken through the screen porch, but is interesting nonetheless.

Remember the woodpecker stump?

This is the pileated woodpecker on her stump-her last place to look around before heading to the suet feeder

Announcing Quietnorth Archives...

Hello, everyone;

I created a new blog, Quietnorth Archives, to serve as a site for longer letters and documents that tend to crowd out blog-like posts, but still will be of interest to readers. I will refer and link to those longer letters here at quietnorth, quoting from them appropriately.

Please keep the information coming!

Mark Haag

They gave an ATV party and noone came...

Sue Drum writing to Northwoods Citizens for Environmental Stewardship visited Eagle River to watch the ATV parade last week. I posted the letter in quietnorth Archives (link above), but here is the money quote:

Dear Northwoods Citizens for Responsible Stewardship,

Saturday, June 22, I had a heart-warming ATV experience. I drove to Eagle River to observe the 9:00 a.m. ATV parade down main street. Remembering a similar ATV parade last year led by Frank Tremmel with positive ATV press coverage, I figured this parade would be a major event. They had the perfect set-up, sponsored by Randy Harden’s WATVA and Randy Harden’s NOHVIS insurance group, and riding for the charity, Angel On My Shoulder, a non-profit organization that helps those afflicted with cancer.

Guess What? They threw a parade and nobody came. About 20 people, shopping on main street stopped to watch. As they turned the corner and returned up the side street just off main street, not a soul could be seen on either side of the street..."

" Once more Vilas County residents and visitors showed that they had no interest in welcoming ATVs."

Sue Drum
11384 CTH B
715-686-2655
drumsa@centurytel.net

Letter: Advocate for Conover-PHelps biking trail August 2nd

Property is still for sale...

I really hope the kind of person who reads this blog buys the property you see. I think you get about 600 feet of frontage on the lake, and nothing but State owned land around you. You are on a quiet, nonmotorized lake great for paddling and naturewatching. I have seen albino deer, fishers, eagles, trumpeter swans, blue heron, bear, pileated woodpeckers on the lake. A small lake actually means you see more. And No Jetskis! The previous owners built a house that is hardly visible from the lake, and they had a great view.

Pics

OK, I am learning to use a digital camera and a digital sound recorder. Forgive me while you live through my learning curve! Gina took this picture and the next The first is Oswego , from just above the dock. You can see the water levels are down, giving us quite a sandy beach:

Why the future will be quieter...

There is no reason to imagine that because more people have more technology, the future will have to be noisier than it is now. Electric motors will be fast, but quieter. Think of how quiet the North would be without the internal combustion engine! Of course, we still have tire noise to deal with...

Trying out new toys while in Madison

Madison, WI 8:30 pm July 17th 90 degrees! Trying out Garageband, an Olympus recorder, and .mac storage. Forgive the sound quality, I am just playing for now. Cicadas, a cardinal, and an unidentified bird. Can any birders tell me what it is?

Mark

The Visual and the Real....Mea Culpa

I have written in the past about how we tend to "favor" what we see over the other senses, and even sometimes over what is real and important.

An example: Cutting down all the trees in order to have a "view" of the lake, even if it hurts the lake itself. (I suspect that people often cut down all of the trees in front of their McMansions so that others on the lake can see them)

Here is an example to which I must plead guilty. The previous owner of left about 12 waist high stumps on the property. Other than being great places to set beer bottles, they weren't very pretty or functional for humans. We always intended to have them cut down.

But the truth is, one of the stumps was functional as a strategic lookout post for a pileated woodpecker before she would come to the suet feeder. To be fair to us, the woodpecker hadn't been back to the feeder for over 6 months. But it was one of those subtle examples of how, for nothing more than a nicer looking front lawn, we were willing to sacrifice part of the animal ecosystem.

And, yes, the property does look better with the stumps removed. Pictures will follow.

Tri-it Triatholon...

Forgot to mention that almost two weeks ago my daughter Amanda and I participated in the tri-it triatholon at Manitowish Waters. Let's just say that I am still hearing the phrase "passing on the left!" go through my head. Actually, I had a great time. I hope to be in better shape for the bike portion next year.

It had been a while since I was in the woods on a bike, so this race primed me for a few off road bike trips on snowmobile trails (thanks, snowmobilers). Really, silent sports enthusiasts should be supporting the snowmobilers in maintaining this wonderful trail system.

I discovered that sticking a couple of "Off " repellent disposable towels in the air flow grooves of my bike helmet really helps with the deer flies.

Wood Thrush....

One more post on the wood thrushes. The day after I reported hearing more wood thrushes than ever across the lake, I didn't hear any! How could that be? The weather was about the same both days. I need to learn more about this bird. (I couldn't tell you what they look like, only what they sound like.)

One more preachy post and I will quit for a while..

Should people be calling loons? I heard that there is actually a loon call that you can buy in local stores. I always thought that people shouldn't call loons, given that they are so territorially sensitive.

I remember once having a record of loon calls that specifically instructed listeners not to play the record in a way that loons could hear.

Northwoods Lakes Conference

Northwoods Lakes Conference coming to Minocqua
Join us July 20 and 21st at Lakeland Union High School in Minocqua for the Northwoods Lakes Workshop. Registration deadline is Friday, July 14, 2006. Register online.
July 20: Three special workshopsAn evening with aquatic invasive species researchers features:
UW’s Susan Knight on Eurasian watermilfoil
Notre Dame’s Brett Peters on Rusty crayfish
Wisconsin DNR’s Craig Roesler on Spiny waterflea
UW-Madison’s Jake Vander Zanden on Zebra mussels
A panel discussion with all of these researchers
Clean Boats, Clean Waters Watercraft Inspection Training will trains volunteers to organize and conduct a boater education program in their community to prevent invasive species from entering into lakes.
The Pontoon Classroom (on Lake Tomahawk) will give participants an interactive, on-the-lake exploration of shoreland stewardship, aquatic invasive species, and fish and wildlife habitat.
Download information on special Thursday workshops.
July 21: Northwoods workshopBoth keynote speakers have long-standing Northwoods Wisconsin connections. Jim Holperin, a long-time Northwoods resident (born and raised in Eagle River) currently serves as the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. He also served in the state legislature for 11 years representing Vilas and Oneida counties and served as director of Eagle River’s Trees for Tomorrow for 9 years. UW- Madison’s Stephen Carpenter has spent much of his 30-year academic research career in limnology (freshwater studies) focusing on issues surrounding lakes in Northern Wisconsin.
Choose from 21 sessions on topics such as: Building Effective Lake Organizations, Lake Science, Owning Lakefront property, Fun on the Lakes, Aquatic Invasive Species, Lake Wildlife, and Fishing and Healthy Fisheries.
Download program details (detailed session descriptions and speaker information)
Information and Registration
Download workshop brochure (schedule and paper registration form)
Register online