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Good morning and welcome to In Our Range.
My guest this morning is Ian Shackelford, Vice President of Iron County Outdoor Recreation Enthusiasts, or ICOR.
ICOR are a group of silent sports enthusiasts promoting the responsible use of land and water over to the public for the enjoyment of all with the following goals.
to promote non-motorized recreational activities on land and water, enhance and expand silent outdoor recreational opportunities in and around Iron County, Wisconsin, to provide opportunities for volunteers to help support recreational development and maintenance on both land and water, and to obtain grant monies to help finance the organizational purposes.
ICOR hosts regular events throughout the year, including group kayaks and canoe paddles, bike rides, trail cleanups, and hikes.
Ian Shackleford joins us this morning and he is vice president of iCorp for the past four years.
He's been with iCorp since 2015 when it started.
Ian moved to Ironwood in 2001 and currently lives in Gile.
Good morning Ian and welcome to In Our Range.
Good morning Mike, thank you for having me.
Yeah, I appreciate you getting on.
I uh hit you up at the end of last week.
It was relatively short notice but I know you have a lot going on and that you would like to talk about and so I appreciate you coming on this morning.
Yes, thank you.
Pleasure to be here.
iCore has been around, like you said, for about 10 years and provides events, hiking, biking, like you said.
And we're also working on two big ongoing projects, one in Hurley, one in Montreal.
The Hurley Montreal Trail that we're working on would be a new three-mile paved walking and biking trail between Hurley and Montreal, connecting to the fabulous Iron Bell Trail in Michigan.
Currently the stage right as we're trying to purchase the old Sioux line railroad grade from Canadian National Railroad Down in Mercer.
There's the Mercer bike trail expansion that iCore is leaving That'll be 14 miles of new trail connecting Mercer to windman trails Mercer and Minwin already have bike trails connecting to Manitou-ish waters So this new trail would make a 26 mile loop down there
Wow that that will really create a whole big circuit then that's incredible
The Three Mile Hurley Montreal Trail project, that's been an idea floating around from I-Corps for at least six years or so, I'd say.
I think I first read about those ideas back in 2020.
It must feel really exciting to get closer and closer to the end goal.
Yes.
I was living in Ironwood at the time when the Iron Bell Trail first began in 2014.
You recall first, it ran just through Ironwood.
2017, they extended it to Besmer.
and all the way to Ramsey in 2020, well that same railroad grade is there and mostly unused and we wanted to extend it west as well.
So we got 10 miles of trail already, we want to extend it another three miles west.
iCore worked with the local ATV and snowmobile clubs and iron county forestry and parks to identify an available route between Hurley and Montreal.
Our route would largely use that
line of railroad grade that we're trying to purchase now with a couple exceptions and you can see a map of the routes on our website ironcountyoutdoors.org
that is excellent and so the trail will go out all the way to uh... kimbale area right the west fork of the montreal
just uh... montreal not up to kimbale okay um it'll be three miles long the east end is the hurley trail head through where the iron bell trail ends between highway fifty one
and the Montreal River to go west and it'll end behind Montreal City Hall.
The trail include two historic rero bridges, a massive hurly overpassed west rero bridge that the motorized trail runs under right now.
We want to fix that up for walkers and bikers up above.
That bridge was built in 1896 and the other bridge would be the rero bridge over the West Fork Montreal River behind City Hall.
So these projects are incredible because they'd not only give us opportunities to get out into the Great North Woods and experience nature here, but they also represent an integral part of our history here as well.
Yes, they do.
And we hope that the future trail will have interpretive signs about the railroads in the history, much like the Iron Belt trail does now.
Scattered nice signs between Aaron Wood and Ramsey.
That sounds excellent.
I'm very excited to see the trails heading and moving west along the railroad grade like that.
And then you are also creating another connector down in Southern Iron County between the Windman trails and the Manny Waters trails and all those.
How long has that project been in the works?
Oh, I don't know.
About three or four years.
The Mercer Bike Trail Expansion Project, as I mentioned, that's 14 miles of new trail, making this 26-mile loop connecting Mercer, Windman, and Manitouish waters.
That project will occur in three phases.
Phase one is what ICORE is working on now with the City of Mercer.
That will be a 5.6-mile loop kind of around Mercer.
Phase two will get it to the Vilas County line, and phase three all the way to Windman.
Windman Trails is a 1,300-acre non-profit recreation in Winchester.
It has over 50 miles of mountain bike, hiking, ski trails, plus camping and a chalet.
And IKOR is currently fundraising to begin construction of Phase 1 in 2028.
Actually, start building it rather soon.
It'll cost about $1.9 million.
We're working with a town of Mercer.
We've submitted a grant to cover 80% of that cost.
We need about $379,000 for the local match.
We've already got $202,000.
And so about $127,000 to go to start building phase one of that project.
That's incredible.
It just seems like you're finding so much support from the community, from these larger entities that can provide that kind of dough for you guys to do this.
And it sounds like an amazing project because you're really creating a loop in the heart.
of the North Woods there where people can spend just days getting to be more intimate with the North Woods rather than just sort of seeing it from the road or being in the towns.
It really encourages people to get out into some more of the back areas and really capture the beauty of this wonderful place we have here.
I quite a lot of walking and biking enthusiasts and we really love the Heart of Islas trail system many miles over there and we're really happy that it connects now to Mercer.
and it connects to windmen.
And we've found an available route, kind of following right of ways of existing roads.
We love more connections for more walking and biking, safe scenic routes.
Yeah, exactly.
It promotes a lot of safety.
And so if people wish to contribute or check out about the found fundraising events, is that all?
Can they also find that information at ironcountyoutdoors.org?
Yes.
And if I could take a moment to talk about Mercer Bike Fest.
Yeah,
it's coming up.
That's in support of the Mercer Bike Trail Expansion.
That's Saturday, August 1st.
It's IKOR's biggest event of the year.
It will feature the second annual Loon Bike Ride.
Food, refreshments, live musics, and raffle prizes.
This is going to be at Carroll Park and Mercer on Grand Portage Lake in Highway County J. Raffle prizes include an e-bike donated by Rivers Edge Adventure Company in Manitowish Waters.
Trail bike donated by Lost Waves Sporting Goods Minakwa, paddle board donated by Schwalming the Adventure Company in Woodruff, family pass donated by Windman.
This Mercer Bike Test is the successor to the Lupin June Test bike ride that began back in 2007 by the Chamber of Commerce.
iCorps now does it as the Mercer Bike Test in support of our trail projects.
Music will be by Bredin Frisk, an acoustic folk duo from Land O'Lakes, Wisconsin, and that Luen Ride, the highlight of the event,
There's a 7, 24, and 50-mile bike ride.
It's not a race, just scenic, safe-sign bike rides.
Costs is $65, with all proceeds benefiting the Burser bike trail expansion.
All participants receive a shirt, swag bag, beverage, and lunch.
And kids in an under are free.
Excellent.
So it's not just an incredible way to get out and ride your bike, but it's also meeting people you may have a lot in common with and other outdoor enthusiasts and bicyclists.
But the money is also going towards these incredible projects that you're working on right down there with windmen and heart of Vilas County and the Manitouche Waters and the Mercer Trails.
And it also continues a wonderful tradition of this bike day happening just before Lunefest.
Yes, it's a fun event, music.
food and nice bike ride with lots of booths and other information.
And you've got different options, like you said, for folks.
You've got a seven mile, a 24 mile, or a 50 mile.
Yeah, there's something there for everybody.
That's incredible.
It seems like an absolutely lovely day to spend on
a bike.
Yes,
I hope to see you there.
I'll be there at the iCore tent.
August 1st, and that'll kick off Loon Days.
Wonderful, Ian.
Well, is there anything else you'd like to share with us before we wrap up?
I would like to talk
a little more about the
Hurley Montreal Trail, some other
details I could share.
Yeah, I'd love to hear it.
Okay, iCore is currently fundraising to purchase three miles of former Sioux line rarer grade from Canadian National.
In May, the City of Hurley and CN signed a sale contract when the City of Hurley will purchase 37.23 acres of this abandoned rarer land for $175,000.
We have until November 15th
to raise that $175,000 and we're three quarters of the way there.
So it's going well.
And I want to mention that purchasing the Sioux Land Railroad will benefit OHV and snowmobile riders too, because one half mile of that grade we're trying to purchase is part of the popular Iron Horse Trail.
That is still private property owned by the railroad.
Buying this land will make that segment public land forever owned by the city of Hurley.
And our paid trail will detour around that half mile.
And we're really excited during this month of July.
We are running what we call the Connect the Rivers campaign, emphasizing how this new Hurley Montreal Trail will connect the Montreal River to the West Fork Montreal River.
And an anonymous donor is matching all donations up to $20,000.
This month, all donations, $500 and more will be acknowledged on plaques installed along the trail.
Currently, we are mounting plaques on a former railroad tie.
We installed upright at the Hurley Trailhead.
You can stop by and see generous people that have supported the project so far.
If I could thank everybody that has donated to the Hurley Montreal Trail, our largest donations have come from the Gobiq Range Health Foundation, Enbridge, a couple anonymous donors, Leanne and Paul Jonson, donations in memory of Mike Sauerbach, who led this project until his
untimely passing in 2019, Iron County Community Credit Union, Zeo Credit Union, and Northern Iron County Engaged Residence.
Excellent.
I just saw the post where NYSER was handing over a check and it was very nice of them.
So the Connect the Rivers community is one that has just really been persisting, is really vibrant and celebratory.
You're three-quarters of the way to your goal but still need to get some more money.
It seems like a decent deal for the city to get that and you're also coordinating and working with all the folks who love to ride on that iron horse trail to make sure that that land gets preserved.
brought into public ownership and that the, the, uh, Sioux line trail that you're considering for silent sports enthusiasts and walkers and hikers will detour around that section.
And so it'll be maintained for, uh, the sled heads and, and the ATV riders out there, right?
Yes.
We're, we've been working with them closely for several years.
It's working with the railroad.
That's been kind of a challenge.
Uh, you recall a few years ago, there was the delay C and, uh, sold a lot of their property to Watco railroad.
And that delayed our project a bit, but now they're talking to us.
We've got this signed sale agreement.
And once we purchase this land, we believe there is good state funding that could fund 80% of the construction, just like is happening down at Mercer for the Mercer Bike Trail expansion.
Well it really is incredible to see all this support happen and to begin to watch all these things that have been percolating for years begin to really truly happen.
So congratulations to iCore even though we're not quite at the finish line there.
I just want to applaud the wonderful work that your community and volunteers and folks have done.
Thank you so much.
We look forward to once this land is purchased hopefully by November 15th.
It'll be public land forever securing that half mile of motorized trail
and allowing us the route we need to extend that iron bale trail west of Montreal.
That is great news.
Thanks for joining us on In Our Range this morning, Ian.
It was a real pleasure talking with you today.
Thank you, Mike.
And for more information, visit ironcountyoutdoors.org.
Thanks again to our guest Ian Chackleford from iCorps for joining us this morning.
Mercer Bike Fest will be happening on August 1st with the start and finish at Carroll Park on County Highway J.
There will be three different rides that day with 7-mile, 24- and 50-mile rides beginning at 9am, 9.20, and 9.40 respectively.
Every registration, every mile, every rider directly supports the expansion of the Mercer Bike Trail system.
Fundraising for the Hurley Montreal Trail is ongoing until November 5th.
For more information about ICOR, Mercer Bike Fest, and the fundraising efforts, you can visit their website at ironcountyoutdoors.org.
Thank you for joining us this morning for In Our Range.
I'm your host, Mike LeBeau.
Have a great week and we'll be back next Friday.
