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Happenings in the Keweenaw Peninsula March 10, 2006 Text © 2006 Michele Anderson. Race photo © 2005 Adam Johnson of Brockit.com. Reprinted with permission. Keweenaw Now file photos by Michele Anderson.

Swedetown Trails offer great conditions for Great Bear Chase Mar. 12

Editor's Note: Parts of this article appeared in Michele Anderson's article, "Skiing Paradise in the U.P.," published in the December 2005 issue of Silent Sports magazine and are reprinted here with permission.

Mark Jindrich of Calumet, a Copper Island Cross-Country Ski Club member who skis the trails nearly every day, confirmed very good snow conditions despite recent warmer temperatures. Jindrich, who also volunteers at Swedetown Chalet, said parents of skiers in the Junior Olympics (J.O) races held this week at the Michigan Tech Trails in Houghton, came to ski at Swedetown on Tuesday and Thursday during some off-time at the J.O. competition and were excited about the Swedetown Trails.*

Skiers take off for the 2005 Great Bear Chase race at Swedetown Trails in Calumet. (Photo © 2005 Adam Johnson of Brockit.com. Reprinted with permission.)*

"They loved them, and they thought the conditions were excellent," Jindrich said. 

He noted the visitors bought a record number of day passes at the Chalet on Thursday, Mar. 9. The J.O. parents came from as far away as Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho and Vermont.

"We sold about 90 day passes by the end of the day," Jindrich said. "That's twice the previous record for one day."

Registration for the Bear Chase race is at Cross Country Sports, 507 Oak Street in Calumet today, Friday, until 6 p.m. ($55) and on Saturday, Mar. 11, from Noon to 8 p.m. ($60). Bib pickup is from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Mar. 12, at Cross Country Sports. Please note that there is no race-day registration and it is too late for online registration.

Rick Oikarinen, Cross Country Sports owner and former Bear Chase Race director, said about 300 skiers had registered as of Friday morning, Mar. 10, and race officials anticipate a total of 500-550 skiers for the race.

"Everybody waits till the last minute to see what the weather's doing," Oikarinen said.

He noted this is the 26th year of the race and it has only been cancelled twice, once for lack of snow and once (in 2002) when a wind storm knocked trees onto the trails. This year the warm weather should not be a problem, he added.

Skiers climb one of Swedetown's challenging hills during the sunny day of the 2001 Great Bear Chase. (File photo by Michele Anderson)

"Our snow depth (about three feet) is so good I don't see how we would postpone or cancel it," Oikarinen said. "Depending on what the weather does, these could be some of the best conditions we've ever had."

Located just about 12 miles north of Houghton in 1400 acres of forest, the Swedetown Trails are groomed daily for both skating and striding in a variety of terrain, including a scenic back-country trail. The Copper Island Cross-Country Ski Club, in cooperation with Calumet Township, maintains Swedetown’s 30 kilometers of beginning, intermediate and advanced trails, including a lighted trail of 4.5 km that allows skiing until 10 p.m. Since 1991, skiers have had the use of a beautiful, heated chalet with snack bar, restrooms and waxing facilities. Near the chalet a groomed sledding hill offers more family fun. The snow usually stays a bit longer in Calumet, often allowing a lengthy spring skiing season into April.

Swedetown signs clearly mark the trails, from beginner to advanced. (Keweenaw Now file photo by Michele Anderson)

This year the Bear Chase Race is officially called the River Valley State Bank Great Bear Chase, since the bank is now a financial sponsor. Main Street Calumet, a non-profit organization promoting commercial district revitalization through historic preservation and economic development, is the new director of the race, replacing Rick Oikarinen, the original and longtime director.

“We’re counting on him (Rick) to make the race awards presentation as he has for the past 25 years,” said Tom Tikkanen, Main Street Calumet executive director.

Said Oikarinen, "I've agreed to do that."

Junior Bear Chase to be held at MTU Trails

This year the Junior Bear Chase will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 11, at the Michigan Tech Trails in Houghton. It includes classic and free style for young skiers up to 16 years old. There will be only one race this year, with different age groups racing distances from .8k to 6k. Registration/Bib pick-up is from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. at the Michigan Tech trailhead. Fees: $5 in advance. $7 day of race. The race is sponsored by the Copper Country Ski Tigers (youth Nordic ski organization). For details see the Junior Bear Chase Web site.

For more details on the Great Bear Chase, including the schedule of events, visit the Bear Chase Web site.

*Photographer Adam Johnson, a Keweenaw Now contributor, is posting his photos of the Junior Olympics on his Web site. See http://brockit.smugmug.com/jo.

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