Connections

This issue is jam-packed with articles that will inspire you to get outside, explore new locations, and think about taking a more active role in championing and protecting the natural environments that give us so much joy.

Our writers invite you to visit places to bike, paddle, run, hike, and camp across the Midwest. Some of these locations will feel familiar, others will evoke a “Why haven’t I heard about that before?” reaction.

The Summer issue wasn’t designed to have a central theme or focus on a “bike or paddle”-specific topic that formally links the Table of Contents. As I read the articles as they arrived, a subtle, under-the-radar dotted-line set of connections emerged. Unplanned, but the collection of articles in this issue reflects the way outdoor enthusiasts commit to their pursuits.

First, we decide what inspires us. The list starts with running, cycling, paddling, hiking, camping. Then we drill down to more specifics: road running vs trail running; road, mountain, or gravel cycling: Kayak or canoe paddling. Car camping or backcountry backpacking. For most, that list often includes several choices.

Next, we seek out resources to help us jump on a learning curve. Where do we practice our pursuits? Who can recommend the most appropriate gear for our intentions, skill levels, and budgets? The profiles of Spokengear by Jim Force and the Minnesota Bike Trail Navigator by Melissa Wentarmini introduce highly regarded expert resources for cycling. The cover story celebrating Trek’s 50th anniversary profiles how Midwestern ethics can shape an entire industry.

After deciding what activity to pursue and investing in appropriate equipment, apparel, and accessories, answering the next question, “where do I go?” can take a lifetime to answer. Our writers invite you to visit Dodgeville, the Volga River, Eau Claire, Neenah, the Chequamegon National Forest, and one of the dozens of off-the-beaten-path Special Natural Areas in Minnesota and Wisconsin. More specifically, hike the Driftless Trail, or haul your bike to Wausau and explore the Granite Belt gravel bike trail system.

Over time, our perspectives shift. We think less about bringing down our personal best times and budgeting for the latest and greatest piece of equipment, and more about how to protect the places we play from outside threats we weren’t paying much attention to as we embraced our pursuits. The questions evolve to “What can I do, personally, to protect state parks, national parks, and other wild places that feed my soul?”

Michael McFadzen’s “Mining in the Midwest: Economic Engine or Environmental Gamble?” presents a thoughtful examination of a decades-long debate about threats to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Once thought to be decided in favor of protection, the issue is brought back to the forefront by new legislation.

For over thirty years, the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks have focused on a simple but vital mission: The belief that each generation bears the responsibility for leaving behind a better, stronger legacy of conservation for our public lands.

Members of the Kekekabic Trail Club, part of the larger North Country Trail Association, spend hundreds of hours each summer keeping a wild, iconic backcountry trail open and accessible.

If you have focused on what gear to buy and where to go, consider taking the next step and joining an organization that invests time, resources, and expertise to protect the places that have inspired you.

ldzierzak@formula4media.com