Figuring it all out

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On course, Le Grand du Nord photo Clint Austin

I am just out of a Teams meeting with representatives from the MN Dept of Health, OSHA and Dept of Natural Resources. I contacted the state of Minnesota to determine how serious they were about guidelines that prohibit cycling/running events over 13 miles on public roads. Turns out, they are pretty serious. At the same time, it was one of the better meetings I have had with state officials in the 13 years I have been putting this gravel circus on. Kudos to them for being receptive, thoughtful and knowledgeable.

We will work with this team in the next two weeks in order to determine how feasible an event might be for this Spring. This is what we do. Stay tuned to this site for the latest.

And, while we train, make plans and dream, do not hesitate to contact our Gravel Go-To crew for all the questions you may have about our beautiful world of cycling.

Be well and Ride the Good Line!

Jeremy and the Heck Advisory Group

The Adventure Dance

Loaded with miles to go

Loaded with miles to go

I started down the road, fully loaded, paralleling the East Branch of the Baptism River. This trip would be solo. My trusty travel companion, Farrow, was surely deep into a new book, convalescing from recent hip surgery. I thought that adventure is still alive. It is stepping into an experience where the outcome is not for sure. It is certainly the possibility of plans changing, expectations scrambled. It is lonely, at times and even scary. I thought for miles about a dance with a partner simply called “the unknown.” And I do believe that the best adventures are out in the wilds somewhere, too.

Finally on January 19 a window of opportunity opened to have a crack at my beloved Winter Wolf route. This is a piece that I have worked on for a few years, finally culminating in the course that winds between Finland and Grand Marais, Minnesota. After beating my head against trail usage politics on the North Shore, one day, Farrow and I just decided to ride plowed roads between our destinations. That fateful trip convinced me that I was not missing much and had some of the most beautiful passages spanning the North Shore virtually to myself.

The significance of the Winter Wolf route this year is simply the act of getting out and riding long even if there is not an event associated with it. As a bonus, I have thrown out the challenge of camping out if one takes on the route. My love of spending nights on the ground has convinced me that it completely changes the feel of the experience.

Instead of doing a play by play, or crafting a mythical story as Farrow does so well, I will give snapshots of the journey with hopefully some beneficial advice.

Looking North on the Caribou Trail

Looking North on the Caribou Trail

  • Total trip time was 34 hours. I left the North Shore State Trail parking lot in Finland at 0800, arrived at my sleep spot at about 1730 that evening (at dark-thirty.) I began riding the next day at 0700 and returned to Finland at just after 1900. I was going steady, stopping as little as possible during riding time. I found the Grand Marais to Finland section, even without the unplowed sections, to be more challenging than the first day.

  • The USFS is still prohibiting camping at campgrounds. I am clarifying with my partners there whether one is permitted to tent camp at one of the many other lake access turn-offs enroute. It is permissible to camp on USFS land, our public land. But Leave No Trace ethics are strongly recommended!

  • My experience was that The Trestle Inn (18 miles from the start or 62 miles east of Grand Marais on the way home) was not open at either time. Be prepared to carry water or have the means to melt snow. Most creeks/rivers were locked up with ice, too.

  • My bike weighed close to 80 lbs with water on board. Despite having some pretty light gear, stuff just adds up! I kept feeling like I was starting a touring motorcycle at the start of the day. But magically, that rig rolled well. I also kept tire pressure up to close to 12 psi.

  • The roads were a mix of hard pack dirt/ice, straight ice or snow covered with 1-2” and tire tracks. I kept tire pressure high (relatively speaking) with this in mind. Studded tires are a must for this route.

  • The unplowed section from mile 22-32 was almost completely rideable. There were sections of truck ruts necessitating some walking. The snowmobile tracks had set up well which greatly added in the ability to spin instead of push. Going against all wisdom, I kept tire pressure high and was still able to get through OK. Anything softer, and I would have dropped pressure.

  • The second unplowed section between mile 62 and 67 was the same. Mostly hard packed snowmobile trail and generally rideable.

  • Temps at the start were well below zero. I was lucky to find a pair of older, blue-laced 45NRTH Wolfgar boots last month. I think I am sold. I am not going to get into the platform pedal vs clip option here, but I am convinced now that I can keep my feet warm AND have the power transfer that is so welcome when spinning a heavy rig like this. Yes, I had a couple of episodes of cold toes…but walking a few minutes took care of it and the efficiency of pedaling was very worth it.

  • I am trying vapor barrier layering and I think it has a place in upper body clothing and also for sleeping. I use an old Patagonia Houdini jacket against my skin then a midweight zip-neck baselayer on top. When it was cold, I added an ancient Patagonia Nano-Puff pullover then my Wintergreen Boundary Waters hooded Windshirt as a windbreak layer. Though moisture management proved to be tricky at times, I stayed dyer than usual and was never cold. Except when I stopped to camp…

So when a heated cabin comes along…are you strong enough to resist? No, not this time!

So when a heated cabin comes along…are you strong enough to resist? No, not this time!

So my Winter Wolf completion comes with an asterisk. Here’s a pro tip. If you know a guy on course and he lives very near your day’s destination point, it is best you just keep riding. Because otherwise, your grand plans to sleep in your new tipi tent with fancy titanium wood stove will surely come crashing down at the first utterance of “heated cabin.” OK. I know. Let me have it. To my credit, I have spent more nights outside in the Winter than most. And I have suffered with the best off them. Maybe as I approach 50 next month, wisdom is finally creeping up on me so that I do not ride past cozy cabins anymore. Or maybe I am just getting soft. So my Winter Wolf competition comes with an asterisk. It just means I have more work to look forward to later this Winter!

  • About that sleeping outside stuff. I did carry everything I needed to sleep well during the trip. This included a -40 degree down bag, Nemo air mattress and ground sheet. I am trying a new Seek Outside tipi tent with a titanium stove that I am able to fit easily within my bike bags. So I was ready!

  • That vapor barrier thing works well (at least better) keeping your insulating layers dry; whether it is your clothing or your sleeping bag. I have sewn up a silnylon bag to use inside of my down bag with good success. But be warned. The moisture you produce in sweat stays next to you (and not wetting the bag or clothes.) It is a “unique” feeling. When I stopped for the night, getting ready to set up my tent, the first thing I did was strip out of my base layers on top and thrown on dry, insulating shirts and coats.

An Egg McMuffin makes a solid lunch item. And my slightly custom-hemmed (I sewed the ankle cuff in a couple of inches) Wintergreen Half Zip guide Pants worked perfectly with a long underwear layer.

An Egg McMuffin makes a solid lunch item. And my slightly custom-hemmed (I sewed the ankle cuff in a couple of inches) Wintergreen Half Zip guide Pants worked perfectly with a long underwear layer.

  • I mentioned that I carried 5 liters of water to begin. On the second day, I “knew” I would be probably OK with the 3 liters on my back which worked well for me. Obviously, everyone will vary slightly from this amount.

  • Expect most things you might eat in the Summer to freeze into a tooth shattering block in the Winter. I have switched to fruit “fig” bars because they are always malleable. I’m also a fan of McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches (trust me, I stay away from fast food 99% of my life) and homemade pizza for supper or snacking.

  • I do not do drink mixes anymore and have never looked back. I have yet to suffer any electrolyte problems (that I am aware of) from using just warm water and food from home (or the drive thru.)

It was blowing in Grand Marais the morning I left

It was blowing in Grand Marais the morning I left

  • Grand Marais is one of my favorite places. The Java Moose is open for coffee and Holiday Gas Station is an easy option. But many other restaurants may be shuttered for the season/covid. Check them out before you leave. The municipal campground is open! This was to be my destination before I sinned. Again, call to confirm this! For the camping, not the sinning part.

  • That ride dropping into Grand Marais is thrilling. But there is also 1200 feet of climbing heading out of town. From the water of the bay to the eastern tip of The Grade at mile 92, you have some climbing ahead of you.

  • Heading into Grand Marais and Finland necessitated having decent lighting. But for this short of a trip, a good headlamp sufficed. Also, always run a red tail light.

  • And a word about traffic. One of the best things about this route is the near absence of cars, or any humans, for that matter. BUT be warned. There is logging. I had four logging trucks pass me, two unloaded and two loaded. All were law abiding and well within the speed limits. And two even had the courtesy to use their low-pitched air horns before passing. Instead of being rude, this was frankly a welcomed safety move on their part. Be smart and stay right, stay bright while riding.

  • And 80 miles at a go without people is either a blessing or a curse depending on your frame of mind. As is goes with long distance cycling, if it’s going like hell, put your head down, pedal and wait it out. Your mind will change. As when it’s all perfect and high and nothing could go wrong, wait 15 minutes and be prepared for dark times. It happens. Bring music (use cautiously always being alert to traffic.) Bring a friend. Or go solo. They all have their pros and cons.

Constant travel companions. Wolves on the road.

Constant travel companions. Wolves on the road.

And finally, there are the wolves. Chance are, you will not be so lucky to see one. But I can almost guarantee tracks. They use the roads just like we do. Easy traveling and fun things to pee on along the way. I was also treated to a sighting of THREE lynx just lounging/playing on the road on Perent Lake Rd. Then, a beautiful fisher scratching around in the road not 5 minutes after the lynx. Yes, moose tracks for sure. And fox. It is always quiet enroute on these roads in the Winter (except for the occasional logging truck,) but signs of wildlife are always near. This is one of the best things about this route. The quiet, in fact, was deafening at times. We get so use to having constant chatter that hearing nothing but the wind through the trees and your own thoughts can be disconcerting, at first. But roll with it. Learn from it. I promise you will come back stronger, wiser and healthier. OK, maybe after a couple of days.

Please feel free to email any comments or questions. jeremybkershaw@gmail.com

Welcome to our Gravel Go-To's

We are excited to introduce our new team of friendly Hecksperts! There can be a lot to learn at any level of cycling; from never-ridden-gravel to Tour Divide training. Our team of Gravel Go-To’s is a perfect place to reach out and ask questions about anything cycling related. This is part of our initiative to welcome all to the wonderful world of off-pavement cycling. Thank you to our team and to you for sharing this information with our community!

Gravel Go-To Page

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The Wolf & The Fox Bikepacking Races 2021

Two of the finest bikepacking racers in the world!

Two of the finest bikepacking racers in the world!

We welcome you to our newly named and re-tooled bikepacking races, The Wolf and The Fox. If you are looking to take your cycling skills to the next level, or are curious about bikepacking style racing, or maybe just want to finally use all of your cool new camping gear OR…have cobbled together borrowed stuff…this is the event to do. Tour Divide next year? Test ride here. Never camped out with your bike before? We are here to help!

The Wolf is our 3 day/2 night event spanning 330 miles of North Shore wilds. This event will start and finish in Two Harbors on August 27. We will attempt to have a pre-event meeting on the evening August 26 if Covid GUIDELINES allow. The route will proceed from Two Harbors to Ely to Grand Marais back to Two Harbors.

The Fox is our new 2 day/ 1 night race covering 120 miles of the same amazing Northern Minnesota backcountry. This event will start and finish in finland, MN on SATURDAY august 28. The route will proceed from Finland to Grand Marais back to Finland.

We created The Fox as a shorter version of our historic Heck Epic/The Wolf. This event has race days that are about 60 miles in length (compared to The Wolf’s 100 plus miles per day.)

The rules will remain the same for both events.

  1. Riders will need to carry what they need to sleep outside for the event (no motels, indoor lodging, pavilion use allowed.) All riders will sleep solo, no sharing of gear, tents, etc.

  2. Each day will be a timed stage. The rider with the lowest combined times will be declared the event fastest rider.

  3. Racers are expected to be prepared to handle all repairs, nutrition and self care during the day’s stage on their own. Depending on Covid 19 precautions/guidelines, we may be able to offer our usual midway aid station en route. We will update this as we know more.

  4. Depending on Covid 19 guidelines, we will provide a mix of dinners and breakfast with some being handled independently, as well, by the rider.

  5. One of the hallmark features of this event historically is the social nature of camping together after the day’s racing is done. We will do our best to build this safely into the event design.

  6. On Saturday, August 28, all racers from The Wolf and The Fox will be hosted at Grand Marais’ beautiful bayfront campground. This will be a perfect time to see old friends and compare notes between the routes and

  7. Please note the separate start/finish locations and dates for each event.

We have moved the dates from mid July to the end of August to try to gain some distance from Covid 19. We apologize for any inconvenience we may have caused by this change. Planning in the time of this pandemic is a practice in patience, mental gymnastics and pseudo-epidemiology. Thank you for your patience as we try to produce the best events in the country!

Please email me, Leah Gruhn, Larry Mishkar or Avesa Rockwell with questions about bikepacking. We are happy to help answer ANY question. Please see our Gravel Go-To page for contact information (this should be live today or tomorrow…stay tuned!)

Ride the Good Line!

Jeremy Kershaw jeremybkershaw@gmail.com

Winter's Planning and Travels

testing the rig for a go at the Winter Wolf route

testing the rig for a go at the Winter Wolf route

We are actively planning the 2021 Heck of the North Productions season. Yes, a lot remains in the grey zone pending Covid 19 precautions. But I am again optimistic that we will bring events that are safe, challenging and always beautiful.

I am personally looking forward to some cool new editions to the season. First, we will be offering excellent advice from a mix of Heck veterans to those seeking answers to gravel riding questions. This will be our Gravel Go-To group. These folks will be happy to share knowledge they have learned over years of various types of gravel/bikepacking cycling. Look for this on the website in the next two weeks.

Welcoming and bringing new riders to our events will be our strongest theme this year. We will offer incentives to do so available during online registration. We ask that everyone consider welcoming at least one new person to cycling, and especially to a Heck event. It’s OK to go outside of your comfort zone on this one, too. Think of co-workers, neighbors, folks you may not think are interested in cycling or have never reached out to in this way before. I think it will be great for our sport and our communities as a whole.

We are also looking forward to bringing more group rides starting this early season. These will be a mix of rides focusing on skills, miles and getting to know other local riders.

In the works, too, are at least two group outings focusing on bikepacking skills. Pack-outs, gear, camping skills, distance riding, fishing and artwork while tripping are all topics we would consider addressing for these outings. We will post more on this by registration opening.

We are looking at opening registration on March 1, 2021. We have pushed this back to accomodate for the latest in Covid planning and permitting. We expect to offer our three events; Le Grand du Nord, The Wolf/The Fox bikepacking events, and The Heck of the North. Yes…we are changing the “Heck Epic” to “The Wolf” and introducing a shorter version called, “The Fox.” We will introduce these events in the next post this coming week. They will be formatted the same, just updating to a more fitting name!

And I am excited to have a go on the Winter Wolf Route this month. It will be a great test of Winter bikepacking skills. I will be sharing that experience this month upon my return. Consider riding it yourself and sharing your trip stories with us!

Thanks for your patience as we navigate a new season. We can hardly wait to bring a new season of gravel goodness to you.

Ride the Good Line!

Jeremy and the Heck Team