Paul Sundberg
Superior Hiking Trail
A spectacular view of Lake Agnes on the Superior Hiking Trail.
REI boosts Superior Hiking Trail, 9 others in U.S.
Supporting a trail has never been so easy. With nothing more than three clicks, Minnesota's 310-mile-long Superior Hiking Trail will receive $5 on your behalf.
REI, the outdoor equipment company, will donate $500,000 to 10 trails across the United States, one of which is the Superior Hiking Trail – the sole representative from our region. It's up to the public to determine the distribution of the money; each vote is worth $5. An individual trail can receive a maximum of $75,000.
Voting opened at midnight this morning (Friday), and nearly $85,000 has already been allocated. The Superior Hiking Trail Association, the non-profit that manages the trail, has so far received close to 3,000 votes (worth just shy of $15,000). You can vote once per day until all $500,000 is gone.
Courtesy Spirit Mountain
Big Lake Bike Heaven
Spirit Mountain maintains more than 4 miles of lift-accessed downhill trails with some challenging terrain and spectacular views of Duluth and the St. Louis River.
+ In other Minnesota trail news: Duluth was named a Gold-level Ride Center by the International Mountain Bicycling Association, a designation that puts the city's trail system and riding community among the best in the world. Duluth joins the Chequamegon area (bronze-level), Copper Harbor (silver) and Marquette (bronze) among Lake Superior's honorees.
Interlake to install scrubbers on two more ships
Eric Haun, for Maritime Propulsion:
Following the implementation of exhaust gas scrubbers on its self-unloading bulk carrier M/V Hon. James L. Oberstar, the Interlake Steamship Company has announced its plans to expand its emission-reduction efforts to one-third of its fleet by installing similar scrubber systems on the M/V Lee A. Tregurtha and M/V James R. Barker early next year.
In northern Wisconsin, communities debate livestock operations
Rick Olivo, Ashland Daily Press:
Members of the Ashland County Board voted 17-3 to approve a resolution directing the county administrator and the county’s corporate counsel to work with the Comprehensive Planning and Farmland Preservation Committee to develop a two-year moratorium on concentrated animal feeding operations in the county.
The moratorium, officials say, will give the county time to develop policies on large CAFOs, new to the region.
Meanwhile, the Wisconsin DNR seeks input from the public as it develops an environmental impact statement for a proposed CAFO in Bayfield County. The project would house more than 26,000 hogs, whose manure could threaten water quality, opponents say.
+ The MacArthur Lock in Sault Ste. Marie, shut down on July 29, should re-open on or about August 19 following emergency repairs, according to a news release.
+ WLUC-TV: Drawings were released for Marquette's new hospital, whose bold design was inspired by Lake Superior and the north woods.
+ Forum News Service: "Duluth sailor prepares for round-the-world yacht race."
+ Wisconsin Sea Grant donated fishing line recycling bins to the St. Louis River Alliance. Discarded fishing line can ensnare wildlife.