The Arrowhead 135 is known as one of the 50 hardest races on earth. The physical and mental strength needed to ride one of the coldest trails during the coldest time of year is massive. Today we talk with Jill Martindale, Leah Gruhn, Kate Coward, and Race Director Ken Krueger about what it takes to finish the Arrowhead 135. Combined, they have completed the event 30 times... Jump to section About Arrowhead 135 What Does It Take to Finish? Kate Coward Leah Gruhn Jill Martindale Ken Krueger | Race Director About the Arrowhead 135 The Arrowhead 135 is an ultra-endurance race that takes place in International Falls, Minnesota. It's a non-stop, self-supported race, where participants have to carry all their equipment and supplies for the duration of the race, including food, water, and shelter. The race follows the Arrowhead State Trail from International Falls, Minnesota to Tower, Minnesota, a distance of approximately 135 miles. It takes place in the dead of winter when temperatures can drop to well below zero degrees and blizzard conditions are not uncommon. Participants can choose to compete on foot, on a bike, or on skis, and they have up to 60 hours to complete the race. The race is known for being one of the toughest winter ultras in the world From the Experts: What does it take to finish the Arrowhead 135 on bike? Racing through the night in the dead of winter with a slow heavy bike for 135 in the snow is incredibly challenging. If you've ever considered trying this event, you'll have a lot of obstacles to figure out before and during the race. Not only do you have to have a qualifying race to enter (for bikers, they require at least a 200 mile road bike race or 100 mile off road race, preferably in winter) but you have need to figure out how to stay warm, carry your gear, fix your bike in below zero temperatures, maintain nourishment, and stay mentally strong despite being pushed the limits of human endurance. We reached out to several seasoned winter fat bike ultra endurance athletes to learn what it takes to finish such a long and challenging event. Here are their stories. Kate Coward →Completed 8 of 8 Attempts →Completed All 3 Disciplines of Bike, Foot, & Ski →2021-2023: First Female ('21 was unofficial COVID year) By Kate Coward @kate_coward_athlete As winter approaches every year, our winter ultra stoke lights up social media. Questions and advice cover a range of topics from sweat management, sled choice, gear requirements, footwear, logistics, fear and more. There is so much to think about. So many variables. Arrowhead 135 is HARD! Layers, nutrition strategy, sleep plan are all important for this race held the coldest week of the year in one of the coldest places. But, when I think about what I consider the super power to finish the race, it’s having a strong mind. If you want to finish, you have to show up surrendering to the experience ahead of you, which means being ready to expect and accept some hardships. It could be extremely cold. You might feel lonely or even fearful in those remote stretches after Melgeorges. What are you going to tell yourself when you need a boost? How will you steer yourself away from your own destructive thoughts? Can you tell when you are making up excuses? Have you practiced being your own cheerleader? It takes a lot of physical and mental strength to finish this event. You should expect the low moments. You should expect it will not be easy. Things happen that can be impossible to overcome: your hub or derailleur breaks, you develop plantar fasciitis, you have an old injury that flares up, or you get sick vomiting. But, there are things we perceive as race-enders, with clear paths to finish. Sometimes, we just need to drag our own heads through those tough moments. Our bodies are truly amazing. We can do hard things —yes, we really can! We can physically do more than we can consciously comprehend. But our mind unlocks that full potential. We all show up with some level of fitness, preparation, knowledge of our gear, and challenges we are about to face. When truly faced with boredom, fatigue, cold, pain … how do we handle it? Do we look for excuses or do we take those moments on as challenges to overcome? Are you spiraling into your negative thoughts? Or, are you fighting to lift yourself back up? Since my first Arrowhead I have experimented with various techniques to master my mind using the power of positivity, mantras, or trickery to manage hardship. And you can, too! I have various strategies including smiling, reciting positive affirmations, dividing the course into tiny chunks for tiny wins. My friend Nick Quinn taught me the phrase “you live here now” in reference to his bike seat being his couch, so settle in. Once you figure out what works for you, COMMIT to deploying all your strategies. You don’t have to believe what you are saying, but just the practice will change your emotions. It will change your state of mind. I promise. Try it. Your mental game can become your superpower. Leah Gruhn →Finished 10 of 12 Attempts →2019 - First Female →2022 - First Unsupported Female By Leah Gruhn @leahgruhn Desire – Many people think that completing the Arrowhead 135 as a great accomplishment. Paradoxically, in order to compete, the desire to finish must be greater than the effort and sacrifice required. Are you willing to spend the time, money, and effort? Head Space – Prioritizing the Arrowhead 135 requires a unique discipline and focus. The head space I dedicate to training and preparation stems from streamlining my otherwise day-to-day concerns. Home, career, family life, relationships, care for my parents – all life needs to be simplified and streamlined to prioritize adventures at this scale. It may still be possible to train with any one of those challenges, but that would come down to an individual’s time management, ability to manage priorities, and support from family/friends. Planning – Do your research and get all the information that you can: talk to race veterans, read race reports, research equipment reviews, and pour through online forums. Start small and manageable by focusing on races like the St. Croix 40, Tuscobia 80, or longer winter bike-camping trips. For every critical system on your bike, think through different worst-case scenarios and practice using your gear! Commitment / Priorities – Heading into the race, define your priorities. Primarily, I avoid permanent damage. Frostbite is both a winter-bike-racing career-ender, and immensely painful. Secondarily, I do this for fun. Thirdly, I want to finish. In the middle of the night in the coldest temperatures, I sometimes consider dropping. Then I remember that the most interesting stories focus on overcoming obstacles and not just dropping when the first big thing goes wrong. If you must drop, it’s fine. Don’t beat yourself up about it but you absolutely must to learn as much from it as you can. If everything else is going well, I want to go as fast as possible. Note that I prioritize safety and then finishing over placing high in the field. I take my time and carry equipment that I can use to get myself out of a variety of situations, rather than being a weight weenie and taking an all-or-nothing approach. Luck – Even if you do everything right, if you do enough of these events, something happens. Maybe it’s the foot plus of fresh snow, and you decide that you don’t want to push a bike in that much snow for 65 miles. … or maybe your best friend’s pet iguana passes away the day before you need to start the race and just don’t have the heart to leave your friend. Stuff happens and sometimes you need to give yourself some grace. Jill Martindale →Completed 3 of 5 Attempts →2017 - Course Record →2023 - First Unsupported Female By Jill Marindale @billfartindale I tackle winter ultras with a healthy combination of preparedness, optimism, and opportunism. I practice with gear so I’m comfortable in different scenarios. I practice fixing flats, repairing a chain, or turning my bike into a single-speed. One thing we do differently for the cold-weather is that we strip the factory grease from my hubs and bottom bracket and replace it with a mixture that works better in sub-zero temperatures. We swap the hydraulic brakes for cable brakes and I love the Paul Love Levers, which fit snugly with my warm 45NRTH gloves inside of my pogies. We wrap the metal lever in silicone so the cold metal isn’t cold on my gloved hand. Carbon bars won’t conduct the cold like aluminum handlebars will. If you’re rolling tubeless, make sure it’s set up well before Arrowhead weekend. Going into the event with confidence that my bike is going to roll smoothly keeps me level-headed in the deep cold that we experience out on the Arrowhead trail. Photos: Evan Simula (and rumor has it, the fashion police have been called and are on their way) I head into the event without expectations, because there can be so many variables out there. You’re spending hours riding - so much can happen! Staying out of a negative headspace because things aren’t going to plan is important. Take the trail one mile at a time. Stay calm and be patient, because when you start to rush you can make mistakes. Carry dry layers, go as fast as you can while still keeping yourself in check, and be okay with going slower if conditions require it. Pump yourself up by talking yourself through scenarios, envisioning getting to the end, and cheering yourself on. I like to remind myself that Ken Krueger made it to the finish on his 26” Trek well before all of this fancy winter fat biking gear existed, and that if he can finish Arrowhead by pushing a regular bike through the snow like that, then it’s possible for me to finish on my fat bike, too. Photos: Dan Martinek As for being opportunistic? If there’s a paceline at the start, which is relatively flat until the first checkpoint, grab on to someone’s wheel and hang on! Save your energy for hills surrounding Melgeorge’s by working with others. When you get to a checkpoint, if someone is offering food, eat it. Use the bathroom. Fill up your water, because there’s no guarantee how quickly you’ll get to the next spot. Take the opportunity to put on dry layers, swap out socks, and to take care of yourself. If you’re racing unsupported and you’re allowed to warm up next to a fire, do it. Cruise downhill without grabbing your brakes to use your momentum to get you further up the next hill. If the trail is riding really firm, put air in your tires for less rolling resistance. (Or let air out if you need more traction to go uphill.) Do everything you can to save your energy to get to the finish – you’ll need it on the final miles after Wakemup Hill! Ken Krueger | Race Director →Completed 9 of 9 Attempts →Completed All 3 disciplines of Bike, Foot, & Ski By Ken Krueger Over 1000 racers have finished Arrowhead (~70%) in the history of the race. The finish rate largely depends on weather and trail conditions. Very cold weather gives a fast trail but increases mechanical issues (mostly hubs and flat tires) and many racers struggle to deal with extreme cold. Sweating, frozen water bladders, frostbite, cold, and fatigue are some of the main issues in cold years. Warm weather softens the trail and makes biking much more difficult even with low tire pressures. -10 to 15 Deg F seems to be the sweet spot for bikers. There are many factors a racer can control that will help get them to the finish line. In my opinion, mindset is the most critical. There are most likely going to be issues during your race, how you deal with them is key to making it to Fortune Bay. The checkpoints are warm and cozy, it is a mind game to leave the comfort of a checkpoint and head out into a long, cold night. Racing to me is largely executing your training, I am fortunate to live in International Falls and can train in varied conditions. I've gotten up at 2 am before work to train in -40 deg F just to check out gear and my bike, I also used to keep notes on what works and what did not work. Biking also requires clothing, nutrition, and gear. I struggle with cold feet and wear -100 deg F boots and toe warmers if needed. I still have to push my bike to keep my feet warm. I use KT tape or Dermatone to protect the little bit of skin I have exposed. In very cold weather, I have to wear contacts because I have yet to find a way to prevent my glasses or goggles from fogging. It is critical to find clothes that breath. If you are soaking wet, it can be very dangerous if you have to stop. All racers must have a qualifying race to get accepted into Arrowhead, and all racers are capable of finishing. Arrowhead can be finished by most people if they train hard, have the right gear, and the right mindset. To learn more about the Arrowhead 135, visit their website.

The Nxrth gravel jersey pre-orders are ending on Thursday, Feb 16. These jerseys and bibs come in both men's and women's cuts and are designed and stitched in Coon Valley, Wisconsin by Borah Teamwear. The store closes on Thursday, Feb 16th. Shop Jerseys.

We recently published a brand new top-to-bottom bikepacking route by Frank Hassler covering the entire length of Wisconsin with photography from Scott Haraldson. The route is ~70% unpaved and snakes through farmland in the south, deep forest in the north, and hits on everything we love about Wisconsin bikepacking in this epic adventure. Patrons on our 'Adventure Team' tier get early access to this bikepacking route now and it will get published publicly later on. Join us to get early access and support more routes like this. Join to get access now. What the route guide includes: 617 miles (~70% unpaved) 35+ camping ideas A butt-ton of cafes, restaurants, breweries, and bike shops Overview of recommended gear & adventure highlights Gorgeous photography from Scott Haraldson Get early access to this route now Patrons on our 'Adventure Team' tier get early access to this bikepacking route now. Join us to get early access and support more routes like this.

Created by Chris Stindt Gravel is a La Crosse area specialty - the region is part of the driftless; we have some amazing views, bluffs to climb, a great river, oh, and quality crushed limestone roads, plus the benefit of a mid-sized town to offer breweries, distilleries, great food and places to stay. Jump to Section Map Overview Gravel Routes Rail-Trail Routes Bonus ATB Route Where to Eat Where to Stay Where to Drink Bike Shops This guide will help you figure out where you want to ride, where to stay, eat and drink, plus some great local bike shops. The area offers everything from pancake flat rails-to-trails to hilly rides with over 10,000 feet of climbing. You can stay on the cheap at a campsite, or at a 5-star hotel overlooking the Mississippi River. Taco trucks to steak houses, dine in your kit or throw on some fancy duds, the choice is yours. Oh, and we don’t recommend trying to drink out of the world’s largest 6-pack, we have multiple other better options. Where to Ride Gravel From La Crosse The little secret is that most of the gravel routes we have are actually over the Mississippi River, in Minnesota. Yes, you can get to gravel in Wisconsin, but it's consideralby farther away than the gravel in Minnesota. Gravel Biking Routes Each route can be modified; if you’re the hardy type to ride from your hotel, but want to be in the city, then you have 5-10 miles of road riding at the beginning and end of each route. Alternatively you can stay in La Crescent or simply drive to the start of the gravel. Based on experience, there is something magical about crossing one of the biggest rivers in the world to start an epic adventure. But generally, if you’ve done it right, the hardest climb of the day is coming back over the blue bridge at the end of the day. Some days I start in town, other days I drive over; choose your own adventure. The Appetizer [30 miles] This route starts in La Crescent and heads west. What little traffic you see on County Road 6 is quickly left behind, as you turn on to Pine Creek Road. Pavement gives way to gravel and almost immediate views. A climb takes you to Nodine, and then a gravel descent brings you to the prettiest swale in the country, between east and westbound traffic on I90. A challenging climb up an (in)famous MMR brings you back to the ridge top. Enjoy this great taste of driftless gravel! LINK TO MAP . Deceptive Distance [35 miles] Multiple times I’ve mapped this route and left my house, thinking I’d just be out for a couple of hours. Alas, as my wife will tell you, I’ve never done it in less than 3 hours. Partially because it’s closer to 50 miles if you leave from La Crosse, but also because it features 4 full bluff climbs. But damn, this is a great route close to the city. If you want to get the full experience of driftless gravel, but don’t have time to commit to a full day of riding, this is your best option. LINK TO MAP. The Skullsplitter [56 miles] This is a former race route I used to coordinate. If you want all gravel and still want over 50 miles, this is a bruiser of a route. No services, again, except Little Miami. LINK TO MAP. Metric Century [65 miles] Notes on this route…make sure you have plenty of fuel and liquids. More than you think you’ll need. I’ve been picked up at least twice trying to finish this one on two bottles and not enough snackies. There is a soda machine at Little Miami in Freeburg, and to be honest, you might want to just plan on stopping there so you can say you did. Otherwise start with a lot, or hit the KT in Hokah. Grab a snack at Free Range Exchange on the way back. Other fun bits: Country Road 5 is one of my favorite roads…period. Cut into rock, running downhill and along a little river valley, it’s really special. LINK TO MAP. Gravel Monster [105 miles] This route was created by a couple of local gravel aficionados, who had created a ‘monster’ road route with 10 climbs, and wanted to do the same for gravel. I was one of, if not the first, to test it out, and it was definitely a challenging ride. If you want to make sure you hit triple digits on the odo, start in La Crosse. Refuel in Houston. If you time it right, stop in Hokah for baked goods to fuel the last bit to home. What else…oh 7200 feet of climbing. Brace yourselves, gravel is coming. LINK TO MAP. Big Dumb Dirt [127 miles] This route combines some of the above south and west options into one dumb massive ride. You’ll need to be a) strong b) masochistic and c) have a LOT of time to complete this. LINK TO MAP. BONUS: ATB Route [55 miles] [ATB = All Terrain Bike]: Do you have a road bike and don’t mind underbiking? A gravel bike that is fine on the road? Enjoy a bit of hike-a-bike on singletrack with amazing views? Do you crave only the best coffee, food and baked goods on offer (see Wonderstate)? Try this bonus route out. LINK TO MAP. Rail Trail Routes We are fortunate to be at the intersection of a couple of great rails to trails conversion options. Westward goes to Trempealeau and Eastward goes…to Milwaukee, if you’re adventurous enough. You can really choose your own adventure, do an out and back to Tremp and then head east to Sparta or try the tunnels of Elroy Sparta. Go as far or as short as you want, these are your best chances to ‘recover’ on gravel, while enjoying sites and sounds (Mississippi River and more). *You need a state trail pass. All local shops sell them, but Coulee Bike Co. is located right near the trailhead at Great River Landing on Onalaska. Westward Route [41 miles] This route goes through town, if you’re staying downtown, on mostly bike paths. Or start in Onalaska at Great River Landing and you’ll be all on trail. It’s an out and back to Trempealeau, which has a nice little cafe for a coffee and snack. LINK TO MAP. Eastward Route [69 miles] This route goes all the way to Norwak. Black Squirrel Capital of the World? Sure why not. If you haven’t seen it before, this goes through 3 tunnels, carved through the bluffs, to keep things flat. Bring a light and a sense of adventure. LINK TO MAP. Where to Eat Freighthouse Supperclub, La Crosse Freighthouse is a really nice place, down near the river. Dress up and dine inside or chill on the back patio. Great food and nice ambiance. Pearl Ice Cream, La Crosse (the President came, ok, it’s not political, it’s just that good) Homemade ice cream! Candy! I’ve definitely eaten ice cream on the sidewalk in a kit at mile 85 of a century. Free Range Exchange, Hokah Hokah is a nice little town that is a jumping off point for a lot of the gravel. Stop mid ride or after for a baked good and hot coffee. You won’t regret it! Barista’s Coffee, Houston Toward the western end of our usual gravel routes, Houston has a couple of gas stations, but if you have time, stop at Barista’s for a coffee, snack or quick lunch. Meringue Bakery, La Crosse [yeah, you’re gonna wanna stop here] A bakery from 3-time Food Network Champion, Jen Barney. I’ll leave it at that. Where to Stay Camping Perot State Park: A bit out of the area, but great for bikepackers or those who prefer to be off the beaten path. Pettibone Resort: Camping right on the Mississippi between Wisconsin and Minnesota. Great for starting rides but still being close to town. Goose Island: South of the city, this county owned campground is gorgeous and also right on the river. If you are ok riding a bit longer to gravel, or driving, this option is very nice. 5 Star 5-Star Luxury Charmant: This converted candy factory is a block from the Mississippi River. Gorgeous views and very nice rooms, they also have a restaurant and cafe. If you want the best, this is it. Hotels Downtown: Most chain hotels have options in downtown. If you want nightlife or city access, you have options here. Onalaska: Picture any busy interstate stop you’ve ever been to, and this is it. Hotels, restaurants, a mall, etc. Lots of options to stay here. La Crescent The new Best Western is a great option if you want to stay in a smaller town, closer to the gravel. Airbnbs: Lots of options. If you want close access to gravel, find something in Minnesota. If you prefer city amenities, try downtown La Crosse. Where to Drink Coffee Wonderstate Coffee, Viroqua: Great roasted coffee, incredible food, ambiance. Grounded Coffee Patio, La Crosse: A really nice downtown cafe with outdoor seating, if you want to sit by your bike. Breweries & Distilleries Turtle Stack Brewery or 608 Brewing: We like beer in La Crosse, and have two small microbreweries in/near downtown. Can’t go wrong. La Crosse Distillery:This newer option is a great place to grab dinner or a drink, and to take some local distilled spirits home with you. [food and drinks] Bike Shop Picks Downtown La Crosse: Smith’s Bike Shop Onalaska: Coulee Bike Co [near the Great River Landing] Onalaska: River Trail Cycles

For 11 days, we've opened up an online shop for The Nxrth gravel jersey orders. These jerseys and bibs come in both men's and women's cuts and are designed and stitched in Coon Valley, Wisconsin by Borah Teamwear. The store closes on Thursday, Feb 16th. Shop Jerseys.

The Nxrth's 2023 Gravel Race Calendar is now live! It's the perfect time to start filling spring, summer, and fall weekends with races all around the gravel community. Head to our Gravel Events Listing to browse through events that are organized by dates and states and start texting friends to plan memorable weekends. As race dates are constantly being added and finalized, we'll continue to monitor the gravel community and make updates as quickly as we can. If we missed an event, send us an email at info@thenxrth.com.

The Hodag Country Ramble took place for the first time last September at Jeff Frane's parents' land near Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Now the sophomore year was recently announced and event tickets and camping reservations are onsale. Learn about what made year one spectacular and what's shaking up for year 2. This year's Hodag Country Ramble takes place September 8-10, 2023. To learn more, visit the Hodag Country Ramble event page or follow Bike Jerks on Instagram. Interview with Jeff Frane. This is HQ’d on your family’s land, right? Tell me about the lay of the land there and what’s good about it? Yes, the Ramble is based on my family's land, 80 acres in the middle of the beautiful Wisconsin Northwoods fifteen minutes from my parents house and fifteen minutes from downtown Rhinelander, Wisconsin. The land itself is pretty ideal for this sort of event as there are few neighbors and my Father takes immaculate care of it. Working that land is his passion. Two big mowed fields with lots of nice flat spaces to camp. We ask that the riders bring in everything they need, but there is a well and we bring in hand washing stations and porta potty's. There's a lake nearby for swimming or fishing and we do Friday nights Bandit Cross right there on the property. What was year 1 like and are there any changes for year 2? Year one went as well as it possibly could, the only bummer was the weather, it was raining pretty hard the morning of the big ride so most folks opted out of the longer route and dropped into the fifty miler. The course is mostly double track with a bit of gravel and some pavement sections so even fifty miles is a great work out, especially in those conditions. For most, the weather just made it more memorable and I think it's safe to say that everyone had a great time. Luckily the skies cleared up in the afternoon so we were able to have family dinner and our post ride celebration comfortably. We picked the date based on the best chances of no bugs and swimming weather which is a combination you don't often get over there. At least we got the no bugs first year, hopefully we'll get both in '23. The changes for year two came from rider feedback. One, we need to have more hot vegan options at dinner and bigger portions for all, and two, we need to change the check out time on Sunday. I asked people to be out by noon and we'll be extending that well into the afternoon so that folks who want to ride on Sunday can do so without feeling stressed about packing up. I'm also working hard on route development. Part of the reason for doing this is so that I can have projects to accomplish in Rhinelander and thus spend more time with my family. I've been combing the woods and maps all Winter. I've made some major tweaks to the fifty mile course to make it even better and will have a new long route as well. I want to make sure that repeat riders don't get bored. What kind of experience do you hope people have during the Hodag Country Ramble? Hodag Country Ramble is the prototype for what I hope is a new type of event that spread far and wide, the Ramble. I want events that prioritize community and grass roots. It's not only my version of the most fun bike weekend, but it's also a great counterpoint to the big corporate events that have come to dominate the formerly alternative space of gravel. "I think the most important thing is that it's not a race, so no rider's experience is prioritized over others. All experiences are equally valued and encouraged. Ride fast, ride slow, set a personal best, blow off the ride to go swimming and take photos, or stop a bunch to eat a million snacks." We don't care, we just want you to be there with all of us and to have the experience you want to have. What’s your favorite part about all of this? My favorite part of this was getting to share it with my family. While they follow my Instagram and Facebook, you can't understand the bonds of the cycling world without experiencing it yourself. That weekend they got to see this thing that I have dedicated my life to, and the best part of it too. Everyone who came was there with the best of attitudes and intentions. And then I also got the joy of getting to share my family and this place that means so much to me with all the riders. People from all over the country showed up to a little town in the Northwoods that otherwise they'd never ever visit. The route went through my old neighborhood and there was a rest stop at the house I grew up in. My Sister and Mother were so stoked to chat with all the riders at the aid station, and having attendees come up to my Dad to thank him for letting us be there and tell him that this property that he so lovingly cares for is beautiful. "Well those interactions were a highlight of my year and a real highlight of my life to be honest." I was on cloud nine the whole weekend, surrounded by friends old and new. A buddy of mine brought his teenage son to the Ramble and when asked what he was most excited about in 2023 he reportedly said that going to the Hodag and this year doing the fifty miler was the thing he was most looking forward to. This is real stuff. I get to be the facilitator of a great experience, I get to share my people with my family and my family with my people. What could possibly be better than that?

The Nxrth's January Fatbike & Coffee challenge just wrapped up a few days ago. We have loved following along with your trail coffee adventures on Instagram. Here we share the final installment of your Fatbike & Coffee adventures as well as this year's prize winners. #FatbikeandCoffee Supported By: Fatbike & Coffee Prize Winners All prize winners were randomly selected from those who entered the contest and shared their Fatbike & Coffee photos. First Prize Winner: Pratik Prajapati Wren Perseverance Adventure Bars Ruby Roasters Creamery Blend Ruby Roasters Cycling Water Bottle Second Prize Winner: Nikki Schmidt Winner: Donavon Schumacher Winner: Dan Cruikshank Winner: Dustin Marsh Ruby Roasters Creamery Blend Ruby Roasters Cycling Water Bottle

In January, The Nxrth community turned 1 year old and is celebrating with an Adventure-versary tee for the month of January. Ending tonight, these shirts are tri-blend, ultra soft, and are guaranteed to make you look like a gravel superstar. Shop Now.

Central and Northern Wisconsin is loaded with super great and untapped areas to bikepack. Over time, Shane Hitz has explored many areas of this region by bike and put together numerous routes that pass through many areas that can only be explored by bike. They go through some of his favorite small towns with great places to eat and fantastic camping opportunities. Contributed by: Shane Hitz This Northeastern Wisconsin waterfall loop features 17 waterfalls on the route and a few more that are a short distance off and one waterfall requiring a short bushwhack to get to which pays off with a waterfall that few people have seen. Route surface ranges from good gravel roads to many miles of soft sand roads. 2.4" or bigger tires recommended. The route is great for a fat bike setup. There is some distance between resupply and restaurants so plan accordingly. Winter's Family Restaurant and 51st State Brewing Company are a must for food stops. Numerous camping opportunities including some great dispersed sites. Parking is available in Laona at Jar's Bar but there are other public ATV parking lots throughout the route. I did the route in three days on a fat bike, although it was two really long days in the saddle. Ideal time to do it is in the fall when the colors are at peak. Bikepacking Route Map: Shane Hitz is an adventure cyclist, route designer, and race director. You can read more about his adventures on his website. He is also the race director for the IRONBULL Red Granite Grinder, a gravel bike race in the Wausau, Wisconsin area. Disclaimer: If you choose to ride this route, you do so at your own risk. You are 100% responsible for being prepared for all conditions and making sure that biking these routes is legal. Before riding, check local weather, road conditions, closures, and property ownership. Obey all traffic laws and follow land use restrictions. Do not ride these routes without proper safety equipment and navigational tools. The accuracy of these routes cannot be guaranteed neither can we guarantee that these routes are on public property. TheNxrth.com and its contributors are in no way liable for the personal injury or damage to property that may result from cycling this route or any other routes on this website.

Tim Kordula recently did his fiest adventure race, the St. Croix 40 Winter Ultra. Here he shares his story of riding through the night, racing a mouse, and meeting his wife at the finish line to celebrate his accomplishment. To learn more about the St. Croix 40, head to their website. Story by Tim Kordula: Last night and this morning was the St Croix 40 Winter Fat Bike Ultra and it was awesome! 40 miles in 10 hours on brutal soft conditions. It began with the required gear check at 8:30. After the gear check, I crawled in the bivy and waited for the start at 10:00 p.m. And then I was off to complete the first 20 miles. At 2:24 a.m. I hit the water boil checkpoint and then began the second 20 mile lap. This lap was brutal with all the bike, foot and ski traffic along with super soft conditions. A lot of hike-a-biking had to be done! I had a chance to race a mouse! The little fella came out of the woods and ran alongside me for about 20 feet. Then the sun came up and it was awesome!! At about 8:24 I approached the finish line and my wife was there cheering me on, of course I had a few tears in my eyes for what I had just accomplished and Laurie being there. For me this was an accomplishment I will never forget and I can't wait until next year! An adventure this long with no sleep and the brutal conditions takes a toll on the body. However, the body will almost go into a "zen" state and once it goes beyond a certain point, it keeps going. I can't say I have ever experienced the pain and fatigue as I did with this adventure! But every mile was worth it!! And I am looking forward to next year doing the St Croix 40 Winter Ultra once again!

The 2023 St. Croix 40 Winter Ultra took place overnight on January 14-15. The race has fatbikers start in their bivy sack at 10pm, boil water mid-ride, and wrap up the 40 mile event by 10am Sunday morning. Raven Dewitt recently completed it as her first winter ultra and shares her story here. Registration for next year's 2024 race will open in August. For race details visit the St. Croix 40 website. Interested in trying your first winter ultra? Check out our series: 3-Part Intro to Winter Fatbike Ultras. All Photos by Scott Rokis. Used with permission. Story by Raven Dewitt: As I’m riding through the frigid temperatures, the ice, and the snow I am often confronted with the thought “I never could have imagined that I’d be here.” In 2020 I moved from Alabama to Minnesota, on a whim, without ever having experienced a real winter. As a dedicated bike commuter in the south, I’ve had to deal with all kinds of weather extremes, and in my mind, weather is weather. So a little snow couldn’t hurt, right? To my surprise, the most difficult part about winter riding was getting the layers right–I kept overdressing and thus overheating on my short work commutes. In 2021 I joined a local racing team, Corpsewhale Racing, and learned that several of my teammates participated in these things called “Winter Ultras''. So I followed their dots, read their race reports, and my interest was undeniably piqued. It seemed so insane, so intense, but also so rewarding. At the encouragement of teammates I signed up for my first winter fat bike ultra, The St. Croix 40. The St. Croix 40 is meant to be a bite-sized version of other winter ultras, which can be much too intimidating for a first-timer like myself. Forty miles in the cold and snow is much different than a short work commute, or forty miles in summertime. I realized that it was going to be a challenge, but it was one I was willing to tackle. So, I waited for the temps to drop, and the snow to fall, and got to practicing. Training for this race transformed my relationship with winter–before I merely tolerated it, but now I am in love with the season. Race Day I was nervous on the night of the race. The St. Croix 40 has you start out in your bivy sack and sleeping bag (at 10 pm!), and you must quickly pack up your things before getting on your bike and beginning the race. Once I was off on the trail it became very clear that the snow was EXTREMELY soft. Less than a mile in I was already working very hard, had to shed a layer, and was beginning to wonder if I was up to this task. Never have I felt so discouraged so early into an endeavor. The benefit of exerting myself was that I never got cold, save at the checkpoint when I stopped riding for about thirty minutes. The difficulty of the soft trail conditions changed everything. The expectations I had were completely obliterated. I began to realize that because I was going so slow, and fighting like hell for every single mile covered, that it was going to be a very long and arduous journey, IF I was able to make it. Your mind can go into some pretty difficult places when it’s the wee hours of the morning, dark, you are totally alone on a section of the trail and you feel like your body is trying to give up. I kept asking myself why I was doing this. If I was strong enough to finish. Many variations of “am I crazy?” kept bouncing around in my head. I do not usually listen to music when I’m riding, but I honestly think that music helped me get through the difficult parts. Shout out to Kate Bush and Carly Rae Jepsen for helping me power through some of the dark thoughts I was having before I got to the checkpoint. Finally, I reach the checkpoint, the halfway mark around 2 a.m. I struggled to boil water (another aspect of this race is that you have to prove you can actually use your gear) despite having practiced many times. It was windy, my lighter got cold (pro tip, do not set your lighter in the snow!) and I was starting to feel deliriously exhausted. There was a fire at the checkpoint that I didn’t dare stand next to, lest the temptation to quit grow even larger in my mind. I pushed those thoughts aside, got back onto my bike and rode, once again, into the night. From about mile twenty-six onward, I was actually beginning to feel delirious. Getting calories in at this point felt impossible. Thank goodness I had an insulated bottle of miso soup and hot chocolate since solid food had become totally unpalatable. My mind was fatigued from being laser focused on keeping my balance in the “mashed potato” snow, so at this point I actually started losing my balance quite a bit. Once I fell into a deep snowbank off the side of the trail. Somehow, though, I kept getting back up, and getting back onto my bike and going forward. This was when I started breaking down my remaining distance into smaller increments, “Just two more miles, and two more after that!” Somehow these mind games I was playing with myself helped my last ten miles be more bearable. At 6:29 a.m., after one of the most difficult nights of my life, I crossed the finish line. It took so much longer than I’d originally imagined, and was way harder than I thought it would be. I wanted to quit, but I didn’t. I was truly in disbelief that I was able to power through something that was so mentally and physically strenuous–but I did it! If you had asked me during this night if I would commit to another winter ultra I might very well have given you an emphatic “heck no!” but now that I have some distance from the race I really want to do another one. The winter ultra community is so special. Every single person who I passed or who passed me on trail never failed to say a kind word or something encouraging. That really meant the world to me when I was having some tough times out there. The volunteers were so kind and helpful despite it being the middle of the night. I cannot really put into words how accomplished I feel–finishing a task that feels impossible in the moment is incredibly empowering. I owe so much to my friends and teammates who lent me gear, gave me advice, worked on my bike, and believed in my ability to conquer this task. It was a learning experience in so many different ways, and I’ll definitely be back.