The Day Across Minnesota (The DAMn) officially ended in 2021 after 5 years. It just recently announced it is back for 2024 and Co-founder and Race Director Trenton Raygor shares how it all started, why he brought it back, and how average people can discover something within themselves at The DAMn. Registration for The DAMn and Double DAMn opens at 8am on Saturday, January 6. To get registered, visit The Day Across Minnesota. Interview with Trenton Raygor: Trenton, How Did This Start & Have YOU Done The DAMn? I first rode the 240 mile route with my friends Robert Hest and Carl Newberg on my birthday in September of 2016. As a birthday gift, my dad dropped us off in Gary, SD and picked us up in Hager City, WI. At that point it was a birthday gravel ride, but after completing it and processing the adventure that we all just had, both Robert and Carl strongly encouraged me to put it out into the world for others to experience. So, in December of 2016 I opened up registration for The DAMn. I was guessing that maybe 30 people might be interested, but was shocked when 150 people registered in less than 48 hours. Almost 9 months later, my good friend Erik Englund as well as my brother (Jackson), father (Joel), and mother (Carol), would all help put on the very first Day Across Minnesota. I race directed The DAMn from 2017 to 2021 when I announced that due to family obligations, 2021 would be the last. In short, life got busy and Erik and I both needed to get some time back to spend with our kids. That said, at the same time I also announced a new 480 mile route (The Double DAMn). Our official roster that year of 500 filled up in mere hours. I first rode the new 480 mile Double DAMn route with my friend Charles Parsons in July of 2021...we finished 46.5 hours later with 505.5 miles under our belts. We both rode it on single speeds. I then race directed the last DAMn in August of 2021. Both riding as well as race directing The DAMn have been challenging yet incredibly rewarding experiences. My good friend and film director extraordinaire, Nicholas Kapanke, has even memorialized the 2018 and 2021 events into two award winning documentaries. 'Delta of Spirit' is currently available to watch on Amazon Prime and 'The Last DAMn' is set to be released later this year. 'The Last DAMn' points out that since it began, 1,746 racers have attempted The DAMn and only 755 have finished. Why Did You Put The DAMn Into the World For EVERYONE? It was originally just a birthday gravel ride and a reason to ride bikes for a day with friends. Another reason was to visit some of the state's historic locations by bicycle...places that my grandfather Mearl, a local historian, had told me stories of and had written about. That was the madness behind the route...and to cross the entire state on gravel by bicycle was going to be a big challenge. However, the reason why I listened to Robert and Carl and decided to put it out into the world as a race came from an entirely different place. It wasn't until my 30s that I found confidence and strength in who I am. I'm not 100% sure why it took me that long, but it likely had to do with my mental well being, how I was spending my time, and who I was spending it with. Once I started riding the bike regularly and reaching for the harder stuff (tough gravel races like Trans Iowa) I began meeting people who I genuinely admired and wanted to be around. These people worked hard, showed up, and inspired the hell outta me. They were husbands, wives, fathers and mothers, who worked regular jobs in manufacturing, education, food service, transportation, health care, and everything in between. They seemed like just average human beings until they were doing something hard on a bicycle. Then they became superheroes. The DAMn is a space that was created for us average human beings to discover something within ourselves. Anyone can find reasons why they can't do something and if your can't is stronger than your can, we won't be seeing you in Gary, SD. If you can work hard, show up, and give it all you've got, you might just have a transformative experience. You might find that something in yourself that you've been searching for or something that you didn't even know existed. We might just see you at that elusive Hager City, WI finish line. Since we announced that The DAMn is back in 2024, all kinds of new riders have reached out. Some have even told me how they aren't sure they can get it done, but plan to work hard, show up, and will see how far they can make it. It's for these people. They are why we do The DAMn. After Saying Goodbye for 2 Years, Why Did You Bring DAMn Back? Why bring it back? Over the course of the past two years, both Erik's kids and my kids have gotten into high school mountain biking. Their involvement has even led us to coaching their teams. They have also done a little bit of gravel riding and racing and really enjoy that as well. One day earlier this fall, my youngest asked if I thought of ever bringing The DAMn back. He said he thought it would be inspiring to see some of the kids on his team try to get it done. My oldest agreed. Erik and his kids agreed. We all agreed that it's time to do The DAMn, again. With that, only 1 rider under the age of 18 has ever completed The DAMn. It will be interesting to see if more young people give it a go in 2024. I hope so. What Do Say to Those Who Are Interested But Unsure if They Can Do It? It's all about the journey...and I'm not just talking about the 240 miles of gravel between Gary, SD and Hager City, WI. It's easy to fixate on the event itself, but the road to The DAMn is underestimated and will do incredible things for each of our racers. Ride your bike and try new things. If it works, go with it. If it doesn't, try something new. There's definitely room to learn from others on the road to The DAMn, but make sure that you're honest with yourself about your intent and do what works best for you.

After taking two years off, The Day Across Minnesota (The DAMn) 24-hour ultra gravel event is back for 2024. Here we check in with 6 people who completed The DAMn in previous years as they share why they did it and what tips they have for people who want to give it a try. Registration opens on Jan 6 at 8am. The DAMn is a 24 hour border-to-border gravel event across the state of Minnesota. The event starts at midnight in Gary, South Dakota and finishes in Hager City, Wisconsin with a 24 hour time limit. Riders also have the option to Double-DAMn for 480 miles by going back and forth in 48 hours. To learn more or get registered, visit The Day Across Minnesota. Meet These 6 DAMn Champions & Hear Why They Did It Since 2017 when The DAMn first started, 1,746 racers have attempted it and only 755 have finished. Racing midnight to midnight, The DAMn is an incredible physical and mental challenge that invites the average human being to discover something deep within themselves. Here are 6 of the 755 DAMn Champions who lined up at midnight in Gary, South Dakota and share why they did it what they want to share with those who are considering this challenge for the first time. Kesha Marson DAMn'd in 2021 Why Did You Do The DAMn? I’ve had a few friends complete The DAMn in the past and always wondered whether it was something I could do. The thought of 240 miles and the uncertainty in those 24 hours had me itching to try the challenge. I wanted to see what I was capable of. I wanted a chance to learn more about myself and to put myself in a position of being an ordinary person doing something extraordinary. I wanted other women to say, “if she can do it why can’t I?” What's Your #1 Tip or Advice For Someone Considering The DAMn for the Very First Time? You can literally do anything you put your mind to. You can train and have your fueling/hydration plan on point, but it’s your mind that will get you through those peaks and valleys of the day. Train your brain to have positive self talk. And by all means keep moving forward no matter how slow. Slow is still moving forward and one pedal stroke closer to a finish line Trenton hug. Scott Weimerskirch DAMn'd in 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021 Why Did You Do The DAMn? I'm always looking for a way to challenge myself and when I first saw this event in 2017 I figured it would be perfect. Prior to this I had never ridden further than 125 miles in a day and let alone across an entire state. Gives me a lil bragging rights when people ask what's the furthest I've ever ridden in a day I can throw out, "246 miles." It's truly an epic event and allows me to be around like minded people that like to push their limits of physical and mental abilities to complete an epic course. What's Your #1 Tip or Advice For Someone Considering The DAMn for the Very First Time? Besides the obvious to train, I tell everyone to ride your ride! Many people start in Gary, SD but not all finish. Don't ride above your ability and flame out and DNF, but also if you're feeling good keep your pace and if that means going solo, go solo... Kimberly Breuer DAMn'd in2018 and Double-DAMn'd in 2021 Why Did You Do The DAMn? I met Trenton (and Charles) during TransIowa 13, my first gravel race, and he invited me. What's Your #1 Tip or Advice For Someone Considering The DAMn for the Very First Time? Mental toughness is as important as physical strength. Michael Lehmkuhl I’ve participated in some way in each of The DAMns. As support in 2017, when I thought riding the route was an insurmountable challenge, as a rider in 2018 (geared), finish line volunteer in 2019, rider again in 2020 (self-supported singlespeed), and finally in 2021 (tandem stoker). Why Did You Do The DAMn? I keep asking myself the same thing. I guess that’s part of why I’m planning to do it once again. Maybe I’ll find the answer. What's Your #1 Tip or Advice For Someone Considering The DAMn for the Very First Time? As Ben Weaver wrote, “When in the dark, do not forget this is where the stars live. Look up!” Kate Ankofski Started all five DAMns, and finished two Why Did You Do The DAMn? For the challenge and the community (and the kittens). What's Your #1 Tip or Advice For Someone Considering The DAMn for the Very First Time? Figure out your logistics early on! So many drop last-minute because they can't figure out transportation. Once you have a ride/support dialed in, you'll have greater motivation to get it done. Mario Muro DAMn'd in 2017, 2019 (DNF), 2020, and 2021 Why Did You Do The DAMn? For the experience and I thought if would be a good mentally and physical challenge for me . What's Your #1 Tip or Advice For Someone Considering The DAMn for the Very First Time? Do long 100+ plus mile rides at least once a week. Spent lots of time on the saddle . Do a few night ride to get the feeling of riding through the night. Drink lots of fluids and find the right foods. To learn more or get registered, visit The Day Across Minnesota.

As we're closing the books on 2023, we're taking a look back at this year's adventures. Thanks to so many ideas and support from readers like you, we tried a few new things this year and in this story we're looking back at 10 of those. 10 Brand New Resources, Events, & Experiments We Did in 2023 I think every bike adventure is an experiment. It's trying a new route, a new race, a new day, a new riding friend. And then seeing what worked and what didn't. Trying, failing, persevering, giving up, and finishing all have their time and place. In 2023, we tried a lot of things. Some of them were successful, some were weird, some will get retired, and some just need a little overhaul. Overall, we launched (or collaborated on) about 10 new initiatives: 1. The Reader's Routes Project In the fall we kicked off a user-generated map of the very best gravel routes in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the U.P. We love getting showcase YOUR favorite bike things and are excited to see where this one goes. PLUS we're giving this project a fresh restart this spring so stay tuned! LEARN MORE. 2. Fall Gravel Kickoff Week At the end of last summer, we had a bunch of fun fall gravel project ideas and rolled it all up into one awesome Fall Gravel Kickoff week. We launched new maps, new Gravel Guides, a Fall Gravel Handbook, a Slack theme (uhhh...weird?), and some other random things. We're hoping to do another themed gravel week again this year! 3. The Coon Fork 40 The Coon Fork 40 wasn't a Nxrth event but we got to collaborate on this with some great friends from CORBA and Volume One on this inaugural beach-to-beach adventure. The hidden waterfall bridge, twin beach parties, and ~300 people showing up for year 1 were incredible and we can't wait to share a bunch of surprises for the 2024 addition. Registration and camping open on January 1. LEARN MORE. 4. The Itasca Lakenights Bikepacking Route Our newest route and one we're especially proud of. We wanted to do a Minnesota gravel bikepacking route in an area that doesn't typically see a ton of riding. Many many hours of studying maps and then an incredible scouting trip this summer with great friends led to beautiful adventure that we're excited to share here on The Nxrth. This particular route is specifically for Patrons as a way to say "thanks" for being the #1 source of support on The Nxrth. LEARN MORE. 4. The Global Fat Bike Winter Ultra Calendar There actually aren't very many winter fat bike ultra races in the entire world. And in the big picture, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the U.P. are spoiled with maybe the highest density of great winter fat bike ultra events on the entire globe. To help endurance athletes find their next fat bike winter ultra and plan for even bigger stages, we made a global map that puts every single event in the world in one place. LEARN MORE. 5. Gravel Guides with 5 New Destinations With some really awesome gravel adventure hubs in our region, we set out to build some top-to-bottom destination guides with everything you need to plan gravel biking, eating, drinking, and off-the-bike fun in some of our new Gravel Guides. With the help of some great friends, here were the Gravel Guides we created. Eau Claire, Wisconsin Iron Mountain, Michigan Lanesboro, Minnesota La Crosse, Wisconsin Chequamegon Area, Wisconsin 6. Bikepacking Gear & Adventure Day presented by Tailfin I spend a lot of every winter dreaming and planning new bikepacking trips. This year, we pulled together some inspiring adventurers to nerd out for an evening about gear, destinations, tips, and more. LEARN MORE. 7. Fat Bike & Coffee Challenge with Ruby Coffee, Wren Sports, & Hollow Socks Sometimes short adventures are more fun. This was a community challenge we started last year and are excited to be doing again for 2024. We've also got some awesome prizes from Ruby Coffee, Wren Sports, and Hollow socks. Join Us! 8. The Dangle Mug Midnighter with Embark Maple & Cedaero We took the month of June to invite everyone to go bikepacking anywhere up north and bring along a dangle mug. This on-your-own ride was a way to share an adventure while being in different places. Photos were shared, stories were told, and prizes from Embark Maple and Cedaero were won. 10. Christmas Gravel Booklets If I could do anything, I'd love to have a nice Nxrth print piece. Some kind of publication with paper that feels nice in your fingers, has beautiful photos, and content that inspires your next adventure. This wasn't that, but we put together a high quality Christmas gravel booklet with some original and irreverent gravel poems and our favorite photos of the year and sent it to 50+ readers of The Nxrth. I hope those of you who got one enjoyed our first piece of printed content. PLUS: 3 New Bikepacking Routes Added in 2023 We're especially grateful for the friends in our area who are true architects of great bikepacking routes. As mentioned above, The Itasca Lakenights is a Nxrth-original route but in addition to that route, we added two more routes from Scott Haroldson as well as Frank Hassler. 1. Itasca Lakenights. VIEW ROUTE. 2. Chasing the Train.  VIEW ROUTE. 3. Wisconsin Adventure Bicycle Route.  VIEW ROUTE. What's Next for 2024? Uh....hmmm... not exactly sure. The Nxrth project continues to morph in new ways that we didn't expect. We take everything a day at a time and just see where the trail takes us. We've got some ideas for 2024 but only time will tell exactly what this adventure has in store. Thanks for joining us for the ride!

On January 1, The Nxrth is officially turning 2 years old. We started The Nxrth as a creative experiment that aimed to connect Northwoods adventure cyclists with incredible experiences and community. With a simple goal in mind, we didn't know what that would actually look like or whether anybody would be even be interested. Now that we're officially entering digital toddlerhood, we're looking back at the stories you wrote, the adventures you went on, and the projects you joined us on in 2023. Thank you to the 40,000+ of you who visited The Nxrth in 2023, took the time to send an email and say hi, or joined the community by simply pedaling by your bike and making your own new adventures. Most Popular Stories: Your Reader Submitted Stories These are your top 5 stories of adventures that didn't go as planned, horrible weather, racing until your lungs exploded, swearing to never do it again, and then promptly dreaming up another round of getting lost in the woods together. 1. What Does it Take to Finish Arrowhead 135? Jill, Kate, Leah, & Ken Share How They Do It by Jill Martindale, Kate Coward, Leah Gruhn, and Ken Krueger. READ STORY. 2. Jeremy Got Sick So Avesa Took Charge and Slam Dunked The Biggest Heck of the North Ever by Avesa Rockwell. READ STORY. 3. DAMn is Back! Chris Stindt on Swearing to Never Do It Again Till Yesterday's Surprise Announcement by Chris Stindt READY STORY. 4. Snow in Your Eyes, Sleet in Your Face, & Wind That's Never at Your Back: 2023 Dairy Roubaix Recap by Chris Stindt. READ STORY. 5. Teammates Leah & Casey Win US Fat Bike Open, $1K Cash Prizes. Here's How It Went Down by Leah Vanevenhoven and Casey Hildebrandt. READ STORY. Most Popular Stories: All Categories Of all ~150 stories we published in 2023, these were the ones you were most interested in from all categories. It includes bikepacking straps, the hardest event on earth, creating a new bike company, rad new lodging in Cable, and a rowdy gravel fest in hodag country. 1. The Ultimate List of Bikepacking Straps. READ STORY. 2. What Does it Take to Finish Arrowhead 135? Jill, Kate, Leah, & Ken Share How They Do It.  READ STORY. 3. Wyatt Bikes Started In College Apartment at Age 21. Now Building 100% Made in USA Bike Frames. READ STORY. 4. Meet Home Base, The New Bike-Out-Your-Door Adventure Hub in Cable.  READ STORY. 5. The Hodag Country Ramble Is a New Kind of Community Bike Adventure & Gears Up for Year 2.  READ STORY. Editor's Picks: Josh's Favorite 7 Stories of 2023 Getting to connect with YOU, the riders who make this such an amazing to ride my bike is a huge honor. The fact that you choose to share your stories here on The Nxrth is, to me, a big act of trust and I'm hugely appreciative of everyone who contributed to the 2023 community. This list also reflects a few of the adventure I've been able to join in on and loved getting to share back with the community. Here were my favorite pieces of 2023: 1. Fighting The 2am Temptation to Quit: Raven Dewitt's St. Croix 40 Winter Ultra. READ STORY. 2. The Filthy 50 is Turning 10: Roll Back Through 1 Photo From Each of the Last 9 Years with. READ STORY. 3. Storms, Pizza, & Fireside Fellowship on the Gravel Pizza Overnighter 2023 [GALLERY & RECAP]. READ STORY. 4. Follow Leah, Amanda, Jere, Matt, & Kendall! 5 Local Dots at Iditarod Trail Invitational in Alaska! READ STORY. 5. The Itasca Lakenights Bikepacking Route. READ STORY. 6. Coon Fork 40 Recap & Gallery: The Double Rainbow of Beachside Gravel Adventures. READ STORY. 7. Is Gravel Charcuterie a Thing? The Heywood Guys Say Yes (And Share Their Pack List). READ STORY. How You Used The Nxrth in 2023 Users Who Stopped in at The Nxrth This Year: 40,125 Number of Pages Viewed This Year Year: 128,119 People Who Joined Our Email Community This Year: 393 Most Popular Pages of 2023: Gravel Race Calendar (15,028 views) Wisconsin Bikepacking Routes (7,487 views) Minnesota Bikepacking Routes (5,398 views) Gravel Pizza Overnighter (4,204 views) Fat Bike Race Calendar (3,796 views) Top 5 Most Popular Bikepacking Routes of 2023 1. The Driftless Loop by Nicolette Reker 2. Wisconsin Adventure Bicycle Route by Frank Hasler 3. Coon Fork Overnighter by Josh Rizzo 4. Chasing the Train by Scott Haraldson 5. Tour de Nicolet. by Shane Hitz Well, I suppose. That's a wrap on 2023 and the stories and resources you used the most throughout the year. We've got a lot of exciting surprises planned for 2024 and are excited to connect with more of you throughout year. Have a story, route, or idea you want to share? Let us know at info at the nxrth dot com and say hi!

Episode 10 of The Northwoods Ramble podcast dives into an update from TJ on the new gravity trails at Telemark. He goes into detail on what was built this year, what construction is planned for 2024 and why you should not be riding on the trails at all this winter, even if the ground is frozen and there is little snow. Dave Schlabowske also discusses his search for mirror-smooth frozen lake fat biking.

With the lack of snow this winter, conditions were looking perfect for fat biking on mirror-smooth frozen lakes near Cable, WI. Here Dave Schlabowske shares his story of ice, fat biking, and almost perfect timing. Words by Dave Schlabwske What a difference a year and El Niño make. Last year I had venison backstraps for Thanksgiving, we had 22″ of snow on the ground, were still trying to chainsaw open trails to groom after two ice storms bent trees over, and people had been skiing on the Birkie trails since mid-October. This year, there is still green grass visible, the deer are bedded down feasting on a mast year for acorns, we had turkey for Thanksgiving, and it is raining on the Gitchi Gami Games, where they will be skiing on 5K of man-made slush on the Tormondsen Family Snowmaking Trails by the Birkie start area and Telemark Mountain. When nature, with human help (re: climate change) gives you lemons, you try to make lemonade. Hence I have been riding gravel roads, the CAMBA mountain bike trails when they are frozen, bikerafting and riding my fat bike on barely frozen lakes. I also went back down to Milwaukee for the Annual Santa Cycle Rampage, a little pub crawl I started with a handful of friends 22 years ago that has grown into a parade-style, police-led bike ride with thousands of people dressed for the holidays that has inspired spin-off rampages in cities around the country. The Santa Cycle Rampage was fun and it was great to see a thousand old friends, listen to polka at Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall (one of my forever happy places) and drink a shot of Malört. I almost didn’t go down for the Rampage because I have been watching for those rare winter conditions when the lakes freeze mirror smooth without any snow and you can ride with studded tires while watching the Crappies and Sunfish swim below your studded tires on two inches of crystal clear ice. But then we got a dusting of snow, which covered most but not all lakes. The bigger bodies of water like Lake Owen and Lake Namekagon had enough wind or open water to stay snow-free. So I was still watching for wild ice, but the forecast predicted daytime temps in the mid-forties before the Rampage weekend, so I headed south. And then it happened, the south end of Lake Owen froze into smooth black ice while I was dressed as a Santa in the 414! The family that owns Lake Owen Resort made this great drone video of them skating on perfect conditions and shared it on Facebook. I saw the video of those rare, ephemeral, perfect wild ice conditions and kicked myself for leaving the Northwoods. Then I checked the weather report and saw there was no snow forecast in the near future and the temps would stay cold. So I planned on riding Lake Owen on Monday after I got back to Seeley to make a similar drone video with my new DJI Mini 4 Pro. Lake Owen only has a couple of public boat landing and access points and they are all on the far north end. So late Monday afternoon I headed up to get on the Lake at Two Lakes Campground. I went under the gate of the campground and rode down to the little beach to check out the ice. It was perfectly clear and smooth, but only about an inch thick at the shore. Sometimes ice is thicker further away from shore, and with my weight spread out over two 5″ 45Nrth Dillinger tires, I knew that the ice would probably hold me so I cautiously pedaled away from terra firma. You can hear the coincidence frequency of the ice cracking a bit underneath me as I ride. I was watching below me and never went too far from shore because the ice was so thin that if I fell through, I wanted to be in relatively shallow water. After a couple of sketchy passes from the beach to the next lakeside campground, I decided to head down to the south end of the lake where the resort family filmed their video and claimed the ice was three to four inches thick. Friends who live nearby on Perry Lake (snow-covered at this time) said they have never had a problem accessing Lake Owen from Metros Landing, even though it is posted as a private landing for people who live around the south end of the lake. So I rode down onto the lake there, just as it was getting dark. The ice was still mirror smooth like in the resort video, but it was now pretty dark outside, and I could not see below the ice and my Insta360 camera was unable to capture good video in the very low light. So I rode around for a few minutes and decided to head home and come back early Tuesday morning with my new drone for sunrise. Of course, nature had other plans, and it started snowing big fluffy flakes overnight and those perfect conditions vanished just like that! Covering the mirror smooth ice with an inch of white powder meant I could not make a fat tire version of the cool ice skating video the resort family made. It also meant I could no longer see the ice I was riding on, so I had no idea how thick it was, which increased the risk of falling in. Although I have been riding with an inflatable PFD and my ice picks, the snow images were not as cool as mirror-smooth black ice, so the risk vs reward scale now tipped much more toward risk. When I got to Mineral Lake, I was pleased to find the ice 3-4 inches thick and mostly free of snow. It was not that rare mirror-clear ice that reflects the sky and horizon that Lake Owen had for a few days, but it was still very pretty to ride around on with the sun setting so I made a practice video with my new drone and edited in Frozen Lake, a song my brother Dean wrote and recorded with his old band TV White. The band was named after the off-white color of his vintage guitar, used so guitars would not blow out the video of old television studio cameras from the 60s and 70s. I’m still getting the hang of the drone, and I don’t yet have video editing software that allows me to do quality color corrections of d-log, so I was not able to take full advantage of the new DJI Mini 4 Pro, but I’m pleased with how the video turned out. And I had a lot of fun riding around on a very pretty lake with winter temperatures in the lower 40s. I’ll take another glass of that lemonade, please. Bonus: Bikerafting the Namekogon in December

True North Basecamp is a mining-inspired trailside adventure hub with lakeside cabins and campsites in Cuyuna Lakes. Today we talk with founder Dan Jurek about the roots and vision of True North Basecamp and how the adventure came to be. Learn more at True North Basecamp. How True North Came to Be The adage "innovation arises from necessity" is a fitting testament to the origins of True North Basecamp. Born from a family's desire for a more comfortable camping experience, True North Basecamp has transformed outdoor enthusiasts' enjoyment of the Cuyuna region. In September 2013, founder Dan Jurek embarked on a camping and biking trip with his son, Aiden, and some friends. Their first night was far from ideal – harsh and cold, leaving Dan seeking a solution for a more enjoyable outdoor adventure. Driven by this experience, Dan embarked on a quest for the perfect location to establish custom lodging in the Cuyuna area. His perseverance paid off when he stumbled upon a pristine forty-acre plot boasting scenic mine lakes and seamless access to the trail system. This discovery marked the genesis of True North Basecamp. With a vision of providing a unique and comfortable outdoor experience, Dan set out to create a haven for families and adventurers alike. Checking in with Dan Jurek: I love the mine-inspired cabins; what role has historic mining played in today's enjoyment of the area's recreation and True North? The "Northwoods Industrial Design" of our cabins is intended to honor and uphold the importance of Cuyuna Mining. Taconite mining was critical in developing mountain bike trails and lakes for paddling in Cuyuna, Minnesota. The area was historically a mining region for iron ore, characterized by pits and mining activity. As mining operations ceased, these pits filled with water, creating the picturesque mine lakes that now attract paddlers. Moreover, the land scarred by mining became the foundation for the mountain bike trails. The rugged terrain left behind by mining operations was repurposed and transformed into a network of trails, utilizing the unique landscape to create an exceptional mountain biking destination. In essence, the legacy of taconite mining shaped the physical landscape of Cuyuna, providing the foundation for developing its renowned mountain bike trails and scenic lakes for paddling. What do you want people to feel and experience when they stay at True North? I want them to feel a sense of accomplishment from conquering a trail or paddling a lake combined with a sense of calmness and relaxation, feeling at peace amidst natural surroundings. As well as a sense of community by connecting with like-minded fellow guests and visitors who enjoy Cuyuna. What has it been like seeing Cuyuna Lakes grow as a biking destination and what are you looking forward to about the future? It's rewarding seeing all the business growth happening among independent business owners with restaurants, bars, gift shops, and outfitters that were absent a few years ago and that they can sustain year-round. The most significant shift we witnessed this past summer was the growth of guests paddling, boarding, and kayaking. What about the gravel scene? Cuyuna is such a MTB hotspot, do you get many gravellers out that way? Gravel bikes have become nearly as ubiquitous as mountain bikes, thanks to the numerous routes that cater to gravel biking enthusiasts. You can find an excellent summary of these trails at www.cuyuna.com/gravelgrinderroutes/

This Friday, December 15th, we're closing our long sleeve jersey store for the final time of 2023. These come in standard and thermal versions and are made by Borah Teamwear in Coon Valley, Wisconsin to keep you warm (and looking GREAT!) while fat biking this winter. Shop Long Sleeves & Thermals.

To kick off the fat bike season, we're asking a few friends to share their top 5 fat bike race picks, plus one deathbed fat bike adventure. Here we're sharing Laura Hrubes's list which takes us all over Wisconsin, Minnesota, the U.P., Idaho, and Iceland. Enjoy. Laura Hrubes is a year round gravel, MTB, bikepacking, and fat biker from Wisconsin with deep roots in the U.P. She loves winter and really really really hard bike events. We caugh up with her to check in on her favorite fat bike events around our region as well as events she'd love to do some day. She also works for Embark Maple where they support endurace cylists of all kinds with maple energy. Follow Laura on Instagram. Laura Hrubes's Top 5 Fat Bike Race Picks 1. Arrowhead 135 | Jan 29 - International Falls, WI This has been on my dream list for a long time, and has taken me literally years to feel like I’m ready and experienced enough to try it. It’s considered to be one of the toughest races on the planet, in large part because of the extreme cold and super remote location…northern Minnesota at the end of January is often one of the coldest places on the planet, and you will probably be alone out there and have to be ready and able to keep yourself alive. There’s a pretty low success rate overall, particularly with first-timers, but I’m going to give it my very best shot this winter and hope like heck that the weather gods favor us with good conditions in 2024! LEARN MORE. 2. Snow Crown Series | Green Bay, WI There’s something for everyone at this incredible race series, and they are SO much fun! You can do different distances from beginner to elite, and theres a 50 and 100 mile ultra too! I won’t be able to make it for the full series this year (but you should!), but I’ll definitely do the ultra, which connects all the groomed mountain bike trail systems in the Green Bay Area into one incredible fat bike adventure. The snowcrown series is a guaranteed amazing good time and an incredible community. The same goes for the Hugh Jass series; I’ve never raced these, but they are put on by amazing people and are such a fun vibe. Highly recommend both series! LEARN MORE. 3. Fat Pursuit | Island Park, ID Fat Pursuit in Idaho, just outside Yellowstone National Park. I’ve never done it, but this is super high on my list. A great big wilderness bikepacky adventure in one of the most beautiful places in the country in the winter, I definitely want in on that…Maybe 2025! 4. Actif Epica | Feb 16 - Manitoba, Canada I’ve never done this one before, but if all miraculously somehow goes well at Tuscobia and Arrowhead, I’ll head north and give this a go in 2024 as it’s the final race to gain entry into the Order of the Hrimthurs (a Norse word for an old tribe of frost giants!)…basically a winter triple crown, and all three races have to be completed in the same year. It’s almost impossible to do and an extremely short list of legendary women have accomplished this, so it feels like a crazy huge goal. Manitoba is pretty flat, but super cold (real temps of -58 have happened during the race) and wide open and windy, so that’s the big surprise mystery challenge up there. I adore Canada and can’t wait for this experience! LEARN MORE. 5. Polar Roll | Feb 17 - Ishpeming, MI I did the first-ever polar roll ultra earlier this year, and wow, was that ever hard! And also one of the best adventures I’ve ever had. This remains one of my favorite events, in my favorite place in the world, the UP of Michigan. There’s a mass start race day, with all kinds of events (snowshoeing too, if that’s your thing!), a window to do events on your own schedule, and the ultra. 10/10. LEARN MORE. Bonus Death Bed Fat Bike Adventure: Fat Biking Iceland If money and time were not part of the adventure equation, I would pack my bags and my bike and my favorite people and head to Iceland for the winter! In 2021, a tiny group (including Rebecca Rusch!) did the first-ever north to south crossing of Iceland by bike in the winter, totally self-supported, crossing mountains and lakes and glaciers, and it’s one of the most beautiful, remote places on the planet. I would absolutely love to plan an adventure like that! Also, it’s one of the best places on the planet to see the northern lights, which is one of my absolute favorite things. If I could dream that big, it’s playing fat bikes under the northern lights in the winter in Iceland!

Day Across Minnesota just announced that DAMn is back for 2024 after announcing the very last DAMn in 2021. The event will take place on Aug 10th with registration opening on Jan 6. Here Chris Stindt shares reflections on racing two DAMn's and what went through his mind when his wife told him yesterday morning that DAMn was back for 2024. Words by Chris Stindt. Learn more about The Day Across Minnesota. Sometime in 2011 I did my first triathlon, on a hybrid bike. I convinced my sister-in-law to join me, and her husband signed up on a borrowed old road bike. The rest, as they say, is history. My brother-in-law, Chris Stevens, is one of the most prolific endurance cyclists in the midwest, and really the entire country. He recently set the American record for miles ridden in 24 hours (510, for the record). Anyway, it's safe to say we really like riding bikes. Stevens got a bit more 'in' than I did, and in 2018(?) joined a relatively new event called the Day Across Minnesota. I thought he was nuts. The basics: riders start in a podunk town just across the border into South Dakota and leave at midnight, under fireworks, riding gravel roads all the way to Wisconsin, for a total of 240 miles. Riders have 24 hours to complete the event, although I think Chris was much closer to 12 hours. Did I mention I thought he was nuts? But then I started thinking about it, and getting inspired, and what the heck, on a cold January morning in early 2019 I sat at my parent's kitchen table during a visit, consumed one too many cups of coffee, and signed myself up for the 2019 edition of DAMn. It seemed like a good idea, at the time. I spent the summer training, trying to log some DAMn miles. I sold my aero road bike, and basically quit road racing. I mounted TT bars to my Trek Boone cyclocross bike, and tried bike bags, and backpacks, and nutrition and also worked to develop some mental fortitude. Side note: spend more time developing mental fortitude. Everything else is just ...schematics, except maybe tires.The longest training ride I did was 107 miles, but who was really counting? (Oh wait, me, I was. Oops.) Ok, so I go to South Dakota and prepare to ride my bike back to Wisconsin. I tried to nap before the start, but really, who can fall easily into a restful sleep 3 hours before attempting the craziest thing they've ever done. I won't go into all the details, but it was a hot day. The early DAMn's (pre-Covid) had 3 required rest stops. At mile 180 it was like, I don't know, 85 degrees, which felt like 105, and I was [redacted]. Let's say, I was in bad shape. I'm pretty sure I didn't hallucinate this, but I think my wife made me get a selfie with a giant inflatable unicorn because she thought my friend Erik would like it. Mind you, I'd been awake for 30 hours and ridden 180 miles and was sufficiently overheated. She then sent the picture to Erik, and he called to pep talk me. I'm not sure it worked, but it didn't hurt either. I sat in our minivan with the AC blasting, drinking cold drinks, until I no longer felt like dying (like I sat for 45 minutes, during a race). And then I got back on and kept riding. About 10 miles down the road I again felt like dying again, but who goes 190 miles and quits with 50 miles to go? Not me, that's who. I did stop in the shade and take a nap. I somehow rode a series of never ending gravel rollers in full afternoon sun. I cursed, a lot. I couldn't pedal in the aero bars, so I basically laid down on them when coasting, and then sat up to pedal. Ok, enough whining, I eventually made it to the finish line and promptly said I was never doing that again. But WOW it's fair to say it changed my life. I was a DAMn Champion! (That's what they call finishers. And hooey to you if you think participation medals are garbage, because everyone who rides 240 miles of gravel...is a DAMn Champion.) The sheer grit you develop...it's hard to compare. My dad asked me, after, if it was worth it and I said I don't know, ask me again after I eat and sleep some more. When he died in 2020 prior to the pandemic, setting off one of the hardest periods of my life, I often thought back to DAMn and what I knew I was capable of enduring. I thanked Trent, and tried to carry on with my life. In 2020 I signed up, but couldn't mentally commit. I knew you had to be ready, and I was far from ready. In 2021 I signed up and trained for it again. Another set of midnight fireworks, and ... a cold night. I don't believe I've ever been as cold as I was just before the sunrise. I debated knocking on a farmhouse door for a cup of hot coffee. I mentally quit, and decided to just ride to the next checkpoint and pack it in. Instead, I kept going. There were a lot of ups and down, much more cursing (sorry Anna!), and another finish. It was supposed to be the Last DAMn, and regretfully, I thanked Trent for quitting hosting the event because at the finish line I told him I would never do it again, it just wrecked me so bad. I say regretfully because crap, this event changed my life. Trent Raygor is a special human. You might recognize the name from his other event, Filthy 50. He needed a break from running two major events, and understandably stopped the DAMn. I am an event organizer, and I know what a major commitment it is. Sort of like riding DAMn, you can't be half-hearted. You have to mentally commit and he needed the time for his family. He didn't give the event name away though, and said, never say never. Despite teasing my wife that I was going to force her to ride the route with me someday, I didn't really consider riding it again anytime soon. And then this morning I walked in the door and she looked and me and said, DAMn's back, with a big smile. See the thing about DAMn is, you need a crew. Ultra runners get this, but cyclists don't often appreciate how important a crew can be to overnight, long distance events. And Anna is my crew chief. She swore she'd never do it again! But just like me, she's fully in. My facebook memories told me today that Trent and I have been friends for 4 years. Trent isn't someone I'm regularly texting with or even calling up to chat, but the bond you forge, when you understand something on a different level, is really strong. I don't know that I'd say we are 'typical' friends, but I'm honored to know Trent and to experience what he gives to the cycling community. So...DAMn 2024. It's happening. Do you want to change your life? Sign up. You probably need a gravel bike, and some other equipment isn't going to hurt, but realistically you need some motivation. This isn't a joke. You will want to quit more than almost anything else in the world, at some point during this event. Figure out what that thing is that will get you to the finish line. Is it your kids waiting at the finish line? Beating cancer? Doing it for a friend who didn't beat cancer? This year I'm hopeful to ride with and get my wife to the finish line on a bike. We'll see! If anyone has questions or wants to talk, please reach out to me, christopherstindt@gmail.com

To kick off the fat bike season, we're asking a few friends to share their top 5 fat bike race picks, plus one deathbed fat bike adventure. Here we're sharing Brian Davis' list which takes us all over Wisconsin and then ends up in Maine. Enjoy. Brian Davis is a Wisconsin-based YouTuber who wants to bring down the learning curve for bike races. He documents his races with videos that bring a lot of fun and positive race vibes. Check out his YouTube channel or some of his other projects including Hollow Socks, Fix It Sticks, and the Back Bottle. Brian Davis Races on YouTube and Instagram. Brian Davis' Top 5 Fat Bike Race Picks 1. Fat Camp | Feb 3 Suamico, WI [Snow Crown Series] A fatbike race at night on a wide open cx ski track under the lights sounds like an amazing experience AND IT IS! I love racing fast and in large packs, it's extremely fun, exhilarating, a little dangerous and very, very, very fast. Most of the race is on a wide course, but about 1/3 of each lap dives off into single track, tight riding with trees surrounding the racers and a little bit less light in those areas and it makes each lap a battle for position as we head into the tight section, then it opens up again and it's game on - full gas repeat, repeat. After the racing the chalet provides a really nice place to talk smack, warm up and enjoy a beverage. Lovely race in a lovely place. Learn More. 2. Rip, Zip, & Sip | Minocqua, WI This race does things a little differently and that can be a great way to change up the program. Nearly the entire race is on tight single track through the gorgeous northwoods. The rolling elevation changes starts to take its toll on your legs after the first lap and then it's a battle with yourself to stay on the gas as you are constantly distracted by the insane beauty of the landscape. Lots of tight turns and a few ripping downhills keep you on your toes. FInishing the race with a sled finish is a perfect reminder that no one should be taking fat biking too seriously; it's just so fun. Following the race, all participants get access to the zipline and then of course a whole bunch of beer and food is available afterwards as well. Always a good time! Learn More. 3. Shelltrack at Silver Creek | Dec 16 Manitowoc, WI [Snow Crown Series] This was my first fat bike race ever and it still holds a special place in my heart. The course is used during cyclocross season too and it gives a really nice mix of tight single track and open field areas making passing possible. It's a quick lap so you get to see the adoring fans every 8 or 9 minutes. My biggest challenge at this race is keeping track of my own laps (I’m terrible with numbers anyway and even worse when my lungs are exploding). The views along lake Michigan give you a little something to look at while you are exploding your heart. The finish party at this race is always fun and the Le Mans style start is funny to watch, so much scrambling to find your own bike its hilarious! Learn More. 4. Fat Bike Worlds | Jan 26-28 Leadville, CO This was my first road trip for a fat bike race and it did not disappoint. The organization behind FB worlds chose the group out in New Richmond, WI as hosts and I headed out to see how FB worlds works. I found out it works great. Really passionate local hosts put on an incredible race with multiple days of events, a welcome party, a finish party and a whole lotta fast riding. While I usually don’t love golf course races, this one mixes up a lot of terrain changes to provide an exciting race dynamic. I enjoyed the fellow racers and having such large fields allowed you to always be chasing someone down and that keeps things pretty fun even if you are in the back of the results page. Learn More. 5. US Fat Bike Open | Feb 10 Green Bay, WI [Snow Crown Series] As a part of the amazing Snow Crown series as well, this race is so well organized it just makes you feel like you are a world-class racer. US Open jerseys with stars & stripes are on the line and there is most certainly a lot of talented racers toeing the line to bring that jersey home. I am not in the running for those things, but I sure give it everything I have and the course pushes my limits. The hills are short and steep and just enough to kick you into cardiac arrest as you try to navigate the fast downhills. Ups and downs punctuate this course but the real star of the show is the after party in the golf course club house. Dancing, drinks and a very generous raffle provides a lot of off bike entertainment. Bonus - I won the major raffle and walked out with a brand new fat bike last year! Learn More. Bonus Death Bed Fat Bike Adventure: Hut-to-Hut in Main I have no real knowledge of how this trip would work, but oh man I would love to find out. I think packing up for a hut-to-hut trip in Maine would be the cats pajamas. I would especially look forward to not racing and just enjoying the scenery along the way. I can imagine having access to some support if needed would be a major stress-reducer for that type of adventure. I think I would pick one friend to ride with in similar fitness but more importantly a similar mindset to just go enjoy the moment with no rush to acheive anything in particular. I spent a vacation in Maine last year and really enjoyed the people and the vibe of Maine. I’d be up for this one! Learn More.

Today we're sharing our fourth and final holiday merch drop. We're re-opening our long sleeve jersey store for the final time of 2023. These come in standard and thermal versions and are made by Borah Teamwear in Coon Valley, Wisconsin to keep you warm (and looking GREAT!) while fat biking this winter. Shop Long Sleeves & Thermals.