The Great Outdoors: The History of Recreation in Marquette County Special Exhibit
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Bicycling | Birding | Cross Country Skiing | Dog Sled | Downhill Skiing | Guts Frisbee | Ice Skating | Luge | Paddling | Rock & Ice Climbing | Running | Scuba Diving | Ski Jumping | Snowshoe | Trails | Wildlife Photography
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Not only is the Marquette area beautiful with rocks, woods, and water, there are multiple trail systems which make outdoor recreation easy and enjoyable. Volunteers spend hours building and maintaining these trails.
Noquemanon Trail Network Begun in 2001, NTN is a non-profit organization that grooms and operates several trails with 45 public and private land owners. Trails include 65 miles of single track, 35 miles of groomed single track, 125 miles of Nordic skiing, and a 25 site campground. Iron Ore Heritage Trail Crossing the Marquette Range, is a 47 mile mixed use, year round trail with interpretative signs that has been in use for over 10 years. Parts of the trail are paved and some are gravel. The trail is called: An outdoor linear museum where you exercise your body and mind. Those who bike, walk, run, hike, ORV, snowmobile, cross country ski, birdwatch, and/ or wander will find a section of trail perfect for your activity. |
RAMBA
The Range Area Mountain Bike Association, RAMBA, maintains 77 miles of single track trails located in Ishpeming and Negaunee Michigan. The "old school" trails were hand-built and vary in level of difficulty. People travel from all over the world to ride these award-winning trails. During the winter months, the trails are groomed for fat tire biking and snowshoeing.
The Range Area Mountain Bike Association, RAMBA, maintains 77 miles of single track trails located in Ishpeming and Negaunee Michigan. The "old school" trails were hand-built and vary in level of difficulty. People travel from all over the world to ride these award-winning trails. During the winter months, the trails are groomed for fat tire biking and snowshoeing.
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The North Country Trail
Begun in 1981 the trail stretches from Vermont to North Dakota through eight states including the Upper Peninsula. At 4,600 miles it is the longest trail system in the US. The NCT Hikers maintain the trails from Rock River Road in Alger County, through Marquette County, to Long Lake in Baraga County.
The North Country Trail Hikers Chapter was the first chartered Chapter of the NCTA and is located in the central Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan with the City of Marquette, an official NCTA Trail Town and largest city in the UP, as its base. For hikers heading west, Marquette is the last town traveled through for about 200 miles, making it a stopping point for resupply. Three General Membership Meetings per year are held with a presentation of interest to their members. Other activities include the summer months’ Third Sunday Hikes, National Trails Day Hike, the Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk, the North Country Trails Day “Celebrate Walking in Marquette,” and the twice-a-year Softies Hike. Typically through the hiking season the Trail Crew and Trail Adopters work twice a week to maintain the trail.
Begun in 1981 the trail stretches from Vermont to North Dakota through eight states including the Upper Peninsula. At 4,600 miles it is the longest trail system in the US. The NCT Hikers maintain the trails from Rock River Road in Alger County, through Marquette County, to Long Lake in Baraga County.
The North Country Trail Hikers Chapter was the first chartered Chapter of the NCTA and is located in the central Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan with the City of Marquette, an official NCTA Trail Town and largest city in the UP, as its base. For hikers heading west, Marquette is the last town traveled through for about 200 miles, making it a stopping point for resupply. Three General Membership Meetings per year are held with a presentation of interest to their members. Other activities include the summer months’ Third Sunday Hikes, National Trails Day Hike, the Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk, the North Country Trails Day “Celebrate Walking in Marquette,” and the twice-a-year Softies Hike. Typically through the hiking season the Trail Crew and Trail Adopters work twice a week to maintain the trail.
Running
Scott Drum speaks with Connor Ryan, August 2020:
No Fluff Four Peaks Trail Run (33 minutes)
Scott has traveled the world and likes to point out that the trail running in Marquette County is top notch. He says about this 10 mile run in particular: "This sticks out as one of the best trail running routes in the world."
Scott and Connor recorded this audio history for our opening reception for this exhibit. It will be archived with the oral histories for this exhibit.
No Fluff Four Peaks Trail Run (33 minutes)
Scott has traveled the world and likes to point out that the trail running in Marquette County is top notch. He says about this 10 mile run in particular: "This sticks out as one of the best trail running routes in the world."
Scott and Connor recorded this audio history for our opening reception for this exhibit. It will be archived with the oral histories for this exhibit.
Upper Peninsula Road Runners Club
In 1975 the club was formed by Dan Lori of Iron Mountain and Bob Olson of Hancock with 14 charter members at its first meeting. The first meetings were first held at the Hedgecock Fieldhouse at NMU. Only 3 or 4 races were held throughout the UP, so competitive racers needed to drive to races outside the UP.
In 1976 the club had 160 members and by 1980 about 400 members. In 1982 the club sanctioned 50 UP events including a three mile Girl Scout run in Marquette, two marathons, an ultra marathon, a track and field meet, a triathlon, and a women only race. In the early 80s, the 72 Mile Yellowdog Plains Run to L’Anse was organized. The club also had their own uniform for racing.
The evolution of the sport is seen in the comment that many cross country skiers had taken up running to stay in shape in the off season in the 70s. By the 80s, many runners were turning to cross country skiing to stay in shape in their off season. 2020 marks the club’s 45 anniversary.
Like many outdoor activities, running is much more than a solitary activity. One runner describes part of the motivation:
I think for most of us the sense of community membership is more important than the [winner’s] podium. Keith Kuykendall, 2020
In 1975 the club was formed by Dan Lori of Iron Mountain and Bob Olson of Hancock with 14 charter members at its first meeting. The first meetings were first held at the Hedgecock Fieldhouse at NMU. Only 3 or 4 races were held throughout the UP, so competitive racers needed to drive to races outside the UP.
In 1976 the club had 160 members and by 1980 about 400 members. In 1982 the club sanctioned 50 UP events including a three mile Girl Scout run in Marquette, two marathons, an ultra marathon, a track and field meet, a triathlon, and a women only race. In the early 80s, the 72 Mile Yellowdog Plains Run to L’Anse was organized. The club also had their own uniform for racing.
The evolution of the sport is seen in the comment that many cross country skiers had taken up running to stay in shape in the off season in the 70s. By the 80s, many runners were turning to cross country skiing to stay in shape in their off season. 2020 marks the club’s 45 anniversary.
Like many outdoor activities, running is much more than a solitary activity. One runner describes part of the motivation:
I think for most of us the sense of community membership is more important than the [winner’s] podium. Keith Kuykendall, 2020
Guts Frisbee
The game is similar to dodge ball but using a Frisbee. Two teams of five players stand 15 yards apart. The opposite team member must catch the Frisbee with one hand. The game was invented by two Minneapolis brothers and shared with their family in 1958. The Healy family took a vacation to Eagle Harbor in the Keweenaw Peninsula and hosted the first tournament there. The tournament grew and by the 1970s over 60 teams and 8,000 fans joined the two day International Frisbee Tournament. Teams compete from around the world, including Japan.
Several UP towns including Marquette have hosted Guts competitions. Marquette was set to host the US National Guts Competition on August 1-2 of 2020 at Tourist Park, it is rescheduled for August 7-8, 2021.
Several UP towns including Marquette have hosted Guts competitions. Marquette was set to host the US National Guts Competition on August 1-2 of 2020 at Tourist Park, it is rescheduled for August 7-8, 2021.
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Thank you to all who contributed photographs to be used in this exhibit. Historic photographs are from the J.M. Longyear Research Library at the MRHC.