09-24-2004, 02:09 AM
[size 2]PIERRE, S.D. – In it’s seventh year of existence, the Mickelson Trail Trek attracted a record of 420 bicyclists for an up-close-and-personal experience of the Black Hills’s109-mile trail. The number for the three-day ride, which was held Sept. 17-19, reflects an increase of 40 percent over last year’s attendance.[/size]
[size 2]"We had hoped to step up the Trek each year," said Harley Noem, West River regional supervisor for the Division of Parks and Recreation. "Last year, we set a record with 300 riders, but this year’s attendance shattered that mark by nearly 120. I think this is just the beginning for the Trek. In fact, I would encourage riders to sign up early next year because there may be a time when we have to limit the number of riders."[/size]
[size 2]Almost half of the riders were from South Dakota, although riders from 32 states, including Colorado, Wyoming, Virginia, Iowa, Arizona, Florida and Texas, joined family and friends to explore the Mickelson Trail by bicycle. [/size]
[size 2]"The Trail Trek began as a celebration of the trail’s completion in 1998," said Noem. "Today, the ride continues as a celebration of the trail, but also introduces new riders to the trail and welcomes long-standing supporters."[/size]
[size 2]The supported ride began Friday, Sept. 17, with riders starting at the Custer trailhead. Friday’s ride, 44.5 miles on the southern portion of the trail, took Trekkers through scenic Sheep Canyon, a site not easily accessible by road, on the way to Edgemont to end the day’s ride.[/size]
[size 2]Day two on Saturday took riders on the 37.9-mile route from Custer north to Rochford. Along the way, Trekkers rode past Crazy Horse Mountain, through Hill City and across the Freedom Bridge south of Mystic, which is dedicated to the victims of the attacks of 9/11.[/size]
[size 2]On day three, riders set out from Rochford to complete the northern portion of the trail. The 24.6-mile Sunday ride took riders to the final miles of the trail into Lead/Deadwood.[/size]
[size 2]All three days, riders experienced pleasant weather. Brisk mornings turned into highs in the upper 80s by afternoon, and sunshine accompanied riders along most of the trail. Like last year, just after the ride was over on Sunday, a thunderstorm came through with high winds and some rain, keeping with the tradition of a beautiful ride.[/size]
[size 2]Noem wanted to especially acknowledge and thank the volunteers and the towns’ Chambers of Commerce, which greeted the trekkers with water, snacks, ice cream and meals along the way.[/size]
[size 2]"The nice thing about the trail is that it’s not just one individual town," said Noem. "It connects the whole Black Hills as a community."[/size]
[size 2]The annual ride is typically held on the third weekend of September, with the 2005 Trail Trek scheduled for Sept. 16-18. Noem expects online registration to be available in November.[/size]
[size 2]For more information on the Mickelson Trail, visit [/size][size 2][url "http://www.mickelsontrail.com/"][font "Arial"]www.MickelsonTrail.com[/font][/url][/size][font "Arial"][size 2] or contact the Black Hills Trails office at (605) 584-3896.[/size][/font]
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[size 2]"We had hoped to step up the Trek each year," said Harley Noem, West River regional supervisor for the Division of Parks and Recreation. "Last year, we set a record with 300 riders, but this year’s attendance shattered that mark by nearly 120. I think this is just the beginning for the Trek. In fact, I would encourage riders to sign up early next year because there may be a time when we have to limit the number of riders."[/size]
[size 2]Almost half of the riders were from South Dakota, although riders from 32 states, including Colorado, Wyoming, Virginia, Iowa, Arizona, Florida and Texas, joined family and friends to explore the Mickelson Trail by bicycle. [/size]
[size 2]"The Trail Trek began as a celebration of the trail’s completion in 1998," said Noem. "Today, the ride continues as a celebration of the trail, but also introduces new riders to the trail and welcomes long-standing supporters."[/size]
[size 2]The supported ride began Friday, Sept. 17, with riders starting at the Custer trailhead. Friday’s ride, 44.5 miles on the southern portion of the trail, took Trekkers through scenic Sheep Canyon, a site not easily accessible by road, on the way to Edgemont to end the day’s ride.[/size]
[size 2]Day two on Saturday took riders on the 37.9-mile route from Custer north to Rochford. Along the way, Trekkers rode past Crazy Horse Mountain, through Hill City and across the Freedom Bridge south of Mystic, which is dedicated to the victims of the attacks of 9/11.[/size]
[size 2]On day three, riders set out from Rochford to complete the northern portion of the trail. The 24.6-mile Sunday ride took riders to the final miles of the trail into Lead/Deadwood.[/size]
[size 2]All three days, riders experienced pleasant weather. Brisk mornings turned into highs in the upper 80s by afternoon, and sunshine accompanied riders along most of the trail. Like last year, just after the ride was over on Sunday, a thunderstorm came through with high winds and some rain, keeping with the tradition of a beautiful ride.[/size]
[size 2]Noem wanted to especially acknowledge and thank the volunteers and the towns’ Chambers of Commerce, which greeted the trekkers with water, snacks, ice cream and meals along the way.[/size]
[size 2]"The nice thing about the trail is that it’s not just one individual town," said Noem. "It connects the whole Black Hills as a community."[/size]
[size 2]The annual ride is typically held on the third weekend of September, with the 2005 Trail Trek scheduled for Sept. 16-18. Noem expects online registration to be available in November.[/size]
[size 2]For more information on the Mickelson Trail, visit [/size][size 2][url "http://www.mickelsontrail.com/"][font "Arial"]www.MickelsonTrail.com[/font][/url][/size][font "Arial"][size 2] or contact the Black Hills Trails office at (605) 584-3896.[/size][/font]
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