Winter arrived in a hurry after Thanksgiving, and Leelanau County is covered in fluffy snow. Here’s the downhill and cross-country skiing, sledding, hiking and tubing report, as of Wednesday, Dec. 4. Drive safe, stay warm, and enjoy!
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Join the Dune Dash 4-mile run/walk on August 17. The race course showcases the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail located in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Starting and finishing at the base of the Dune Climb, runners follow the paved Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail past rolling dunes and beautiful forests to the turn around point at historic Glen Haven. Don’t miss your chance to experience one of the most beautiful scenic runs in Michigan. All proceeds from this event will go to the continued construction and maintenance of Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.
The sky is the limit at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Join National Lakeshore staff on Monday, April 8, from 12-4 p.m. at the Dune Climb to experience a partial solar eclipse. The eclipse will start at 1:57 p.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. (EST). Maximum solar coverage of 86.7% will occur at 3:11 p.m.
Ryan DeCook, a 42-year-old resident of Washington, Michigan, won his second consecutive M22 Challenge on Saturday, June 10, with an overall time of 1 hour, 16 minutes, and 47 seconds. This was the third time he has won the popular triathlon, which local organizers consider one of the most beautiful races in the nation.
This weekend, the Friends of Sleeping Bear reported on ski and sledding conditions throughout the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The groomers have been out on both trails. Unfortunately, the lack of snow on the Heritage Trail meant that the south trail does not have classic tracks, but it has been rolled to form a really nice flat corduroy. Skate skiers will love this! Heritage trail north of Glen Arbor had a little more snow, and we did get a set of classic tracks down. Palmer Woods has the best snow conditions in the area. 6-8″ of fresh powder. Nice groom and classic tracks in most places.
Marcus Fuhrman, age 8 from Bay City, catches air jumping off a cliff on the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb trail on July 16.
In a unified effort to make COVID-19 testing more accessible to our region, the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department, Honu Labs, Sleeping Bear Dune National Lakeshore and Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians are joining forces to offer no-cost, drive-thru COVID-19 testing to the public on Wednesday at the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is commemorating its first 50 years by sharing a year-long celebration in 2020. During this year, the National Lakeshore hopes to thank those who have played a pivotal role in making the park what it is today, invite new connections and support to shape its future, and showcase the magnificence of what makes the park so special.
Amy Bredehoft, from Birmingham, Ala., thought she was in shape to climb the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb on Monday, July 8. Sure, the 54-year-old and frequent summer visitor to Paul’s Paradise cabins on Little Traverse Lake had drunk coffee that morning and a couple alcoholic drinks the night before; she was on vacation, after all.
The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore enjoys a healthy relationship with a nonprofit group of local volunteers, Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, which has pitched in to keep trails and parking lots plowed, collect trash and keep toilets clean and accessible during the federal government shutdown.