Bearskin Lodge to Host First Competitive Mountain Biking Event
Story by Sidney Ulakovic, Photo courtesy of Bearskin Lodge
If you’re looking for a challenge (and adventure!) this fall, look no further than The Gunflint Scramble. Our neighbours to the south at Bearskin Lodge, just outside of Grand Marais, Minn., are set to host their first competitive mountain biking event on October 7.
The historic Bearskin Lodge is located on the scenic Central Gunflint Ski Trail system, and last summer, Quinn McCloughan, owner of Bearskin Lodge, saw the potential of the ski trails for summer use. McCloughan, along with the owners of Golden Eagle Lodge, collaborated with the US Forest Service to allow mountain biking on the trails. The new event will be the first competitive bike race to occur on the Gunflint Trail and utilizes some of the renowned cross-country ski routes that are a part of the trail network. Participants can expect to find a mix of gravel roads, maintained ski trails, daring elevation changes, and breathtaking boreal forest views.
“The variability of terrain and elevation change makes this trail network very desirable for riding,” says McCloughan in a media release. McCloughan explains that the trail is fairly challenging; participants can expect between 2,000 and 2,400 feet of climbing. “We can’t wait to share it with new riders,” McCloughan adds.
Registration this first year will be limited to only 100 riders to preserve the solitude of the wilderness experience. For more information on the event, course previews, and accommodations, visit gunflintscramble.com. Prizes to be announced.
