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Keweenaw Chain Drive runs and bikes to support the local area’s trail system. For several years the organizers of the Keweenaw Chain Drive use the event during Bridgefest to promote trail use by residents. The completely free event offers chances to use the mountain biking trails or running trails at the Maasto Hiihto Trails. The event uses what’s called a poker run, which has participants pick up chips along the route.
So the money that we raised from this event goes to the Hancock Trails Club. They maintain and support the Mosquito and Churning Rapids Trails. It helps us purchase new equipment if we need it. It also helps to buy materials if we need to build new bridges on any of the trails or pay for trail maintenance, like if we need to help or have someone come out of the bulldozer and level out the trail or put in a new culvert or new trails. – Murphy Murray, race director, Keweenaw Chain Drive
Keweenaw chain drive participants will meet at the UPHS Portage parking lot for registration and race starts. There are two routes to choose between, a shorter route that will stay primarily on the Churning Rapids trails. While those on the long route will travel north toward Calumet.
The short and the long are primarily at Turing Rapids in Maasto Hiihto, while the adventure course will shoot on up to Calumet and ride on some fun, primarily double track, snowmobile trail before ultimately swinging through Calumet by Keweenaw Coffee Works, which is another one of our sponsors new this year. Along the way, there will be aid stations put out by Ghost House Farms and a few other people. – Murphy Murray, race director, Keweenaw Chain Drive
The completely free event encourages donations by participants or spectators cheering on friends. Organizers ask that those interested in registering for the 8:30, 9, or 10 am times do so before midnight on Thursday. Those interested in learning more about the Keweenaw Chain Drive during Bridgefest can find more details here.
