The Guide to Nordic Skiing by The Guide

Pull-out 

A new approach at Forbush Corner

Corsair Trails book their 19th concert series

Quieter side of winter sports

The leading edge of off-trail

FREDERIC – Tough economic times recently have caused most business owners to forego expansion and scale back their offerings. Dave Forbush, owner of Forbush Corner cross country skiing, took the opposite approach. He purchased an additional 40 acres of land, changed up some existing trails and added new trails like the Badlands trail. That new trail joins others, like the appropriately named Roller Coaster, Lil’ Coaster and Pancake, to boost the length of trails at Forbush Corner to 38k. A new snowshoe trail, Chateau, increases the offerings to folks who want to enjoy that sport while the existing Blue trail for snowshoeing has been lengthened by a full kilometer. With the new property came new and surprising geological structure, including a long sweeping valley that might be called a canyon if it were found out west. And the property adds a few hills including Oz’s Overlook, a self explanatory peak attainable by both ski and snowshoe. As it is, the changes are a small part of the upgrades you’ll find all around Forbush Corner. Check out the new trails at Forbush Corner. It is located just east of the Frederic exit, north of Grayling on I-75. For more information check them out online at www.forbushcorner.com.

TAWAS AREA – Continuing a 19-year, Northeast Michigan tradition, the slate of Bluegrass and Americana musicians booked for the Corsair Concert Series is underway and growing. First up on the docket, appearing Jan. 29, is Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, a group whose outstanding music reviews are fast piling up after their release last summer of a self-titled debut album. FS & DK, which offers a wide variety of musical sounds, has quickly gained a name for itself for its multiple layers of instrumentation, exemplary lead and harmony vocals and stellar song writing. Cost for the concert is $15. Two more concerts are planned and remain unbooked as of this printing. Corsair Concerts are held at the Tawas United Methodist Church Family Center, on highway M-55, in Tawas City. Showtime is 7:30 pm. The Corsair Concert Series supports Iosco County’s premier Corsair Ski Trails and sponsorships of the series are available. For more information on the Corsair Ski Trails, the Corsair Concert Series, or to learn more about sponsoring these musical events, contact Nordic Sports, the East Tawas ski and outdoor outfitters, at (989) 362-2001 or go online to www.n-sport.com.

ROSCOMMON – For snowloving adventurers about the only thing better than a Northeast Michigan winter is the picturesque solitude of a forest draped in white. If you haven’t discovered that calm natural beauty yet, Bob and Lynn Frye are here to help. The couple offers numerous chances to learn to ski for free at Cross Country Ski Headquarters. Best of all, once the lessons end, winter’s magical discovery begins. They offer 12 miles of trails for the skate or classic skier. After a day on the trails, relax with soup, sandwich and warm beverage, sitting fire-side, in the Stone Turtle Day Lodge. Free lessons are held Saturdays at 4 p.m.; rental fees apply. For night time skiing a headlamp may be required. Not to worry; Headquarters offers a huge selection of skis, equipment and outer wear. For seasoned enthusiasts, or winter-lover wannabes, Jan. 1721 welcomes Silver Streak Week, where folks 60-years and older receive a complimentary trail pass, coffee or hot cocoa, and free skis or snowshoes from Headquarter’s demo selection. Cross Country Ski Headquarters is located west of Roscommon, on Cut River Road and easily accessible from I-75. For more information call (800) 832-2663 or check online at www.cross-country-ski.com.

GRAYLING – It stands to reason that a ski shop run by avid skiers would stock one of the largest inventories of skiing and winter sports paraphernalia around. And that’s just what you’ll find at Cross Country Ski Shop in Grayling. It also stands to reason that folks here remain on the leading edge of outdoor winter sports. When the popularity of backcountry skiing recently began to increase, owner Dick Fultz and the gang here expanded their inventory to meet a growing demand. And now that the interest in off-trail skiing is in full swing, Cross Country Ski Shop stocks seven different models of metal edged skis. With a lighted trail right behind Cross Country Ski Shop, and 10 state and public trails within 20 miles, folks don’t need to head off the well-traveled trail. But for those who would like to give an out-the-back-door skiing experience a try, there is no better place to start than at Cross Country Ski Shop in Grayling. The Cross Country Ski Shop is located just off I-75, right behind the Ramada Inn in Grayling. You can contact the experienced and knowledgeable staff at (800) 889-7456. Or visit the Cross Country Ski Shop online at www.xcskishop.com.

GLORY LAKE

MERTZ GRADE TRAIL

BRIGHT LAKE

EAS T

GLORY TRAIL

Hartwick Pines State Park

KAREN LAKE

LEGEND

SCALE IN MILES 0

PAVED ROAD

STATE LAND

ACCESS SITE & ACCESSIBLE FISHING PIER

GRAVEL ROAD

PARK HEADQUARTERS

ORGANIZATIONAL CAMPGROUND

POOR DIRT ROAD

MODERN CAMPGROUND

RUSTIC CABIN

FOOT TRAIL X-COUNTRY SKI & MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL

PICNIC AREA

PARKING AREA

PICNIC SHELTER

VE R

EXIT 259

CAMP LEHMAN

9/2003

SAB

ST EA

AU SABLE RIVER TRAIL

LOGGING MUSEUM

OLD GROWTH FOREST TRAIL

CONTACT STATION

RESIDENCE

VISITOR CENTER

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