Event Description
MECCA TRAILS is pleased to announce its first annual WINTERFEST, held virtually between December 18, 2020 and March 28, 2021. WINTERFEST includes three skiing events that are self timed and a snowshoe tour.
The skiing events include:
The 3rd annual Turtle River Pursuit. The Pursuit is a combined time race with an 11K classic leg and an 11K skating leg. Racers can ski the Pursuit course whenever they would like and turn in their times for the two legs. The course is rated moderate with hilly terrain.
The 2nd annual Claire d' Loon 5K. This popular race is a favorite of younger skiers, families and first time racers. The 5K course is a fun course through the woods and fields near the chalet. The course is rated easy to moderate with a few hills.
The 1st annual Flowage 15K Freestyle. This race showcases most of the MECCA Trail system. The course goes through upland hardwoods and pines, spruce and cedar wetlands, crosses the Little Turtle River Flowage and Wildlife Area to the west side of the trail system at Voss Lake. The course is rated moderate to advanced with numerous hills.
The Mercer Springs Snowshoe Tour highlights the beauty of the looped snowshoe trails at MECCA. The Klondike Trail is just over 1 mile and starts and ends behind the chalet. The new Mercer Springs Trail starts just across Fierick Road from chalet, winds through the forest of hardwoods and pines then enters the Mercer Springs wetlands. There's even a beaver dam to walk across. The Mercer Springs Trail meets the Klondike trail, so participants can choose 1,2 or 3 miles of beautiful trails.
Participants are offered a discount option to add a MECCA membership. MECCA members can race the course multiple times all winter long and turn in their best time.
The MECCA TRAILS WINTERFEST is presented by MECCA TRAILS and the Gogebic Range Health Foundation. It is a fundraising event for MECCA Trails a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Profits are used to expand and enhance MECCA as well as funding for the MECCA Experience community outreach program.
