Trail building is people building

Four Conservation Corps Volunteers carry one 24-foot laminated beam. They will take that beam 1.5 miles to the project site.

On July 19, David Ditlefsen and Jenn Stehley, woke up at 4 a.m. in Milltown, Wisconsin. About an hour later, they hit the road, drove three hours to the Split Rock Wayside, to volunteer for The Split Rock River Loop Improvement Project.

The Split Rock River Loop Improvement Project is a Superior Hiking Trail Association led project. It’s about two hundred feet of trail where a bridge was nearly washed out. The project was to remove the old bridge and, a little down river, put a new, bigger, safer bridge in. Easy right? Except to get to the site from the Split Rock Wayside, it’s a mile and a half of rugged, up-and-down, root-laden terrain. “A mile and a half isn’t much if you’re out for stroll. But when you’re carrying 24-foot-long laminated beams…it’s a different deal.” offers project contractor, Tim Malzhan, in what might be the understatement of the day. Raw materials and tools have to be carried in – and then out again. But this project is more than a bridge. It’s the stairs up to the bridge. It’s the approach to and from the bridge. It’s tread work. In the end, this small project is literally a mini-reroute, moving the Superior Hiking Trail itself.

Project Manager Tim Malzhan on the new steps that lead up to the bridge. Staff photos by Rob Perez

The total cost for construction for planning, design, materials, and labor was approximately $20K. Field work alone took ten days, 2000 hours, and thirty people that were a mix SHTA personnel, paid contractors, and dedicated volunteers like the Minnesota Conservation Corps and David Ditlefsen and Jenn Stehley. They’ve been trail building for years and, they say, it gets in your blood. David says, “They are long, hard days. And when we’re on a really difficult section, sometimes you can spend all day and feel like you didn’t get a lot done. But then you look at what everyone’s done working together – it’s wonderful feeling.” Indeed. For all of us.

When I first heard that the SHTA maintains the Superior Hiking Trail I did a double take. Surely there were other entities, public, private, individuals? No. So I will say it again: The Superior Hiking Trail Association is solely responsible for maintaining the Superior Hiking Trail. It’s an enormous, unending task. There are 300- plus miles of trail, 60-plus trailheads, 200 landowners (Most of SHT is public land but much is private easements). Lisa Luokkala recently celebrated her one-year anniversary as the executive director at SHTA, though she’s been in recreational planning for seven years. Luokkala reminds us they can’t (and don’t) do it alone. “Over 300 volunteers a year contribute about 6000 hours to the trail. But it’s also our partnerships and collaborations with those who love the idea of hosting this thru-trail. The SHTA brings all of these partners together to make it happen.”

Volunteer David Ditlefsen (left) and Project Manager Tim Malzhan (right) atop the new 24 foot bridge on the Superior Hiking Trail. The bridge at Split Rock is made of tarmac.

Tim Malzhan, project contractor on The Split Rock River Loop Improvement Project, is one of those partners. Lisa is full of praise for Tim. “Tim is nationally renowned,” In 2017, Tim was recognized by American Trails with the Outstanding Trail Leader Award for his work on the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin. “When our volunteers and even our staff work with someone like Tim, he elevates all of us.” But Tim is quick to remind us that it takes a village. “We had a good core team. The DNR was supportive, donating the Conservation Corps and other resources. And so many volunteers. You cannot do a project with this level of professionalism without a lot of detailed planning and getting people involved.”

And that is what The Superior Hiking Trail Association does well: It gets people involved. “Trail culture generally is one of gratitude,” Luokkalla observes. SHTA has more than 6000 paid members and more than 20,000 Facebook followers. “We really look at ourselves as stewards.” Luokkala suggests. Revenue in 2020 for SHTA was about $900k, the biggest components coming in as grants and donations. Eighty five percent of their expenses go right back out the door to programs, volunteer education, public education, and programs – projects like at Split rock.

The SHTA also just published SHT 9th edition of the Superior Hiking Trail Guidebook. Luokkala sums it up well, “We provide access to these wild spaces. It’s free. All you need is a pair of shoes.”

“There is magic that happens on the trail.” Says Malzhan. “Between the internal dialogue and one with others. The trail offers transformative experiences.” Yes, it does – thanks to the many who help make it possible, like volunteers David Ditlefsen and Jenn Stehley, who stayed until the project was completed. Jenn says it this way, “On Day One it feels daunting. On the last day, you’re amazed at what volunteers can do.” We all are amazed.

In the end, the The Split Rock River Loop Improvement Project added a 24-foot bridge and 180 feet of trail. The average hiker will blow through this section in about sixty seconds. But perhaps we can take a moment to appreciate and even marvel at how much goes into it – the time, planning, money, and sweat equity.

Thanks to the Superior Hiking Trail Association and the small army they bring together, the Superior Hiking Trail will continue to move us in more ways than one.

If you want to donate, volunteer, or just receive the newsletter from the Superior Hiking Trail Association, just head to the website: superiorhiking.org.