Hello All,
        This week has been an exceptionally exciting biking week for me!
First, I got a new bike, which is always exciting.  I retired my Giant
Iguana in favor of a Mongoose IBOC Zero-G (full LX w/ Judy).  I of course
realize that you all aren't nearly as interested in my bike as I am, so I'll
move on to the other issue at hand :-)
        For memorial weekend I decided to take a biking trip with a
friend of mine.  We left West Bend, WI Thursday around one and began a
300 mile journey to my friend's cabin in Winter (in North Western
Wisconsin)  After playing with my new toy on some fire roads, and
getting a good night's sleep, we pulled out and drove into the CAMBA
system.  CAMBA, or the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association, runs
and maintains several (6) "clusters" of trails with as many as four
trail heads per cluster.  Our first stop was the Seeley cluster (OO
trail head).  We took the fire tower trail and the Lake Helane trail to
start our weekend of riding.  Both were very scenic, but lacked the
technical flair I was searching for -- except for a short section on the
Fire Tower Trail.  If you go, take the trail to the Seeley Fire Tower
observation point.  From there there is a trail (not labeled on my maps,
but labeled as an official trail by signs posted on top of the hill)
that takes you down the Seeley Fire Tower Hill, some 300 feet, in about
.75 miles!  Fast! Unfortunately the rest of the trail was on sandy
logging roads and boring two track.
        We then drove up the very twisted CTH. D towards the Namakagon
Lake federal camp ground.  The place was full, so we went to nearby Two
Lakes Federal camp ground.  There was plenty of room there, and the
place was absolutely gorgeous.  Almost all of the sites were by one of
the two lakes, and most were sufficiently secluded and wooded.  Two
thumbs up!
         The next day took us to the Cable cluster -- Telemark Resort Trail
Head.  Telemark was great.  The Sleigh Trail and the Nature Trail were much
better than the trails at Seeley.  Lots of fast narrow gauge double track
and a great view along the ride.  Fortunately, it just keeps getting better!
The Esker Trail is by far the best at Telemark.  Though only 6.7 miles, it
is a very fast challenging trail.  Descents are fast and steep, often 
providing
the energy to get up the next hill in a roller coaster effect.  The end has
a unique section of trail that is completely out of the woods on rolling
grassy meadows.  It is more roller coaster action as you fly down the grassy
esker.  The second time around my friend had the misfortune of losing a
sprocket from his rear derailer, but hey, I loved it!
        The fourth day we went to the Namakagon Cluster -- Town Hall
Trail Head.  The Namakagon Trail and the Patsy Lake trail are both
excellent.  In my opinion the Patsy Lake trail is slightly better than
the Namakagon Trail, but the Esker trail at Telemark still remained the
best.  After those two we ate lunch and headed to the Rock Lake Trail
Head (still in the Namakagon Cluster).  Once again, it kept getting better
and better!  The Rock Lake Trail is the best trail I've seen in the whole
system.  It is ALL single track (and actual single track, not the narrow
gauge double track they pass off as single track in a lot of the other 
clusters
and was the fastest most technical trail I've ever ridden (not that that is
a lot, but hey I thought I'd throw that in).  Next time I head up to CAMBA
I'm going to make sure ROCK LAKE is my FIRST stop so I'll have more time
to ride it over and over again :-)  Well, anyway, that night it was back to
the cabin (needed some gas - $1.49 a gallon - ouch!) for some sleep and the
next day back to the hum drum of every day life back home.
        One of the biggest pluses about the CAMBA system is the way the
trails are marked.  There are signs at every intersection and even a few
along the trails to ensure you that you are in the right place.  You don't
have to spend any time studying a map, just hop on the trails, follow the
signs, and if you want to look at a map, they are posted along the trail!
        I recommend CAMBA to anyone interested in mountain biking.  The 
rails
and the scenery is absolutely excellent -- it is worth the trip from where
ever you live.  For more information about CAMBA trails, you can call the
Cable (a nearby city) C of C at 1-800-533-7454 or write to CAMBA, P.O. BOX
141, Cable, WI, 54821.  A complete set of maps is available by sending $6.50
to the above address.  A CAMBA membership is available for $20.  Membership
includes a set of maps, a sticker, voting rights, updates, etc...
Lucas
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