Those clear, smooth trails you’ve been enjoying this spring? They didn’t appear by magic.
After a long and chilly winter, we’ve all been incredibly anxious to get out onto the Pathway. We saw a dusting of snow in the very beginning of November, a full seven months ago. We saw sixty degrees for just the second time this Sunday and, as you can imagine, the trails were alive with happy, smiling faces out making the most of the great weather.
That’s why seeing volunteers choosing to spend their time working instead of riding is even more impressive. To cap off April, volunteers like Keith and Stacey rolled up their sleeves and got to raking, clearing heavy leaf cover from the trails and making it safe for cyclists. That same weekend, John, Mya, and Harry spent their morning staining the woodworking on the new Pavillion, with Michele also pitching in, even after working 60+ hours a week for three months during tax season. These folks are sacrificing saddle time in order to offer the rest of us a better trail experience, and we really couldn’t do it without them. 
This past weekend, the good vibes and selfless service continued. Kamie and a few of the Singletrack Sisters Fat Bike Team picked up where others left off (quite literally) to rake even more of the Pathway. To see these girls embracing a sense of ownership over a trail system that they call their own is empowering and sets such a great example for all of us to follow. The Pathway is what we make it; we can care for it, grow it, and we can improve it to be an even more valuable resource in our community. With eleven miles of new singletrack, a new Pavillion nearly complete, and an event like the Bear Claw Epic, we have something really special going on.
Spring is a time for new things to bloom. We’d like to encourage you to support the Cadillac Pathway by joining Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association and contributing your voice and your time to trails both right here in Cadillac and across the region. Together, we can preserve and improve a natural outdoor experience that means so much to northern Michigan. Want to help out? Contact us at cadillacpathway@gmail.com for trail maintenance needs and trail day opportunities!