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<DIV>Wayne,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>This is on our "To Do" list. We had planned on getting on it this summer
but didn't make it. We sail the south end of the lake and see a lot of
bicyclists along the trail.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dick</DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=deco@moscow.com href="mailto:deco@moscow.com">Art Deco aka W. Fox</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">Vision 2020</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, November 13, 2004 6:09
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] 10-13-04
Spokesman_review: CdA trail a top draw forcyclists </DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Verdana Ref" size=4><!--include virtual="/inc/story_guts_print.asp"--><FONT
size=3> </FONT>
<H2>CdA trail a top draw for cyclists </H2>
<H4 class=deck>Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes draws 78,000 in its first
season</H4>
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<H5>More information </H5>
<H5>Trails online </H5>
<P>For more information on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, visit:
<A
href="http://www.friendsofcdatrails.org">www.friendsofcdatrails.org</A>.</P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P>
<P class=byline><SPAN class=name><A
href="http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news/bylines.asp?bylinename=James Hagengruber">James
Hagengruber</A></SPAN><BR>Staff writer<BR>November 13, 2004</P><!---------Code for Big Ads-------------------><!---------End Code for Big Ads------------------->
<P>A new, narrow strip of asphalt spanning the Idaho panhandle is becoming a
top draw for bicyclists.</P>
<P>In its inaugural season, the 73-mile Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes drew at
least <STRONG><U><FONT color=#ff0000>78,000</FONT></U></STRONG> riders,
according to estimates from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. </P>
<P>"This is becoming a real bicycle destination," said Bill Scudder, the
state's manager of the trail. "It's going to get a little bigger all the
time."</P>
<P>The success is prompting a flurry of planning to connect the Trail of the
Coeur d'Alenes with other regional trails, including the Centennial and
Hiawatha trails. </P>
<P>
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<TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes was built atop a
decommissioned railbed and runs from Mullan to Plummer. Below the trail's
asphalt are toxic remnants from the days when the route was used to haul heavy
metals. But on either side of the pathway, eye candy is abundant: with
everything from clear mountain streams and dark cedar forests to small towns
straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. </P>
<P>The state based its ridership estimate using four laser counters. The
number is a ballpark figure, Scudder said, because many cyclists rode only
portions of the trail. The segment between Enaville and Bull Run Lake
trailheads appears to be the most popular. The 14-mile stretch follows the
Coeur d'Alene River and offers ample shade on summer afternoons. </P>
<P>Rider demographics have not been tracked, but Scudder said about half the
visitors appear to be from out of the region. </P>
<P>Jon Ruggles, president of the Friends of the Coeur d'Alene Trails, thinks
more than 100,000 riders pedaled the trail this summer. The state did not have
a counter near Harrison, a small town on the south end of Lake Coeur d'Alene
that has retooled its summertime economy around cyclists. The section between
Harrison and Plummer crosses Lake Coeur d'Alene and trailhead parking lots in
the area were often packed.</P>
<P><STRONG><U><FONT color=#ff0000>Ruggles has conducted an economic analysis
of the trail and puts the first-year figure at $5 million for local
economies.</FONT></U></STRONG> Cyclists don't usually have much room to carry
gear, but cash and credit cards don't take up a lot of space, Ruggles said.
Cyclists are also typically from higher income brackets. </P>
<P>The popularity of the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, along with the success
of other trails, is fueling hope that North Idaho could become a national
cycling mecca, Ruggles said. Planning is under way for connecting trails
between the region's major trails, including a possible link between
Centennial Trail and the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes.</P>
<P>"We're developing into the next Moab," Ruggles said, referring to the
southern Utah cycling hotspot. "The potential is there, absolutely." </P>
<P>By midsummer, a network is expected to connect the Trail of the Coeur
d'Alenes with the Route of the Hiawatha, along the Montana-Idaho border. The
tunnels and trestles of the Hiawatha have developed a national reputation and
many of the cyclists are now spilling over onto the other regional trails,
Ruggles said. </P>
<P>Kellogg's Silver Mountain Resort opened a series of mountain biking trails
this summer that drew large crowds, said Greg Peak, manager of the resort's
retail shop. The mountainside trails range from beginner to double-black
diamond and riders are able to conquer the elevation using the resort's
gondolas, he said. More trails are planned for next year, Peak said. "We
pretty much just scratched the surface building trails."</P>
<P>Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Sandpoint has already made a name for itself
among serious mountain bikers. About 1,400 riders converged on the mountain
this summer for a national circuit race. </P>
<P>One of the biggest missing trail links in the region is a connection
between the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes and the Centennial Trail, which runs
from Coeur d'Alene to Spokane. Possible routes are being explored, including a
path over Fourth of July Pass, said Gene O'Meara, board member of the North
Idaho Centennial Trail group.</P>
<P>"It's still in the dream stage. But I say if John Mullan can do it, we can
follow his lead," O'Meara said, referring to the famous 19th century
trailblazer. "It'd be huge. You could ride a bike from far west of Spokane all
the way to Montana." </P>
<P>O'Meara said other connection possibilities also are being explored,
including a boat shuttle from Coeur d'Alene to the Harrison trailhead, or
equipping Coeur d'Alene Casino shuttle buses with bicycle racks. </P>
<P>"A lot of people call from all over the country and they want to know a
good way to get from one trail to the other," O'Meara said. "I really don't
have a good answer for them now." </P>
<P>More work is needed along the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, said Mike Domy,
owner of Kellogg's Excelsior Cycle. The trail itself is in prime condition,
but many cyclists say there's a lack of lodging, campgrounds, shuttle services
and food stops along the route.</P>
<P>"We have a lot of the trails and places to go biking now but we don't have
a lot of tourist amenities yet," Domy said, adding that he expects to see more
investment soon. "I can't tell you how much I think this is helping the Silver
Valley."</P>
<P>The Enaville Resort has already made some changes because of the
bicyclists, said proprietor Joe Peak. The salad bar was expanded and healthier
menu options were added. Bicycle racks were placed around the facility. On
summer weekend afternoons more than half the clientele are now cyclists, Peak
said. </P>
<P>"It's just had a real positive economic boost for us," Peak said. "The
trail has had more of an impact than even Silver Mountain, and I'm not putting
Silver Mountain down. It's just been awesome. Just awesome."</P></FONT></DIV>
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