Bayfield County Wild

John Murphy and Joe Groshek are avid fat bikers and are dedicated to creating and maintaining fat bike trails in our area.

Joe says fat biking is very different than mountain biking. For one, the tires are more than four inches wide, compared to less than three inches on mountain bikes. You can also bike year-round and can go anywhere on snow, sand or ice on a fat bike. You can climb anywhere with gears that shift easily and smooth pedaling. One big difference with a fat bike is its weight, which is considerably heavier than road bikes; 1 mile of fat biking is about the same as 15 miles of road biking. Fat bikes are also slower, but they give you plenty of time to enjoy the scenery.

These two guys created an activity they call “fat bike safaris” as a way to educate riders in a group led by an experienced guide. Joe’s favorite adventure is biking on Lake Superior ice but warns that you must know what you’re doing since conditions can change rapidly on Lake Superior.

John has fascinating stories about wolves and tracking them in the forest. Wolves often separate into smaller groups and when they return to their pack, they re-greet each other just like domestic dogs, wagging their tails and rolling on their backs. And if you are fearful about running into wolves, don’t be. They are very cautious and will keep their distance from humans.

October is the perfect time for family fun and corn mazes. Bayfield County has two very popular corn mazes: one in Oulu and the other at White River Ag in Mason, Wis. The Oulu Corn Maze has been around many years. Each year, the owners come up with a new design to make it more interesting for repeat visitors. Everyone gets a punch card that is stamped every time they get to a different station within the maze and then the card is turned in at the end for prizes, hot cider and treats. The weekend before Halloween, the maze is turned into a haunted experience for those who love to get spooked. At White River Ag, there are different activities for the kids, including a hay pyramid they can climb.