TRAVERSE CITY — With the Iceman Cometh Challenge just over a week away, Northern Michigan’s trail community is rallying to raise $150,000 for the Trailblazing Tomorrow campaign, an effort to support the future of the Vasa trail network.
The Festival Foundation, which hosts the Iceman Cometh Challenge, has pledged a $50,000 challenge match to help reach the fundraising goal.
The campaign is led by TART Trails and the Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association, with proceeds supporting construction of a new maintenance facility at Timber Ridge and a revitalized trailhead at Bartlett Road.
“The Iceman is a single day of racing, but its impact lasts all year,” said Kat Paye, CEO of the Festival Foundation. “This campaign is about making sure the trails that connect our community stay strong for the next generation.”
The campaign highlights the work of volunteers who maintain the region’s four-season trail network. Trailblazing Tomorrow aims to provide crews with the tools and space needed to keep trails safe and accessible year-round.
The initiative brings together TART Trails, the Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association, the Festival Foundation, Norte, Timber Ridge, the North American Vasa, and hundreds of community members.
The Iceman challenge match runs through Nov. 8, the day of the race. Community members can contribute to the campaign here.