As Easy As - 306

Climate Adaptation might not be all work. Some adaptations may be as simple as riding a bike. Surviving the climate future requires two primary actions: mitigation and adaptation.

Fortunately, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, solar, wind, and battery technology advances are surging. The transition away from greenhouse gases is ramping up, and the race to replace fossil fuels is on. So, the good news is that when humankind eliminates fossil fuels, we will have a chance to heal our planetary home. These efforts are broadly referred to as mitigation.

The bad news is that we will be at net zero emissions by 2050 at the earliest. In other words, our world is going to warm for at least another 25 years. All plants and animals will be challenged to adapt to the warmer temperatures and extreme hydrological cycles. 

But what about us in the UP? Will we need to adapt?  If summers get too hot, we may need to install air conditioners or, better yet, heat pumps to stay cool. The danger of heavy rains will increase, so homeowners need to plan accordingly for appropriate drainage.  Sump pumps may be a good investment. 

City planners need to take new storm threats seriously, ensuring water, sewer, and electrical infrastructure are built to meet the new climate. 

But what about our economy? Winter is slowly slipping away, and with it, the money brought in by snowmobilers, skiers, and folks who ice fish. I hope we have a few years to adapt as the follow on La Nina years should bring back some cold. But, as explained, we will warm for at least 25 years. 

 It is time to start imagining a new future and adapting to it. 

Here is one idea that has already proven successful: attracting bicyclists by building interconnected extensive mountain bike trails. 

It may sound improbable that investing in trails through the woods could transform a community, but it has already been accomplished. I lived near the old mining towns of  Crosby, Ironton, Cuyuna, and Riverton, Minnesota.  When I lived there, these communities were shrinking mining towns.  

Rumors from the biking community raced through the grapevine that there had been a new boom in these old mining towns. It was rumored that a network of professionally laid-out mountain bike trails traversing the Cuyuna Range was transforming the small towns. Last summer, my biking partner and I checked out the "Cuyuna" to see if all the hype was true. It was. The towns are bustling with bicyclers who frequent bars, coffee shops, bike shops, and restaurants. It is a fantastic transformation.

Do we have the potential? Here is my concise assessment: We have superior terrain, far more gorgeous waterfalls, and miles of beautiful rivers. If we can connect these natural gifts with our motels, restaurants, ski hills, and bars, I see no reason we cannot become the new and superior mountain bike mecca. The key will be buy-in from governmental agencies, businesses, and, most importantly, citizens. 

When I propose this "radical" idea, I hear many reasons why it will not work. This is normal. The visionaries who started the Cuyuna system dealt with the same resistance. These dirt bike radicals were met with more than a few unpleasant responses. Now, they are considered heroes.  

Our adaptation period has been on hold for too long. The scientists have warned us for years that winter is shortening and weakening. Let's hope we have visionaries for our area with more radical ideas. I don't know if mountain bike trails will be one of our economic salvations, but to survive, we must learn how to adapt to a warming climate. That will mean an attitude adjustment. 

As the world-famous biologist and observer of mankind, E.O. Wilson noted that when it comes to contests between groups, groups of altruists tend to outcompete groups of selfish individuals. As such, Wilson emphasized the importance of cooperation in the success of species, especially as it applies to humans and especially now as we are engulfed in a climate emergency.

In recognizing the spirit of cooperatives for a shared goal, it is important to recognize that unpaid volunteers often "get the wheels turning." This was and is the case for the 70 miles of Cuyuna Trails. 

We, too, have volunteers who have built fantastic trails here in Ironwood, at Copper Peak, Miners, and the Wolverine Ski Trails. In Wakefield, Split Rock is the trail system. If you want to participate in the Ironwood Trail Development, search "SISU Dirt Crew" online or on Facebook. In Wakefield, the organization is called "Split Rock Trails." Bill Quigley has volunteered as a point of contact for Split Rock at 906-364-1235.  

Just a note: The surveyor who discovered iron ore where the Minnesota bike trails are now was named Cuyler Adams. His dog was named Una. It's a nice touch to see a man's most loyal partner get equal billing.