Community comes out to Hygge Hike

MONTREAL, Wis. - The difference in weather from last year's event was reflected in the turnout, as almost 60 people came out to the second annual Hygge Hike at the Montreal Ski Trails Saturday.

"Last year, there was a 30-below wind chill; this year, I think it's 37 (degrees) today," said Rebecca Holm, one of the Northern Iron County Engaged Residents members who helped organize the hike. "A huge difference that brought more people - we went from having five participants last year to having almost 60."

Holm previously told the Daily Globe Hygge - pronounced "Hoo-ga" - is a Danish word meaning "the art of building sanctuary and community, of inviting closeness and paying attention to what makes us feel open-hearted and alive."

Participants in the hike, which took place on a portion of the trails behind Rose Wreath in Montreal, completed a 1.5-mile loop where they had the opportunity to explore the trail system and see some of the remnants of the region's mining past.

Holm said one of the purposes of the hike was to show off one of Iron County's lesser-known trail systems.

"Not many people know that these trails exist here," she said.

In conjunction with the hike, the day featured a chili cook-off at the Montreal City Hall.

That part of the event was intended to be a fundraiser for the Penokee Rangers, who maintain the trails.

"At a NICER meeting we were just coming up with ideas to try to get people to donate to the Penokee Rangers, and this was just one of those ideas," said Kari Klemme, who was overseeing the chili contest.

Holm said one of the Rangers' big goals for the upcoming year is to upgrade the trail signage, but there are also other trail maintenance needs the money may be used for.

Klemme was also pleased with the number of people who came out to support the effort Saturday.

"We had a great turnout, a lot more people than we expected," she said.

Ten people submitted pots of chili to the contest, with people paying to judge the contest and getting to sample the entries.

The contest raised over $1,000 for the Penokee Rangers, according to Klemme, and some donations were also gathered at the trailhead during the hike.

The chili entries were judged in four categories - traditional, spicy, original and overall winner - with the participating voters casting ballots judging each entry in those categories.

Maleah Cummings won the traditional category, Ken Saari won for spicy, Deanna Wicklund won the original chili category and Holm was named the overall winner.

Although Saturday's hike only involved a 1.5-mile loop, the Montreal trail system features approximately six miles of trails.