MECCA Trails prepare for Winterfest

By ZACHARY MARANO

zmarano@yourdailyglobe.com

MERCER, Wis. — The MECCA Trails system will be ready for its second annual Winterfest on Feb. 5, according to a release from organizers. This year’s events will be held in person on Feb. 5 with virtual options between Dec. 18 and Feb. 18.

Cross-country skiers will have three races to choose from, including the Flowage 15K Freestyle, the Clair d’ Loon 5K and the Turtle River Pursuit. The Flowage 15K Freestyle showcases most of the MECCA Trails system and is rated moderate to advanced with numerous hills. The Clair d’ Loon 5K is a shorter course rated easy to moderate with a few hills. The Turtle River Pursuit is a combined time race with an 11K classic leg and an 11K skating leg. The course is rated moderate with hilly terrain. Individual or two-person teams can compete in this race.

The races will be offered as live, timed events on Feb. 5, but racers can time themselves on these courses whenever they want between Dec. 18 and Feb. 18 to participate virtually. The start line for all three races will be behind the chalet on Fierick Road. Race maps can be viewed and downloaded on MECCA’s website.

The Mercer Springs Snowshoe Tour is also back this year. This event is a virtual, non-competitive snowshoe tour around the MECCA chalet. The Klondike Trail is just more than one mile and starts and ends behind the chalet. The Mercer Springs Trail starts just across Fierick Road from the chalet, winds through the forest of hardwoods and pines and then enters the Mercer Springs wetlands. The trail also connects with Klondike, giving hikers the option of an additional mile to walk.

According to the release, it takes volunteer groomers five to 10 hours to pack, groom and set tracks, and to clean up the skate lane to make it ready for striders and skater ways. However, the snowshoe trails are ungroomed and always ready to shoe through.

The trail conditions are regularly updated on meccatrails.com.

All registrants will receive a long-sleeved 2022 Winterfest T-shirt and awards will be given for the fastest times in both the live and virtual ski races. On Feb. 5, all participants will be offered hot lunch at the awards ceremony at noon at the Mercer Community Center.

Winterfest is a fundraising event and the proceeds will be used to enhance and expand the MECCA trails, facilities and equipment. MECCA also funds the MECCA Experience, a community outreach program for students, families and seniors.