Every February, the quiet beauty of Wisconsin’s Northwoods explodes with activity as thousands of skiers descend upon Cable, WI for the American Birkebeiner, a legendary cross-country ski race rich in history and tradition. Founded in 1973 by Tony Wise, who was inspired by Norway’s 13th-century Birkebeinerrennet ski race, the “Birkie” has grown into a beloved tradition over the past five decades and has become the largest cross-country ski marathon in North America. The 50km course winds its way through a patchwork of public and private lands – state-owned forests, county lands, private property, and conservation easements. Among those patches is Landmark Conservancy’s Telemark Forest Preserve.
In 2021, Landmark Conservancy, a non-profit land trust, signed a land contract to purchase a 218-acre property from the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF), creating a win-win partnership for recreation, conservation, and the local economy. For ABSF, the sale provided funds to demolish the dilapidated Telemark Lodge and revitalize the facilities at the Birkie’s nearby home base, Mt. Telemark Village, while securing permanent public access to the iconic ski trail. Meanwhile, Landmark was able to protect the land from development pressures and conserve its ecological value, including the Namekagon River watershed. Telemark Forest Preserve also borders Bayfield County Forest, creating an expanse of permanently protected contiguous forestland.
Together, through their diligent work, fundraising, and collaboration, Landmark and ABSF protect over 500 acres of land. Landmark was awarded a $203,000 grant from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program to assist in their $678,000 purchase of the Telemark Forest Preserve, while ABSF received their own $262,000 Knowles-Nelson Grant to purchase Mt. Telemark Village. Since 1989, Knowles-Nelson has supported collaborations and projects like this one that conserve natural areas while bolstering local economies through outdoor recreation and tourism.
The Birkie is a prime example of outdoor recreation’s economic power in Wisconsin. Every February, over 13,000 skiers and tens of thousands of spectators flock to the area, injecting nearly $20 million into the local economy during “Birkie Week” alone. This is just a small piece of Wisconsin’s $9.8 billion outdoor recreation economy, which supports over 94,000 jobs across the hospitality, retail, and guiding industries. Year after year, Wisconsin’s outdoor recreation industry continues to surpass records, highlighting the increasing importance of protecting outdoor spaces for communities and local economies.
Outside of Birkie Week, Telemark Forest Preserve is open to the public for low-impact recreation year-round, with trails connecting to networks maintained by the North End Ski Club, Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA), and Bayfield County. Visitors can hike, ski, birdwatch, fish, canoe, and kayak, immersing themselves in the Northwoods’ natural beauty.
The partnership between Landmark Conservancy and ABSF underscores the important role conservation plays in supporting outdoor recreation and local economies. The Birkebeiner is just one example of this in action, but the impact extends far beyond a single event. Conservation and outdoor recreation are intertwined. Permanently protecting land ensures the ecological and recreational benefits are safeguarded forever, creating a strong foundation for thriving communities and lasting traditions.
Featured photo by Paul M Walsh, 2009
