Bob Otwell, Executive Director, TART Trails, Inc.
Hello Iceman participants,
At TART, we believe trails provide transportation conduits, promote healthy lifestyles, and provide a form of leisure and recreation for people of all ages. TART Trails is a system of non-motorized trails in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. The network consists of five trails utilized by thousands of people who walk, bike, run, in-line skate, cross-country ski and commute. Our mission emphasizes the importance of a fi ne grid of facilities in developed areas where people can walk and bike, so that more trips for more reasons can originate from work, school or home.

In the past year, we’ve made progress on several fronts, including:

• Improvements to the Division and Parkway TART trail crossing
• Replacement of an old tressle bridge on the Leelanau Trail that spans County Road 633 in Binhgam Township
• Completion of collaborative agreements with the Leelanau County Road Commission
• Paving of 2 miles of the Leelanau Trail near Suttons Bay
• The opening of a new trail, Phase I of the Three Mile Trail, and
• TART received an invitation to join the local transportation planning agency board.

We feel that the Iceman Cometh event raises significant awareness of the TART trail system due to the portion of the race that takes place on the Vasa Pathway. Trails provide many tangible community benefits including: increased tourism, economic activity, more recreational activities, greater appreciation and protection of the local environment, increased opportunities for family-oriented activities, and an increase in community health. TART Trails has been working diligently to improve the trails and greenways network in the Grand Traverse Area.

In addition, TART organizes several events that promote physical activity and trail use. Our annual Smart Commute Week event encourages alternative transportation options such as walking, biking, taking the bus or carpooling. TART also hosts the Tour de TART event which is a bike ride from Traverse City to Suttons Bay, a Turkey TART 5K Fun Run event on Thanksgiving morning, and a TART Trail Trek fundraiser walk. TART also plays a big role in the Leelanau Harvest Tour, a road biking event, as well as the North American Vasa, a cross-country skiing event.

We hope you enjoy the work that we do. Enjoy your ride in the northern Michigan woods!

Over twelve different groups helped pitch in with all kinds of functions within the Iceman events. Approximately 20 people from each group helped out to ensure that each aspect of the events went smoothly and kept us on our time schedule. Beneficiaries of the 2006 Iceman included:

TART Trails, Inc .............................................	Meijer Sno-Cone
Sci-ma-tech ....................................................	Finish Line Timing
Trojan Nordic Ski Team ...............................	Finish Line Food Station
Kalkaska Football Team ..............................	Kalkaska Parking & Tear Down
Northstars '90 Girls Soccer Team ..............	Kalkaska Packet Pick-up
Trojan Soccor Boosters ...............................	Williamsburg Road Food Station
Bay Area Reps Hockey Team ....................	Timber Ridge Tear Down
Trojan Hockey Team ....................................	GT Resort & Spa Packet Pick-up
TC Central Student Senate .........................	Road Crossings
Kalkaska Softball Team ...............................	Packet Stuffing
Trojan Alpine Ski Team ...............................	Construction
Trojan Softball Team ....................................	Bike Corral
Boy Scout Troop 28 ......................................	Road Crossings
Boy Scout Troop 27 ......................................	Trail Cleanup