Marji-2026-Final-Update
THE FINAL UPDATE 9-16-2026 – MARJI GESICK EXCLUSIVE—RACK UP 10% OFF– 492 / M35 ROUNDABOUT – NEW PACKET PICKUP LOCATION: 906AT @ GLUSKI PARK– DROP BAGS @ JACKSON PARK– CAN I PUT A TENT OR EZ-UP @ JP?– MARQUETTE MOUNTAIN NEUTRAL AID STATION– COURSE MARKING– ROAD RULES / STOP SIGNS – SUICIDE BOWL ROAD (CTY RD PC) MARJI GESICK EXCLUSIVE—RACK UP 10% OFF Upgrade your setup with 1UP USA bike racks and accessories. Built to last with all-aluminum construction, zero plastic components, modular accessories, and a lifetime warranty—so you can get back to what matters most, riding. Get 10% Off + Free U.S. Shipping with promo code MG26, valid 9/18–10/4/26. SHOP 1UP USA 492 / M35 ROUNDABOUT Be advised, on your way to Negaunee from Marquette you will have to navigate a brand new roundabout. We will have the crossing marked ahead of the two primary crossings, but we want you to be aware of it before you get here. Roundabouts are great – for cars. Rules of the road apply at all times. You’ll need to use caution as you navigate this crossing. NEW PACKET PICKUP LOCATION: 906AT @ GLUSKI PARK Packet pickup is moving this year to 955 N Lakeshore Boulevard, Marquette, MI, or as we call it now 906AT @ Gluski Park. You’re gonna get to see first hand what you’re helping us build – a community trailhead for outdoor adventure in the middle of Marquette. We’ve released maps showing the location and options for parking. You will not be able to park at the location. You will have to find suitable public parking and walk to the venue. Consider this your first Marji Gesick test. If you cannot find our office you might want to reconsider starting Saturday 😂 Look around the park. We’re going to leave it open so you can check it out. You can go into the weekend knowing your suffering is helping create some pretty cool shit for kids and our community 👊🏽 DROP BAGS @ JACKSON PARK Only volunteers can touch them. Cannot be larger than a standard size duffel bag. There’s a place to fill water in the park – don’t pack 800 gallon of water. ONLY RACERS will be given their drop bag. No one else. Period. End of story. When you want it to get moved to the finish line…YOU (THE RACER) need to tell the volunteers to have it sent there CAN I PUT A TENT OR EZ-UP @ JP? This is a reminder regarding Jackson Park. The park is rented by us (906AT) for the event. Jackson Park isn’t a place for you to setup tents, or anything else. JP is reserved for event staff and event operations. You will find drop bag tents and a chaos station in the park. No other equipment/infrastructure is allowed. If we roll into the park and find EZ ups or anything else set out we’ll take it down and send it with Paul into the Huron Mountains. We’ll send ya coordinates for the stuff following the event 😂 MARQUETTE MOUNTAIN NEUTRAL AID STATION COURSE MARKING Course markers consist of four signs: Red ArrowsWrong WayBlame DannyBlame Todd The course is marked well, but that does not mean you should leave the gps at home. Like we have always said: Signs fall down, people pull them down, bears eat them, and the wind blows them away. GPS is required. Course markers should for the most part always be posted on your right side. Turns should be marked before and after the turn. Signage is printed on a reflective material making the arrows very easy to see at night. The course will be marked between Sunday, September 13th and Friday, September 18th, 2026. The course is marked in sections, and not necessarily in order. If you see something that you think doesn’t make sense – let me know. Road Rules / Stop Signs I’m gonna hammer on this message again – and you really need to understand it’s for your own good that you listen and pay attention. Marji Gesick is a self-supported event and road rules apply at all times. Volunteers will not be at every intersection. No one is out there stopping traffic for you. You must obey all traffic laws, stop signs, and have your head on a swivel. Over the last few years, we’ve noticed a lot of trails that intersect with roads don’t have stop signs warning you of a road ahead. Last year, and again this year, we’ll be adding close to thirty temporary stop signs across the event route. When you see a stop sign – STOP. If you don’t You could get hit by a car, or something else. Suicide Bowl Road (CTY RD PC) This is another area that has popped onto our radar as a concern – mostly because people are going back there and parking in a manner that makes it impassable to emergency vehicles. This year, we’re gonna add signs out there that prohibit parking on the left side of the road. This area has to remain open to the public, and emergency vehicles. When we asked you to stop going down Lake Enchantment Road a few years back – you guys responded and respected that request. I need you to do that again. We want support crews out there, and we want you to be able to support riders from Suicide Bowl Road, and we can’t make the road impassable. We’re counting on you guys to observe the signs and only park on the right side of the road. If it fills up, park somewhere else. TODAY’S UPDATE 09-02-26 – SCHEDULE OF EVENTS– EVENT MAPS– CHECKPOINTS & TOKENS– PACKET PICKUP – EVENT PRE-ORDERS, POST EVENT GEAR STORE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Date Time Event Location Buckle Time Thursday, September 17, 2026 5PM – 8PM MG100 Run Packet Pickup 906AT @ Gluski Park955 N. Lakeshore Blvd. Friday, September 18, 2026 8AM MG100 Run Start Forestville TH 28 Hours 5PM – 8PM
Marji Race Week 2026
https://youtu.be/qdlQyNe_9tE?si=95ne14akFXJpEmKU We’re going back to 1985, Day of the Green, Oakland, CA… Classic Metallica… Cliff Burton on the bass… For Whom The Bell Tolls. Schedule of Events Date Time Event Location Buckle Time Thursday, September 17, 2026 5PM – 8PM MG100 Run Packet Pickup 906AT @ Gluski Park955 N. Lakeshore Blvd. Friday, September 18, 2026 8AM MG100 Run Start Forestville TH 28 Hours 5PM – 8PM Packet Pickup 906AT @ Gluski Park955 N. Lakeshore Blvd. Saturday, September 19, 2026 7AM MG50 Run Start Downtown Marquette 7:30AM MG100 Bike, Duathlon Start Forestville TH 12 Hours (100Bike), 22 Hours (Duathlon) 8AM MG50 Bike Start Downtown Marquette 10AM Mini Marji Start Jackson Park 12PM Finish Line Opens Ishpeming Sunday, September 20, 2026 2AM Jackson Park Cutoff Jackson Park 8:30AM MG2026 Cutoff Ishpeming MARJI GESICK EXCLUSIVE—RACK UP 10% OFF Upgrade your setup with 1UP USA bike racks and accessories. Built to last with all-aluminum construction, zero plastic components, modular accessories, and a lifetime warranty—so you can get back to what matters most, riding. Get 10% Off + Free U.S. Shipping with promo code MG26, valid 9/18–10/4/26. SHOP 1UP USA Self Supported Ethos You are on your own. No one is out there to save you. GPS is required. Road Rules apply at all times. In an emergency, dial 911. We told ya this during registration. We’ve been repeating it all month. We’re gonna reiterate the message one last time. You are on your own. No one is out there to save you. GPS is required. Road Rules apply at all times. In an emergency, dial 911. If you’re not ok with it you should stay home. RWGPS, GPS, ROAD RULES (Ya, again…) When the gpx files are ready and we decide to post em’… You’ll find them on Ride With GPS (RWGPS). GPS is required. The course is marked but… Signs fall down, Bears eat them, and people do dumb shit. Use a GPS. It might save your race. If you don’t listen…. Don’t blame us. Road Rules apply at all times. You will not find volunteers at road crossings. No one is out there keeping you safe. Be responsible. Use caution. Look both ways. Make smart decisions. You get 25 hours. Checkpoints Checkpoints are hidden across the route. Some checkpoints have tokens, while others are just there to mess with ya. You won’t know what it is until you check. They all look the same. If you get to a Checkpoint and it’s full of “something”, take one. It’s a token. If it’s empty, #blamedanny… keep rolling. Checkpoint locations and contents are kept secret. We do not share plans with anyone… If you get to the finish line without any of the required tokens we’ll DQ ya. To be clear… all checkpoint signage is found directly on-route. They’re not hidden in da hills. On the approach to a checkpoint you’ll encounter large signs 24” x 36” with the words “CHECKPOINT AHEAD” followed by a sign that says “CHECKPOINT” with a full bin of “something”. MARJI GESICK TALK Visit the Customer Disservice Department on Facebook, and stay current on all of the latest mis-information. MARQUETTE MOUNTAIN NEUTRAL AID STATION NTN SOUTH TRAILHEAD, LAKE ENCHANTMENT ROAD, SUICIDE BOWL ROAD We’ve been covering this since the beginning of August. I’m gonna cover it one more time. We need your help minimizing the impact on people in the community. NTN SOUTH TRAILHEAD: Please do not use this trailhead for support or anything else. The Marquette Mountain Neutral Aid Station is just down the road. They have a ton of parking and they’re throwing y’all a party. LAKE ENCHANTMENT ROAD: This isn’t a new request. We’ve been asking you to stay away from this area for a few years – and you have. Let’s keep the streak alive. Do not plan to meet in this area. SUICIDE BOWL ROAD: We are posting one side of the road “NO PARKING”. You can park on the side we do not post, but your vehicles cannot impede emergency vehicles should they need to get through. If our request to keep this corridor open is not respected we’ll shut the road down next year. Work together on this. Remind each other. You might have to park somewhere else & walk. It’s not the end of the world. Event Maps TIMING SERVICE Superior Timing Photographers Fresh Coast Exposures Supporting Partners
Doing The Hard Things – September 2026
What’s inside: DNA of Adventure: Self-Supported EthosGluski Park: A month of construction!Finishing What Was Started: Gluski Park Takes Shape Around a Bigger Vision for Outdoor AdventureAdventure Team Petoskey Crushes First SeasonAdventure Teams Wrap for the SeasonKeep the Spirit of Adventure Alive!Made U.P. PodcastEvents with 906AT DNA of Adventure: Self-Supported Ethos With Marji Gesick less than two weeks away… I pulled an old blog post out of the archive. This article first hit our website back in 2021. Five years later… it’s still true. I’m going to build off of this story in next month’s newsletter, but for now enjoy the DNA of Adventure: Self-Supported Ethos. You are on your own. You accept responsibility for your preparation, choices, and the outcome. – The Crusher, Enhanced Gravel Wilderness Adventure SETTING THE TONEThe self-supported ethos can be summed up quite simply: You are on your own. You are responsible for yourself. You are accountable for your actions and behavior. Simple. Direct. Honest. The bar is set high – for everyone. No excuses, no finger-pointing. For the uninitiated, this might all seem a bit heavy handed. Modern society panders to the unprepared, perpetually offended, and entitled. One thing will never change: If you want it, you gotta earn it. There are no shortcuts, and by constantly trying to create them we undermine the foundation of strong communities. Stability rises from a clear and equal distribution of responsibility among the people, mutual respect, and character. No one gets a pass. LIFE IS NOT FAIRPeople love playing games. What makes a good game? Is it the action? The rules? Winning? While we certainly don’t line up to lose, what happens when we do? Do we blame someone, or do we look in the mirror? What happens when a rule is changed or misused? So many people are quick to yell “That’s not fair!” from the stands. It’s also common to hear a dad tell his kid, “You got robbed.” With these messages, we’re grooming kids to expect predictability and fairness. They automatically blame someone else when things don’t go as planned. Instead of mentoring resilience and durability, we seem to be giving preference to comfort and safety. The result? Kids who are scared and insecure – lashing out at the world around them. Adventure is inherently unpredictable, uncomfortable, and unsafe. You control your preparation and adaptability. A lack of rules and predictability is a lesson in and of itself: to prepare for the unexpected. Adventure empowers individuals, not rules. Adventure ignores fairness, viewing complications as experience enhancements and an opportunity for personal development. While many sports (including competitive cycling) give priority to natural skill and athletic ability, adventure-centric programs level the playing field for kids who may not have been born the fastest or most coordinated but are equally capable and worthy of our time. COLLABORATORS INSTEAD OF COMPETITORSInteresting things happen when we remove head-to-head competition and focus on personal conduct, character, and responsibility. Behaviors change. We become collaborators. We focus on the journey, what we hope to accomplish, and what must be done to see it through – forging relationships more likely to endure adversity. Kids are getting a lot of pressure from adults to succeed now and become a leader now, as though they need to prove their worth now. Whatever happened to being a kid? Becoming a good follower today is an important prerequisite to future leadership. Yet it seems few people want to take orders or respect the learning than comes from a chain of command. AN UNSAFE WORLDThe self-supported ethos is predicated on a belief that the world is not safe. We are not at the mercy of the world. We are at the mercy of our own willingness to face the world. We possess the ability to adapt and better ourselves. Success is a choice. Preparation, work ethic, and commitment will pay dividends long after natural ability. That’s why the self-supported ethos is such a defining part of the adventure team. Instead of paving the path to make everything easy for kids, we give them the tools to forge their own path. Why? Because we believe sending kids off unprepared would be the real tragedy. Gluski Park: A month of construction! Construction began on Gluski Park just over a month ago – and let me tell you – the work being done has exceeded all of my expectations. I have the privilege of starting every day at 906AT headquarters – and for the past month that has meant watching the flat, open space behind our office building begin to transform. At first, it was massive dirt piles. That alone was honestly, impressive. Watching the trucks on a constant back and forth from our property to Lindberg and Sons gravel pit – it was wild! So much material was hauled into the site, I had doubts it could possibly all get used. I was wrong! It was used – and they needed more! As the crew from Rock Solid got to work – it seemed like I blinked and suddenly, I could not just see the pump track taking shape, I could feel the energy and excitement kids will experience when they approach this feature. And then, work on the hub began – a culvert was placed – rocks were hauled to the site – and suddenly, the park was taken to new heights, literally. Standing on top of the hub – I’m pretty sure will feel like standing on top of the world to our five- and six-year-old visitors. I remember first sharing the park illustration with all of you – I was so excited for the community to see what we were going to build. And now that we’re building – I cannot wait for you to feel the magnitude of this project and the opportunity it brings for exploration, adventure, development and community. We’ve seen some of you walk by, you’ve stopped for a chat and a tour – if you’re in town and able – check it out! It’s really something to see in
Marji-2026-Updates
TODAY’S UPDATE 09-02-26 – SCHEDULE OF EVENTS– EVENT MAPS– CHECKPOINTS & TOKENS– PACKET PICKUP – EVENT PRE-ORDERS, POST EVENT GEAR STORE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Date Time Event Location Buckle Time Thursday, September 17, 2026 5PM – 8PM MG100 Run Packet Pickup 906AT @ Gluski Park955 N. Lakeshore Blvd. Friday, September 18, 2026 8AM MG100 Run Start Forestville TH 28 Hours 5PM – 8PM Packet Pickup 906AT @ Gluski Park955 N. Lakeshore Blvd. Saturday, September 19, 2026 7AM MG50 Run Start Downtown Marquette 7:30AM MG100 Bike, Duathlon Start Forestville TH 12 Hours (100Bike), 22 Hours (Duathlon) 8AM MG50 Bike Start Downtown Marquette 10AM Mini Marji Start Jackson Park 12PM Finish Line Opens Ishpeming Sunday, September 20, 2026 2AM Jackson Park Cutoff Jackson Park 8:30AM MG2026 Cutoff Ishpeming EVENT MAPS CHECKPOINTS & TOKENS Checkpoints are hidden across the route. Some checkpoints have tokens, while others are just there to mess with ya. You won’t know what it is until you check. They all look the same. If you get to a Checkpoint and it’s full of “something”, take one. It’s a token. If it’s empty, #blamedanny and keep rolling. Checkpoint locations and contents are kept secret. No one knows how many there will be, or where they’ll be. If you get to the finish line without any of the required tokens we’ll DQ ya. To be clear… all checkpoint signage is found directly on-route. They’re not hidden in da hills. On the approach to a checkpoint you’ll encounter large signs 24” x 36” with the words “CHECKPOINT AHEAD” followed by a sign that says “CHECKPOINT” with a full bin of “something”. One more thing – your tokens have to be on you. DO NOT give them to anyone. If you get to the finish line without your tokens (or without one of the tokens) you have to decide in that moment if you are going back to get the missed token, or if you are quitting. No sitting around for an hour and having the token you missed magically appear. As soon as you finish you will be checked. PACKET PICKUP We are moving packet pickup on Thursday and Friday to the 906 Adventure Team Office @ Gluski Park. Long story short – Blackrocks turned the back lot into a food truck oasis and there’s not room for us. We explored a couple of options with the city and DDA but decided to bring everything to our place. So, you’ll get to see what you’re helping us build. That’s a pretty good deal, really. Thursday night packet pickup is for hundred-mile runners, but the other runners can pickup, too (MG50, Mini Marji Run). Bikers cannot pickup their stuff Thursday night. Parking Note: You will have to use city parking lots or city streets. Expect a little bit of a walk wherever you decide to park. Please do not try parking in other business parking lots, etc. EVENT PRE-ORDERS,POST EVENT GEAR STORE If you ordered Support Crew gear, or jerseys… We’ll have it ready for you at packet pickup. No gear will be sold at the event. If you did not pre-order it… you will have to order gear during the post-event store. Thursday night: Runners can pickup bibs and gear. Friday night: Bikers and runners can pickup. TODAY’S UPDATE 08-28-26 – Road Rules / Stop Signs – Lake Enchantment Road – Suicide Bowl Road (CTY RD PC) Road Rules / Stop Signs I’m gonna hammer on this message again – and you really need to understand it’s for your own good that you listen and pay attention. Marji Gesick is a self-supported event and road rules apply at all times. Volunteers will not be at every intersection. No one is out there stopping traffic for you. You must obey all traffic laws, stop signs, and have your head on a swivel. Over the last few years, we’ve noticed a lot of trails that intersect with roads don’t have stop signs warning you of a road ahead. Last year, and again this year, we’ll be adding close to thirty temporary stop signs across the event route. When you see a stop sign – STOP. If you don’t you could hit by a car, or something else. Lake Enchantment Road Again this year we are asking support crews and anyone else with the event to stay away from Lake Enchantment Road. If you have a rider to support or if you wanna spectate – go to Marquette Mountain. There will be an aid station there, a ton of support, and parking. We need to remember that while it might feel like the whole world is obsessed with Marji, that’s not the case. There are a lot of people out there who don’t even know about the event. They would like to go about their lives without bumping into a bunch of us 😂. Support and spectate at Marquette Mountain and then move to Jackson Park. Suicide Bowl Road (CTY RD PC) This is another area that has popped onto our radar as a concern – mostly because people are going back there and parking in a manner that makes it impassable to emergency vehicles. This year, we’re gonna add signs out there that prohibit parking on the left side of the road. This area has to remain open to the public, and emergency vehicles. When we asked you to stop going down Lake Enchantment Road a few years back – you guys responded and respected that request. I need you to do that again. We want support crews out there, and we want you to be able to support riders from Suicide Bowl Road, and we can’t make the road impassable. We’re counting on your guys to observe the signs and only park on the right side of the road. If it fills up, park somewhere else. TODAY’S UPDATE 08-20-26 – Schedule of Events – Course Signage – Pacers / Unregistered Riders– Rules
Doing The Hard Things – August 2026
What’s inside: A note from the Director of AdventureGluski Park: GroundbreakingGluski Park: Building SupportU.P. in Smoke: Crusher Mass Start 2026Crusher MS: Never SurrenderCrusher P2P: “My worst days were also my best days.” -KIKONew on Made U.P. PodcastAdventure Team Hike: One Step at a TimeEvents with 906AT A note from the Director of Adventure I write you today to provide an update on our campaign to build Gluski Park, and to talk about the future. Like every 906AT event, it has been and will continue to be an adventure. There Is A Finish Line. It’s easy to get excited about the vision for Gluski Park. What’s not to love? A park instead of a hotel? Preserving a green space? Creating a community trailhead for outdoor adventure? Honoring Tara? Everyone was in. Then we’d talk about money. What’s it gonna cost? $2.1 million. Eyes got big. There’d be a pause. “That’s a lot of money.” I felt that every step of the way people wanted to see it happen, but they had their doubts. I never did. Whether it took one year or twenty, the only way we wouldn’t build Gluski Park is if someone took us out! We went to work a year and a half ago. If you’ve never been a part of raising money for a project of this size, please allow me to give you the cliff notes. You hurry up and… don’t talk about it (publicly). You work behind the scenes. You write grants. So many grants. Ya do a lot of planning. So much planning. And most of those plans don’t work. You get some wins, but the wins are disproportionate to the losses. Translation: You lose more than you win. Yer’ tested at every turn. You learn fast that positive thinking isn’t going to make things happen – tenacity and perseverance does. And then you take the project public. So, in May we did, and what happened next no one expected. In short order, we met the goal: 2.1 million dollars. The campaign has attracted 250+ donors scattered across the country. Not the county – the country. Support has poured in from every direction. Notable and generous support has come from: Great Lakes Sports Commission, Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation, Innovate Marquette, Hirvonen Foundation, a state appropriation sponsored by Representative Karl Bohnak, and too many more donors to mention in this letter (a full listing of all supporters can be found on our website). We met our goal. Does that mean we’re done? No. It means we’re just getting started. There is no finish line. Let’s talk about the future. We have secured $2.1 million in financial commitments, but we still need to build the park. Pledges can get pulled back. Costs can increase. Projects uncover unexpected complications. It happens all of the time. We have to be prepared for the unexpected – like any 906AT event. It’s a time to celebrate, and a time to stay focused (read: not relax). Let’s say everything gets done on time, and the project comes in on or under budget. That would be great, but that’s not the end. We need to put it to work (new programs). We need to take care of it (annual maintenance). We have a promise to keep: Build a community trailhead for outdoor adventure so every kid in Marquette gets the chance to discover the best version of themself through outdoor adventure, and Honor Tara. There is a finish line. There is no finish line. Multiple-truths. We hit a goal, and hitting that goal gets us closer to the next goal. The next step. The next chapter. As we grow the organization will require more support – not less. On that note, I am going to do a hard thing, and ask you to continue to support us. Support us today. Support us in the future. Help us build the park, and help us maintain it. Help us launch more youth Adventure Teams. Help us continue to bring people together through adventure. Support 906AT Gluski Park: Groundbreaking 906 Adventure Team officially broke ground on Gluski Park this morning (August 3, 2026) at 9:06 AM. Supporters and partners of the project gathered on site to celebrate. Rock Solid Trail Contracting is now working on building the trail infrastructure, including the pump track, hub, technical trails and the walking path. This first stage of work is expected to be completed later this Fall. Phase two of the project will begin in the Spring. Gluski Park: Building Support On one of my first days with 906 Adventure Team, in early March of 2025, Todd handed me a rolled-up set of plans for Gluski Park. He said simply, “learn everything there is to learn about these.” And that began the next year and half of work. I carried those plans with me for months. In my car, under my arm, at the kitchen table – they were always with me. And so was the task at hand: fundraise $2.1 million to build Gluski Park, a community trailhead for outdoor adventure. I suspected then, what I’m 100% certain about now – raising money, building this park, sharing the vision – it couldn’t be done by just Todd and I. In those first months, I sat down with anyone who would listen. Christopher Germain at the Lake Superior Community Partnership, Karen Kovas with the City of Marquette, Zosia Eppensteiner with the Community Foundation of Marquette County, trusted friends and partners in the community, Representative Karl Bohnak, Dave Nyberg, Michele Butler, Jess Jones, Rick Rhoades, Brad Canale – and countless others. Through those early conversations I began to learn how to connect 906AT with available resources and share our vision and plans for Gluski Park with the community. It was a huge undertaking. There were ups and downs. Moments of celebration and moments of disappointment. But through it all, there was so much enthusiasm, positive energy, and encouragement. I don’t think I heard one single negative comment about the project the entire time
Doing The Hard Things – July 2026
What’s inside: A note from the Director of AdventureAdventure Team Iron County: Leading With HeartAdventure Team Marquette: Totally Changed My KidAdventure Team Midland: Showing Up, Even When It’s HardNew on Made UP PodcastEvents with 906AT A note from the Director of Adventure It’s Crusher week. You could look at the Crusher and call it dangerous or crazy. You could call the people who do it crazy, too. At some level, it is, and we probably are. But look around you. Read the news. Isn’t that crazy, too? How in the world did we get to the point that we walk around buried in a screen all day and everyone thinks it’s normal? That’s dangerous, and if we’re really being honest, sad. It’s hard to describe how simple the world feels when you’re in the middle of nowhere with nothing but your bike, your gear, and a few hundred miles to go. All the other shit we worry about kinda melts away as we realize how little it all matters, and we stop looking at other people like something that’s in our way – and we see em’ as someone we wanna get to the finish line with. Stuff like Crusher, and Marji, and Polar Roll, and the youth Adventure Teams keep us connected to each other and somethin’ innately wild – our spirit. The essence of being human is to face danger and adversity – and overcome, not run from it. Facing danger is dangerous. Running from it is, too. The hardest paths offer the most memorable and meaningful memories. That’s why we do what we do, and strive to pass it onto our kids. Adventure Team Iron County: Leading With Heart Roberta Scott has been volunteering with Adventure Team Iron County for three years. It’s been a family affair. Her husband volunteers as well and her 7-year-old daughter, Sparrow, participates. The Scotts moved to the Upper Peninsula three summers ago. Roberta says they joined Adventure Team to find community – a place where they could all, as a family, meet people and make friends. And that is exactly what the Scotts have found – community and so much more. “Sparrow found her independence. I remember distinctly – she can get herself ready, her t-shirt, helmet, water, snack – and then it was pulling teeth to get her to leave bike club every night. When we got back home, she’d bring her bike back in and unpack – she had a real sense of responsibility – doing the best you can, yourself. There is so much emphasis on team sports – it’s nice to find something that is individual based.” Roberta says there’s a great energy at bike club filled with camaraderie and activity. She says in a world full of divisiveness, it’s a place where you realize how much more similar we all are than we are different. Plus, she says she’s constantly learning new skills and leaves every night feeling better than she did when she got to bike club. “I learn something every time I go out there. Kids are so in tune with nature, animals, the plants and trails – they really lead the way, telling me where I need to go in a fork in the road, they talk about signs of animals that they just saw – I’m constantly surprised with the information I walk away with and much of it has very little to do with biking, but I’m also very impressed with the biking that I’ve done.” Adventure Team programming has been running in Iron County officially since 2021. It began with one man leading with his heart and the desire to better his community. That man is Benjamin Garcia, he continues to volunteer as a lead in Iron County, ensuring the program stays energized, organized and moving forward. Benjamin says, “I’ve always resonated similarly with Todd’s thoughts on kids, community and society as a whole – everything 906AT stands for and does programming wise, pushing people to grow – I feel the need of that in my community. Biking is great, but the aspect of what we do is the driver.” Benjamin admits it’s not always easy to find volunteers and to relay the value of what Adventure Team is – but he believes in the mission, he’s seen the positive impact it makes – and he remains determined to keep Adventure Team a part of his community. He’s encouraged by the growth of the trail system in the area, the work being done by volunteers to grow and support biking and he continuously leans on where it all started – Doing Hard Things – as a community, as volunteers and coaches, and as youth riders in the program. It’s Doing Hard Things together, but it’s also going back to the basics, says Roberta. “It’s grounding to do something almost very simple, ride our bikes with our friends and family. It brings you back to your roots. Just getting out, being without a phone, without a screen, focusing on the trail ahead, laughing with your friends, it feels pretty special and simple and it feels good to sort of round back to that.” Adventure Team Marquette: “Totally Changed My Kid” “Dad, I have found my sport.” It was a simple comment after the first night of bike club in Marquette between a father and son. But, that one comment from his son brought tears to Jason Swanson’s eyes. Jason’s son is 8 years old. This is his first year in Adventure Team. Jason says he and his wife have always wanted to get their son involved in activities, they tried baseball, talked about joining soccer – as parents they think both are great programs, but their son didn’t have much interest in either. Jason has been a part of the mountain biking community his whole life. He rides with his son – they both love riding bikes – so, Adventure Team seemed like it might be the right fit. Three weeks in and dad says the
Doing The Hard Things – June 2026
What’s inside: A note from the Director of AdventureGluski Park Campaign Kickoff Event: Be a part of what we’re building!Made UP Outdoor Summit: Expanding the ConversationCountdown to 2026 Adventure Team Season906AT: Featured in Outside MagazineMTRS: Schedule Change906AT: Keeping the Mission at the Center of All We DoNew on Made UP PodcastEvents with 906AT A note from the Director of Adventure The June newsletter feels like a great time to say – Thank you. Thank you to the 600+ volunteers who make Adventure Bike Club possible every year. We couldn’t do it without you, and 1,300 fewer kids would experience adventure if you didn’t show up for em’. Thank you to the volunteer coaches who are planning to show up next week to help with Marji Camp. Year after year, many of the same people keep showing up to share their experience and stoke for all things Marji. Thank you to Bill and Emily Mason (and other volunteers who pitch in around the office @ basecamp) for doing the little things while we run around trying to get ready for the summer. We see the work you do – and greatly appreciate it. Thank you to everyone supporting Gluski Park. With your support we’ve raised $1,400,000. Typin’ that out blows me away… We’ve raised $1.4 million!!! Site prep will begin in July. Rock Solid will start building in August. So damn exciting Thank you to our donors, sponsors, and partners. Some give money. Some give time. Others provide service. Each of you gives in order to help us be stronger, and I want you to know that I see it. Every day. And last but not least… Thank you to our staff. Marc, Elizabeth, Julie, and Adventure Team Area Leads. Yer’ the heart and soul of 906AT, and you probably don’t hear it often enough. So, thank you. Thank you for always showing up to do the hard things – and finish what you start! TP “It’s for kids like me who had no idea what they were capable of before they got onto the bike.” -Sawyer Stelwagen May 15, 2026 – Not only did this day mark, perhaps the warmest day of the last six months, this particular day in May was also the Campaign Kickoff Event for Gluski Park. As an organization, 906 Adventure Team, has been behind the scenes developing, planning, preparing, and fundraising for this project – but this day, May 15th, marked our first opportunity to officially present Gluski Park to the community. We’d been anxiously counting down the days to this event – an opportunity to kickoff our public fundraising campaign, and also an opportunity to invite the community to the space at 955 N. Lakeshore Boulevard that will become Gluski Park – to set the tone for what this park will be – the energy, the excitement, the opportunity – our first community gathering – the first of many more to come. The event did not disappoint. You showed up. You brought a positive, excited and enthusiastic energy. You confirmed and solidified what this space will be. A space for all ages and all skills. A space full of promise and opportunity. The evening began with a lineup of the following inspirational speakers. 906AT Director of Adventure Todd Poquette who highlighted the vision and the plans for Gluski Park. Todd LaFave from the Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation, who shared the legacy of Daniel Kobasic and the work of the foundation after awarding 906AT $800,000. Sandy Gluski, Tara Gluski’s mother who poured her love for her daughter into her words and the space, poignantly named after Tara. Susie Fox from the Great Lakes Sports Commission, an advocate and supporter of Gluski Park through a $150,000 grant. Representative Karl Bohnak who believes in the project and mission, demonstrating his support through his work in Lansing. And Sawyer Stelwagen, an Adventure Team participant, apprentice leader in the program and now coach, shared his experience and the impact the program has had on his growth and development. Sawyer spoke on behalf of so many kids, who have found a safe space in 906 Adventure Team to Do Hard Things and push beyond their comfort zones. He recounted the first time he made it to the top of Kirby’s Hill: “I can remember so vividly feeling something I hadn’t felt in a long time. Pride. I felt proud of what I had accomplished. And with that pride came a realization. I could overcome anything. If I spent the time and I put the work in, I could take on any obstacle life threw at me. If I kept showing up, even when things were hard and pushing to do better each day, I would grow.” That’s what Gluski Park is about – that’s what you’re helping create when you give. You’re supporting our mission of empowering people to become the best version of themselves through outdoor education. With your support, this park means we’ll impact more kids and more families. It allows us to open our arms bigger, expanding our community – a group of people, businesses and organizations who understand the importance of giving every kid an opportunity like Sawyer’s moment on Kirby’s Hill. “Gluski Park isn’t just for the established racers and the top athletes,” Sawyer shared with the crowd. “It’s for kids like me who had no idea what they were capable of before they got onto the bike. This park provides more than just a place for these kids to hone their skills on the trails but rather provides a place where they can hone their character and mind without feeling like they are being judged by those around them. Gluski Park is a place of challenge for these kids to keep showing up to and one day take pride in their ability to conquer each day.” The event did not disappoint. You showed up. You brought a positive, excited and enthusiastic energy. You confirmed and solidified what this space will be. A space for all ages and all skills. A space full of promise and opportunity. Over 200 people joined us for the kickoff.
Marji Camp 2026
MARJI CAMP 2026 Thursday, June 4 – Sunday, June 7, 2026Rippling River Campground, Marquette Registration for Marji Camp will open in October with registration for Marji Gesick on Bike Reg SCHEDULE Thursday, June 43PM-8PM – Check-In (Campsites cannot be occupied prior to 3PM.)9PM – Night Ride Friday, June 5● 7:30AM – Breakfast & Coffee – provided by 906● 9AM-12PM – Ride● 12PM-1PM – Lunch – provided trailside by 906● 1PM-4PM – Ride● 5PM – Dinner/Beer – provided by 906● 8PM – Campfire Talks● 9:30PM – Night Ride Saturday, June 6● 7:30AM – Breakfast & Coffee – provided by 906● 9AM-12PM – Ride● 12PM-1PM – Lunch – provided trailside by 906● 1PM-4PM – Ride● 5PM – Dinner/Beer – provided by 906● 8PM – Campfire Talks● 9:30PM – Night Ride Sunday, June 7● 11AM – Checkout from Rippling River CAMPING Is first come, first serve. Everyone has to fit into Pioneer Circle. Be ready to share space. Camp is about community. If you want a buncha privacy – get a room. GROUP ASSIGNMENTS You’ll receive your group assignments at check in. No, you cannot pick your group, and don’t ask us to pair you with a friend. You’ll get your assignment when ya get to camp. After your first ride if you need to change groups see Elizabeth or Todd. RIDE LOCATIONS Here’s the thing you need to remember: You will ride at 3-4 different trailheads and locations. Most of them WILL require you either drive or carpool with someone. Have a plan. You’ll get more information when you check in on Thursday. BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, BEER We will provide beer each night, but when it’s gone it’s gone. Maybe you should pick up a sixer of your favorite beverage and we could do a little beer share? Up to you. Breakfast is on us Friday and Saturday morning. Lunch and dinner are, too. Here’s a look at da menu. Marji Camp Breakfast Menu (Friday & Saturday) Granola w/milk (GF)Bacon Red Pepper Crustless Quiche (GF)Lemon Poppyseed Muffins (GF)Blueberry MuffinsChocolate Chunk MuffinsHam & Cheese CroissantsCheddar Herb Scones Marji Camp Lunch Menu (Friday & Saturday) Turkey Wrap – Turkey, bacon, swiss, chipotle mayo, leaf lettuce. With kettle chips and a chocolate chunk cookie. Italian Wrap – Ham, salami, provolone, garlic mayo, leaf lettuce. With kettle chips and a chocolate chunk cookie. *Gluten Free and Vegetarian option available if needed. Marji Camp Dinner Menu (Friday): Marji Camp Dinner Menu (Saturday): Fueled by WEATHER, GEAR, LIES Don’t believe the forecast. It lies! Bring clothes for warm weather, cold weather, rain, and snow. Bring lots of layers. Bring bug spray and head nets. Bring extra tires. If you still have room, pack your mom, too. She can read you a bedtime story and tell ya it’s gonna be ok before bed. Bike or running shoes Helmet Lights (for night ride/run) First Aid kit Camping gear Rain gear Layers Knee pads, elbow pads (optional) GPS Bug spray Supplemental food, hydration, and basic nutrition NIGHT RIDES There will be night rides scheduled each night. Find out more when you check in. CAMPFIRE TALKS There will be campfire talks scheduled each night. Find out more when you check in. MARQUETTE MOUNTAIN Please do not pre-ride anywhere on Marquette Mountain property. Their trails are not open to the public. You must have a season pass to ride trails on their property. Supporting Partners
Doing The Hard Things – May 2026
What’s inside: A note from the Director of AdventureRemembering Tara GluskiA rising tide lifts all boatsA partnership built on confidence, trust, and compassionGluski Park Campaign Kickoff: Be There!New on Made UP PodcastEvents with 906AT A note from the Director of Adventure Much of our story over the past 12 years has been well-documented. We started with one coach and five kids. The program has since turned into 650+ coaches and more than 1,300 kids in 17 communities across the Midwest. We created events that are regarded as some of the most challenging endurance events in the Midwest. Marji Gesick is regarded by many as the “hardest single-day mountain bike event in America.” If you can qualify, you’ll be inducted into a “Hall of Pain.” We promote the doing of hard things, finishing what you start, and personal accountability, to name just a few. Neither the youth program nor the events follow traditional formats. You don’t come to the U.P. to win our events, you come up here hoping to survive them. Adventure Team, our youth resilience program, emphasizes character development and skill development. We meet kids where they are. We’re patient and invested in them beyond how fast or far they can ride a bike. The endurance event we’re focused on preparing them for is life. Sport has been historically male-dominated. Not here. 46% of our leadership is female. Girls and young women account for more than 42% of all youth participants. 30% or more of all participants in Polar Roll, The Crusher, and Marji Gesick, are women, too. Like I said at the start, all of that has been well documented. The next part has not. I have watched who we reach change. I have watched the program get to kids and families other programs cannot. We’ve expanded our reach well beyond the traditional cycling community. We’re not a race team. The majority of these kids are not rolling into bike club on two, three, four thousand dollar bikes. They’re riding a Huffy, or a hand-me-down their brother and sister rode five years ago. We see unicorn helmets, baskets hung on the handlebars, and tassels dangling from the grips. For a lot of these kids this might be their only real outdoor activity all week. This matters to them in ways most of us can’t understand. This summer, we’re breaking ground on a new chapter: Gluski Park – a community trailhead for outdoor adventure. The park will be the vehicle that allows us to create new programs, venture into outdoor education, and reach more kids. It’s not an ending, it is a beginning, and we hope you’ll join us. “My goal in life is hopefully to live it as honorably as she did.”-Sandy Gluski On a quiet and cold morning in April, Sandy Gluski and her husband Paul, sit with me at their dining room table. We laugh, we smile, and we also wipe tears from our faces as they remember and share stories of their daughter, Tara Gluski. Tara was the 906AT Adventure Coordinator for over five years. She worked alongside Todd, growing Adventure Team programming, creating systems for managing data, sharing her love of the outdoors with youth and the community. She was well known and well loved. She had a number of jobs before moving from the Lower Peninsula to the Upper Peninsula – she worked for a cleaning company, a gardening company, for ETNA – which brought her to the Upper Peninsula two times a year. Sandy says she was drawn here for the outdoors. She fell in love with Marquette. “From day one in Marquette she worked for nonprofits – she had to do something she felt good about in her heart.” She always wanted to work with children – at one time aspiring to be a special education teacher. Her mom says she always loved kids – loved being outdoors with kids and helping them. Tara died in a car accident in 2024, ten months after 906 Adventure Team purchased the property on Lakeshore Boulevard and plans began for a park on the green space behind the building. The loss devastated her family, the community and her 906AT friends and family. The organization pressed forward determined to continue to work and find a way to honor and carry her energy, spirit and passion in everything they would do. 906AT decided to name the park, Gluski Park – a tribute to a woman who believed in the mission of empowering people to become the best version of themselves through outdoor adventure with everything she was. “It means everything to us,” says Sandy. “How many people who’ve lost someone they loved so much, has something named after them? It means everything.” Tara’s dad Paul stops at the 906AT property every morning for a cup of coffee. He feels connected to her in the space. He talks to her. He knows her car will never again be in the parking lot, but it’s a place he can go to feel the mark she made on this world. Sandy says, “We are fortunate to have known such a person, a person who created such an impact on the community that she will always be remembered. It’s heartwarming that she’s always here.” It’s beautiful to listen to the stories of Tara’s life. Of her childhood playing in the woods and in the lake. Hearing the story of her wedding day on Presque Isle, the laughter she shared with her husband, the happiness she felt traveling, spending time outdoors, adventuring. Her dedication to 906AT and the work she did with Todd for youth, families and the community. She made an impact. As we move into the next phase of the Gluski Park project it’s important to look forward, but it’s equally as important to reflect back and never forget where the project began – with Tara and Todd. Tara is an example of a life well lived, and the difference one person can make. For her work, for her dedication, for her passion, spirit and energy – we’ll honor Tara with every speck of dirt and drop of sweat that goes into
Doing The Hard Things – April 2026
What’s inside: A note from the Director of AdventureCABLE POQUETTE :: The impact of Adventure TeamAdventure Team Registration :: April 18 :: BE READYVolunteer with Adventure Team :: Today’s kids need youNew on Made UP Podcast906AT/Pactimo Gear Store :: Open until 4/122026 Leadership Summit :: Sign up TODAYMTRS :: Adventure Your WayEvents with 906AT A note from the Director of Adventure “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” I have always enjoyed reading stuff from Stephen Covey. I credit his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, for opening my 20-something eyes to how much I had left to learn about leadership and people. I was 25 at the time – a point in life when ya feel like you know it all (until you pick up a book written by a guy much older and wiser). Seriously, tho. The book had a real impact on me as a young man – an impact that has stuck with me into my 50’s. If you haven’t read it… I highly recommend it. I’m gonna date myself, and you too, if ya remember what I’m about to reference. Mastercard did a marketing campaign in the late 90’s that highlights emotional experiences over physical purchases. Each commercial would end with the tagline “There are some things money can’t buy.” To honor that iconic campaign, I’m gonna prove it. This is your April newsletter easter egg! Send me a story about an experience you or one of your friends had during a 906AT event and how it has impacted you (them). If you’re a parent, send us a story that highlights an experience from one of your kids, and what they’ve learned from it. Include a photo with your story, please. We’ll share those stories throughout the day on Tuesday (April 7th) via social media and select a winner that night. If you win, you’ll get a season pass to the endurance trilogy! I started with a story about Stephen Covey. I’ll end with one, too. Let’s talk about “Keeping the main thing the main thing.” The world is full of distractions and noise. Now more than ever. I can tell you for us, a small nonprofit with three employees, it’s not just about distractions and noise, it’s about manpower, too. It can be hard to keep the main thing the main thing, but we must. And what is the main thing? The main thing is giving kids a chance to: get outside, learn about their community, experience adventure, make new friends, feel valued, take chances, overcome failure, and learn how to embrace the journey. That is not an exhaustive list, and those items are not listed in order of importance. They’re all important. They’re all the main thing. And we need to make sure through all of the fun we have on our own adventures that we never forget it… Because if this community can’t prioritize adventure for these kids…. Who will? “It’s something to fall back on, a stress reliever – it helps kids in tough times.” -Cable Poquette I first interviewed Cable Poquette in 2020 for the TV6 Morning News. I shared his story then – as 9-year-old Cable completed his first Crusher EX40 – riding 54 miles. He inspired me then, much in the same way he continues to inspire me today. You can watch that first interview here. It’s worth watching – you can see the remarkable young man he was becoming – the Cable I interviewed again last week. I sat down with him to learn about the impact of growing up in Adventure Team, riding shotgun to the ups and downs his dad, Todd faced as he began the program in 2014 and grew it to what it is today. If you’ve ever wondered how Adventure Team programming impacts a child, I can’t think of a better example, than Cable Poquette. “Biking and Adventure Team has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. When it first started, I was too young to participate, but I was always there,” says Cable. Cable began riding with Adventure Team Marquette in 2019, he looks back on that first year with a smile. He says it was an amazing experience. He admits he wasn’t used to riding with other kids, but he enjoyed the noncompetitive atmosphere. “It made us all better,” says Cable. Better on the bike and better human beings. He says Adventure Team broadened his horizons. He met kids from other schools, kids from outside his social circle, and he learned how to interact with adults. His confidence in biking grew. His skills grew. And it wasn’t long before he was riding with kids older than himself. He became a leader in the program. “The one thing that I learned pretty quickly was – don’t make kids feel bad. Everybody is where they are at. I wanted to always help – I liked telling them that they’re doing a good job – not bragging about myself.” Cable recalls learning from the other kids and adults in the program, watching the way they supported one another. It’s a lesson he continues to mimic today. “Growing up in Adventure Team and playing basketball – my dad would always tell me to show up and be the best person I can be – and help others be the best person they can be.” Cable says the best thing about the Adventure Team program is the way it brings people together and expands their world. “It helps kids get comfortable with meeting new people and making new friends. For kids who don’t like sports or don’t know what they like to do yet… at least they’re trying it – and most kids fall in love with biking. It’s something to fall back on, a stress reliever – it helps kids in tough times.” When it comes down to it – when you strip everything away – egos and influence – Cable says biking is biking – you go