The 2011 Hogsback Cross Attack is in the books. For those of you whom don’t know what a Hogsback Cross Attack is, don’t feel bad. The Hogsback Cross Attack is a bicycle race that is held in Tomahawk’s Bradley Park. It is a timed event that runs through the woods on trails and over manmade obstacles. After the time limit is up the competitors have to complete one more lap, then the winner is announced by the combination of whom is in the lead at the end and how and how many laps they have completed.
The Hogsback race is the brainstorm of Tomahawk resident Justin Lund. Lund was challenged by the city to come up with an idea to help Tomahawk find a way to raise funds to improve the Bradley Park Trail system. Some of the other benefits that the race brings is a better awareness of the beautiful natural areas that are in and around the city of Tomahawk where people can go to enjoy themselves and the number of interesting events in Tomahawk that you can both participate in and enjoy as a specator. Justin also credits Liz Millender from the Tomahawk Mainstreet Inc. and by Tamra and Diane from theTomahawk Chamber of Commerce who helped get the word out, provide resources and helped with some organization of the event.
If you wish to see just what a Hogsback Cross Attack is I have posted a short highlight video. I will also be posting another video shortly that will consist of some more footage and interviews with both Justin Lund and several competitors. Next years race has already been scheduled for 9/29/12 so mark your calendars and attend the race.
Bradley Park is roughly 105 acres of what the Tomahawk Area was like when it was first settled. The Bradley Company bought the land in 1910 for less than one hundred dollars an acre. Can you imagine what that land would go for now? With an abundance of Wisconsin River Frontage, towering White Pines and walking trails it is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon.
The park opened in the early 1920′s. Over the years Bradley Park has been used for Fourth of July celebrations, band concerts, family reunions and camping. An enclosed 28′ x 49′ field stone picnic shelter was constructed in the middle of the park about a half mile south of the entrance during the 1930′s.
Stone Picnic Building
The shelter has 8 large picnic tables for seating and serving, two fireplaces with firewood stored inside the building and has been updated throughout the years to include electricity.
Just a short walk to the south of the main shelter you will find a bathroom building, two nice sized parking lots and another open air shelter with picnic tables. These buildings are always open to all park users whether the main shelter is rented or not.
Bradley Park is just one of many such areas in and around Tomahawk where you can stand on the shore and wet a line, take a quiet walk down one of the nature trails or grab the picnic basket and enjoy lunch in the great outdoors.
If you would like information about renting out the main shelter, you can call the Tomahawk City Hall at 715-453-4040.
