8 minute read
UP NORTH
Up North. PEOPLE | NATURE | ARTS | NOSTALGIA | BUZZ | WISDOM | CURIOSITIES
CLIMB ON!
by EMILY HOPCIAN
TC's new climbing gym.
Kevin vlach and nick Olson’s paths have paralleled over the years, though it wasn’t until more recently that the two met each other and became business partners in a first-of-its-kind endeavor in Traverse City: an indoor climbing gym.
ELEV8 Climbing and Fitness, coming this summer to Traverse City’s NOBO District, will offer climbing—with the tallest walls reaching 42 feet—various types of yoga, high-intensity interval training, aerial silks, slacklining and on-site child watch. Baked into the heart and soul of ELEV8 is the essence of the outdoor communities Kevin and Nick have discovered, and felt at home in, throughout the world.
“ELEV8 came from a search for a word that had connotations beyond just climbing—something that communicated the goals of our facility and the commitment we wanted to make to ourselves and the community,” Kevin says. “The alphanumeric component played into the climbing knot and fits into the location on Eighth Street as well.”
Kevin and Nick both grew up in Traverse City and went to the University of Michigan a few years apart. Upon graduation, they each ventured out into the world. Kevin moved to Spain, where he taught English and started skateboarding, surfing and rock climbing. From there, he moved
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to Colorado, where climbing continued to play a big role in his life.
Following college, Nick moved to New Jersey, where he owned a Jimmy John’s franchise and started a bookkeeping and accounting business, which he ultimately sold to an automated software company. While there, he started slacklining.
En route back to Northern Michigan, through slacklining, Nick connected with the community at an indoor climbing gym in Pittsburgh. It was there that he really saw the potential for a similar space in TC.
Back in Michigan, Nick caught wind that Kevin was working on such a project and reached out to him. He was impressed, to say the least, that Kevin was ready to go with a detailed, 38page business plan in hand. Conversation ensued, and he joined Kevin as a co-founder of ELEV8 about three years ago.
From there, finding the right space for an indoor climbing gym in Traverse City proved challenging. Location was a key consideration when exploring how ELEV8 would come to be.
Community is a large part of climbing, and it plays into nearly every element of ELEV8 and what Kevin and Nick envision for the space. The duo has plans to partner with Traverse Heights Elementary School and other schools and organizations in the community.
“This is such a social endeavor,” Nick adds. “Climbing spans so many age groups. There are people climbing in their 40s, 50s and 60s. It’s a means of staying
fit and mobile.” elev8climbing.com
Emily Hopcian writes from Bariloche, Argentina. emilyhopcian.com
PROJECT RUSTIC
by HEATHER JOHNSON DUROCHER
A woman and her dog are spending five to six months on the road, visiting each of the state’s 77 rustic state forest campgrounds, and gathering information to help travelers plan their own adventures.
Paige Lackey and pup Willow
If you could spend your summer exploring rustic state forest campgrounds all across Michigan, would you jump at the opportunity? Paige Lackey, a Traverse City resident and Huron Pines AmeriCorps service member spending 10 months with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), is doing just that. She came up with the idea for Project Rustic, hitting the road in May on an RV trip to collect info, such as GPS locations and campground and trail descriptions, for a DNR database. We caught up with Paige to learn more about this dreamy outdoors excursion and how her work will benefit all campers.
Q. First, tell us a little about your background and your passion for the outdoors.
A. At school I studied environmental studies and sustainability, so I’ve always been drawn to natural resources work. I didn’t know what that was going to look like, so having this opportunity to get some real career exposure and professional experience through this AmeriCorp program has been beneficial. This is actually my second term. I also served with the DNR last year and was lucky enough to be able to come back this year to work on this really awesome project.
photo courtesy of Paige Lackey
Q. Speaking of that really awesome project, how did you come up with the idea for Project Rustic?
A. Last year, I was serving with the DNR and most of my work was focused on the forestry division, but I did get to do a little work within the parks and rec division and that is where that idea came from. I was sitting in on a meeting last year where we were discussing updates to Recreation Search, which is a database for people planning a trip. [Recreation Search allows visitors to filter for amenities and activities such as beaches, equestrian trails, cabins, hiking, mountain biking and more, www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails.] And some efforts were being made to update the database. After the meeting, I called my supervisor, Maia Turek, and just pitched this wild idea. I felt that the best way to capture all these details was to experience them myself. By taking a boots-on-the-ground approach and traveling all around Michigan, I could visit all these rustic state forest campgrounds that were being worked on and updated and I could get all the information by seeing them first hand.
Q. You’re traveling with Willow, your dog, and staying connected virtually with your team. What will your days look like as you stop at these campgrounds?
A. There are so many people I’ll be working with as I’m traveling. And honestly, I think every day is going to look different. Each [campground] I’ll be tackling in a new way. And while I’m in the area, I will be meeting with the supervisor of that campground. My mission is to collect GPS data for mapping and update the DNR photo library. The information I gather on this tour will help us provide a better rustic camping experience for all campers, both in planning and making the most of your visit.
Q. How can people learn more about your travels and your progress?
A. Follow us on our Michigan State Parks, Trails and Waterways Facebook and Instagram pages (facebook.com/ mistateparks; @mistateparks). You can also learn more about Michigan's state forest campgrounds and trails, and plan your adventure, at michigan.gov/stateforestcampgrounds.
Hear the complete conversation Heather had with Paige on the Michigan Runner Girl podcast. Heather will be checking in with Paige later this summer and sharing updates on upcoming episodes. Listen at michiganrunnergirl.com or wherever you find your podcasts.
Heather Johnson Durocher writes from Traverse City, where she lives with her husband, Joe, and their three kids.
top rendering courtesy of Wings of Wonder // bottom photo by Dave Weidner
NEW UP NORTH
A monthly column highlighting new businesses and community updates.
FRESH COAST BEER WORKS & UBREW HOMEBREW SUPPLY
120 PARK ST., TRAVERSE CITY Relocated from its Cass Road location, the taproom offers indoor and outdoor seating, and the homebrew section carries local malt and hops. fcbeerworks.com
NORTHPORT PUB & GRILLE
116 S. WAUKAZOO ST., NORTHPORT A downtown restaurant, bowling alley, sports bar and event space in the former Tucker's space. npgrille.com
SLEEPING BEAR TOUR CO. | HONOR A National Park Service-approved company offering small, personal tours into the park's wilderness areas led by former park ranger Julie Den Uyl, the first commercial operator to be granted permits for accessing these regulated, rarely-visited areas. sleepingbeartourco.com
TC PICNIC COMPANY | TRAVERSE CITY Marisa Farr creates customized, luxury picnic settings for groups of two people up to 20, delivering and setting up tables, candles, flatware, decor and more. She partners with caterers for private events, or guests can provide their own food and drinks. tcpicnicco.com
WINCHESTER’S WHISKEY & BOURBON ROOM
7416 MAIN ST., MACKINAC ISLAND Located inside Bicycle Street Inn, this rebranded restaurant now offers a casual, family-friendly atmosphere for lunch and an upscale-casual evening experience with dimmed lights, Prohibition-era vibes and craft cocktails. winchestersofmackinac.com
Know of a business that just opened or have a fun community update? Let us know at editorial@traversemagazine.com.
HELP BUILD THE MIGIZI AVIARY
Wings of Wonder, a Leelanau County-based nonprofit, and the Little Traverse Bay Bands (LTBB) of Odawa Indians are working together to create the first Tribal Eagle Aviary and Rehabilitation Center east of the Mississippi River and one of only eight in the country. The Migizi Aviary will be located north of Harbor Springs on LTBB land. Rebecca Lessard, the now-retired founder of Wings of Wonder who spent 31 years nursing sick and injured raptors back to health at her Empire sanctuary, is providing hands-on rehab and training expertise to Doug Craven, the director of natural resources for LTBB, and his team. The rehab facility at the aviary will be named The Wings of Wonder Rehabilitation Center in her honor. The aviary will break ground once it’s secured the first $200,000 of the $600,000 budget. Visit wingsofwonder.org to learn more and donate. –C.S.
GWEN FROSTIC’S STUDIO ON NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
The Northern Michigan artist’s Frankfort property, which served as a studio, retail shop, printing operation and private residence, was added to the National Register, a National Park Service program, in April. The designation will help ensure the property's preservation by giving the owners, Greg and Kim Forshee, promotion opportunities and access to grants and tax credits. The Forshees have continued the printing operation, and the studio is open seasonally to the public to see it in action and shop Gwen Frostic’s designs. gwenfrostic.com –C.S.
