Make a Donation
We offer two convenient methods for making your donation.
"Beautiful! We moved to Houghton in 1971 with our four children. Our two boys fished the Pilgrim from our arrival until their graduation from MTU. Both were metallurgists: Dan 1982 and Paul 1984. Our daughter, Roberta, graduated from MTU in 1985 as a Civil Engineering Tech. Paul and Roberta were members of the MTU indoor and outdoor Track and Field teams. Living on Seventh Ave for over 30 years the article about the Pilgrim River brought back many memories. How can we help?" --- Mary and Bob Bucklin, Zephyrhills, Florida
“I’m a walker/hiker that always enjoys paths to walk outside in a park , lakeshore, or the woods. I recently walked the Pilgrim River Trail and found it magnificent. I know donations are needed to continue and complete the project. I gladly made a contribution." --- Mary Claire Wyble, St. Paul, Minnesota”
"This is a significant area for birds which return from the south each spring and spend the summer here, vireos, thrushes, warblers, and others that sing in our woods in spring. --- Dana Richter, President, Copper Country Audubon"
Challenge #15 - $5500 (220 $25 increments)
The Keweenaw Trails Alliance (KTA) is a partnership of trail groups and users in the Keweenaw that is working to enhance non-motorized trail opportunities throughout the region. The Pilgrim River Watershed Conservation Project is a once in a lifetime opportunity to further trail efforts in the area, providing additional public access for hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, skiing or just to take a walk in the woods. To date, a 3-1/2 mile single-track trail has been constructed by Keweenaw Trails Alliance members, with approval for another 2-1/2 miles and plans for an additional 3 to 5 miles winding through the planned conservation easement property.
With funds raised by the Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival and Run the Keweenaw events, KTA will match donations on a dollar-for-dollar basis (up to $5,500 in total) to help preserve this important natural resource. For example, KTA will match a $50 donation with $50, or a $100 donation with $100. Funds will be 100% applied toward the purchase of conservation easements for 1,382 acres along the Pilgrim River.
We are honored to be a partner in the Pilgrim River Watershed Conservation Project, and we hope others will join in the effort to protect this area for watershed protection, public recreation, education, and sustainable forestry.
- Keweenaw Trails Alliance
Guided Canoe Trip on the Pilgrim (suggested $150 non-deductible donation)
Experience the Pilgrim River in a new and interesting way. Join Viki and Ray Weglarz for a guided canoe trip on the Pilgrim River. The journey will begin at the main forks of the Pilgrim on John Ollila’s farm above the Superior Road and continue for over five miles to the river’s mouth where it flows into the Portage Canal. The upper river is small and swift and requires much maneuvering as one encounters beaver dams and alder tunnels and small chutes. The forest in the project area is beautifully mixed hardwoods and conifers and can be seen and appreciated while gliding through the valley floor of the river. Liverworts, lichens and ferns are seen along the banks and a new perspective and appreciation of the special nature of the project area can be gained canoeing the river. Ray and Viki have been canoeing the Pilgrim for 35 years and would love to share their knowledge and experience canoeing the Pilgrim River with a supporter of the Pilgrim River Watershed Project. All needed canoe related gear and shuttle service will be provided by Ray and Viki. The trip timing is dependant on the water level of the river and can be done after a heavy summer or fall rain or in springtime. Options are available to either tandem paddle in a larger canoe or solo paddle the river with coaching in a small solo river canoe. For more information contact Ray at 337-2136 or weglarz@up.net
"A lot of memories were stirred up as I made this contribution including: Leonard Ollila and how he never refused anyone permission to fish in his section of the Pilgrim; getting to know John at MTU in the 1960s and fishing with him on the Pilgrim and other rivers; visiting with Leonard at Sheldon's Bakery as he enjoyed morning coffee; meeting Stan Frantila for the first time and recruiting him for CCCTU and then seeing that shy smile as he walked into our meetings or as we met in WalMart; and my dad who introduced me to the outdoors and especially trout fishing. I'm proud to be able to donate for this very worthwhile project on their behalf. My hope is that this section of the Pilgrim River will remain undeveloped and open to the public far into the future. --- Bill Deephouse, CCCTU Member, Houghton, MI "
"My friend Ken is not really a fisherman. We fish together because I like to fish and he likes to camp and hike and I’ve known him for a long time. He didn’t really have the tackle for this stream. John and I used 0 and 00 Mepps spinners and pieces of night crawlers for bait. Ken used a hook and a piece of night crawler. I caught a 9 inch brook on my first cast. After that it was all fun and games. At one point we had finished fishing a pool and I began to wade upstream through it. The trout were swimming a few feet in front of me and heading upstream as if I was herding them. There were at least 30 of them ranging in size from 4 inches to 16 inches all swimming along against the current in front of me. In less than one hour (at high noon) all three of us had our limit of brook trout and I don’t think a single one was less than 9 inches long. Most were in the 12 inch range. We saw many bigger ones, but they didn’t get that big by being easy to catch. --- Phil Sealy, Assoc. Prof. and Chair of Electrical Engineering, UW-Platteville"