Iron County Trail Club Hosts Candlelight Snowshoe at Taproot Farm February 28

Luminaria flickered through about a mile of woods at Taproot Community Farm on February 28 as the Iron County Trail Club brought Iron River residents together for an evening of candlelit snowshoeing, soup, and hot cocoa along Stambaugh Avenue.

The event ran from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the farm, located at 1601 Stambaugh Ave., welcoming snowshoers of all ages and skill levels at no cost. Donations were appreciated, and soup and hot chocolate were available as a fundraiser for the trail club, according to WZMQ. Anyone without gear could borrow snowshoes free of charge, courtesy of Into the Wild Bike Shop and Iron Endurance. A fire kept participants warm between laps.

The route wound through roughly a mile of illuminated forest, with a snowman storybook installed at checkpoints along the way. The trail club estimated the walk takes about an hour to complete at a comfortable pace. The club encouraged participants to arrive after dark to catch the full effect of the luminaria.

Trail Club President Benjamin Garcia said the inaugural run last year drew around 100 people and that the club was aiming higher this time around. "We did our first run last year with about 100 people, and we're hoping to expand that into this year," Garcia said. "Take your time, enjoy the scenery, fall in the snow and make an angel. It's a good chance to get a bit of wonder and excitement on a cold, dark night of February."

WZMQ described the February 28 outing as the club's second annual Candlelight Snowshoe, a characterization supported by Garcia's account of last year's first run. The Iron County Reporter also noted the event drew community members of all ages to Taproot Community Farm.

With free admission, borrowed gear from two local outfitters, and a storybook trail lit by candlelight, the Iron County Trail Club turned a late-winter evening into one of the more distinctive community gatherings Iron River has seen this season.