Are you Two Dam Tuff? It’s a question that gets asked the first Saturday in October each and every year in Newaygo County. For those “in the know”, The Croton and Hardy Dams are separated by about 6 miles as the crow flies, and are spectacular tourist draws in their own right- The Croton Dam is easily the most photographed engineering accomplishment in the County, and Hardy Dam is the second largest earthen dam on this earth, and for good reason: It holds back an immense “pond” of water over 45 miles in circumference and hosts a variety of campgrounds, fishing and boating opportunities.
Each Fall, the Newaygo Nationals Association, a Michigan 501(3)c not-for-profit, teams with corporate sponsors and the Fremont Area Community Foundation to host the 2DamTuff Eco-Challenge, a formidable array of physical challenges that attracts hundreds of participants annually.
2DamTuff™ is over nine miles of physical and mental discipline, which combines deep woods running, Edge Trail pavement running, a one mile kayak excursion, a 5k bike sprint, all with a series of over two dozen obstacles, rope climbs, and other eco-challenges. The reward for all of this abuse? A smoked turkey leg and a stein of beer! Teams of competitors include fire departments, manufacturers, banks, fitness clubs, as well as spirited teams of locals with well-themed ensembles.
2DamTuff also depends on 40-50 volunteers each year to make it all work. “Volunteers are the heart and soul of Newaygo County, and without them, 2DamTuff could not exist. From EMS, to the County Sherriff, to the dozens of individuals and couples, our people make all the difference,” stated Gabe Slominski, Chairman of NNA. ” We are also cautiously proud of our safety record. We have had no serious injuries in the past two years of running 2DamTuff, despite the rigorous demands.”
2DamTuff involves the cooperation and direct involvement of Croton and Big Prairie Townships, Newaygo County Road Commission, Sherriff, and EMS departments, and Consumers Energy, who owns much of the property on the circuit. “We are grateful for all of the support in the community – the smiles and show of relief at the finish line make this a great event!”
Scott D. Faulkner
Snowshoe Adventure On The Dragon
Being an avid runner from a young age and now a personal trainer, I have spent a lot of time running and hiking over the years. In more recent years, due to my work schedule, I found myself stuck to the convenience of the gym equipment. During the 2020 Quarantine...
Deer Hunter’s Must-Do in Newaygo County
The trees are bare, the air is crisp and the calendar has just flipped to November… In Northern Michigan, that means deer hunters are headed to the woods! If you haven’t tried your luck in the deer woods of Newaygo County, we recommend checking it out. With...
Fall Colors: A Bird’s Eye View
Flying amidst the clouds, high above Newaygo County, Doug Harmon captured Newaygo County's fall beauty perfectly. It's the season, jump in your car and head North! Newaygo County is here to greet you. Grab a bite, even stay the night! Come explore the rivers,...
Sandy Beach Camping
My favorite part of the camping, is waking up early in the morning. When the campground is quiet. I usually get up before the sunrise, to take a quiet stroll around the park.
First Time Hiker
I’m a bit embarrassed to admit, that even growing up next to the Manistee National Forest, literal minutes from the North Country Trail, my first time hiking it was this past winter… in my mid 30’s! While my preferred adventure typically includes a glass of wine on...
Traipsing Through the Winter Woods
I am in love with Newaygo County. We’ve lived here three years now and keep discovering hidden treasures. If you love to be out in nature as my husband and I do, then each season brings new adventures and experiences.I did not think snowshoeing sounded like much...
Fall Color Tour Time!
Top 5 places (and maybe a few more) to take great Fall color photosFall is my favorite time of year. I love watching the rainbow of colors change from day to day. Science says that water and temperature determine when a tree’s leaves turn colors. I don’t much care for...
Newaygo’s Riverfront Park – A Great Place to Walk Your Dogs!
We have 14 acres and some nice trails on our property that our dogs get walked on regularly, but we try to get them out for a ride in the truck and a walk “elsewhere” as often as we can too. They really like walks in the woods but sometimes, especially after work, we...
Flowers are Popping at Loda Lake Wildflower Sanctuary
This darn crazy spring and summer weather we are having is making it frustrating for photographers. I went to Loda Lake this week on the only day it hadn’t rained and was surprised by how I was joined by other photographers and hikers doing the same thing. School is...
Coolbough Natural Area Offers Birds, Bugs and Boot Prints
The Coolbough Natural Area is one of my favorite places to hike. Why? There are many reasons such as easy parking, looping paths, lots of wildlife and points of interest, a porta-john, and many more, but I will save my favorite for last.Coolbough has many options for...
The Wetland Trail – A Unique Ecosystem
I’ve mentioned before in a previous blog that I work for TrueNorth Community Services, the parent company of Camp Newaygo. Unless people attend one of Camp Newaygo’s public events such as their “Dinners on the Ridge” series this summer (July 20 or August 10) most...
Hunt for Karner Blue Butterflies at Sanctuary
Sometimes you want to do something different than follow a path through the woods. Maybe you want to create an adventure or a bit of a scavenger hunt for an endangered species. One of the good things about the late spring/summer season is the endangered Karner Blue...
A Branstrom Park Day
I had just bought myself a new pair of waterproof low hiking boots and I needed to try them out. If you live or work in Fremont, or if you’re vacationing in the area and stop there for supplies or to grab something to eat, do yourself a favor and do not overlook...
Our First Hike
Kelley and I had always dreamed on having a home near water when we retired. A place where we could sink down solid roots and flourish after many years of working and building a life for our family in the Detroit and the Grand Rapids areas. So, on weekends we’d go...
Camp Newaygo: A Special Day, a Special Place
It was a chilly Saturday morning for late April but I knew the Tai Chi would warm me up. It was the second in a series of free classes offered through the AmeriCorps Safe Routes to Health initiative at Camp Newaygo. The class, like the first one, was to be held in...
Newaygo: A Truly Magical Place
This truly is a magical place.Nestled on the banks of the Muskegon River in Newaygo County rests the nostalgic town ofNewaygo, MI. The historic district of this town still features all of the old world charm and design;restored vintage buildings, bustling...
Early Spring Hike Reveals Surprises
Spring fever had struck. I needed to hike and thought Loda Lake Wildflower Sanctuary would be a good place to explore and get my walking legs broken in. I didn’t think I would see many wildflowers, because even the daffodils weren’t up yet, but it was sunny and...
Learning to Love Running on a Ga-zillion Newaygo County Trails
The trees are heavy with the afternoon’s rain. Sagging evergreen branches hang over me; drip, drip, dripping onto the leafy floor. The sky is wrapped with clouds; dark blues and greys seeming to hold the sky closer to the Earth. The path is damp, rain...
