Photos: Volunteers install replacement signs along Duluth's Piedmont trails
Maintaining Piedmont’s whimsical ski trail signs passes to a younger generation of volunteers.
Glen Nelson watches as Dave Johnson fastens a new sign to a tree along the Piedmont Ski Trail Sunday afternoon. Johnson is one of the volunteers who have stepped up to maintain the signs, which Nelson, 84, and his long-time ski buddy, Jerry Nowak, 94, have tended for 50 some years. Earlier this year 17 of the 57 signs were missing. “It’s beyond belief,” Nelson said. “I’m overwhelmed how they took on the challenge and got all the signs put together.” (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)
Jerry Nowak (left) and Glen Nelson pose with the first sign volunteers installed along the Piedmont Ski Trail Sunday. Nowak began erecting signs along the trails after carving the trail network out of tax-forfeited property more than 50 years ago. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)
PREVIOUSLY:
Duluthians rally to keep Piedmont Ski Trail quirky
A team of volunteers has stepped up to replace and preserve the beloved signs that give a popular local ski trail its unique character.
Duluth man laments theft of signs from ski trail, considers hanging it up after years of effort
No clear successor has emerged to maintain the humorous collection of signs at Piedmont and to replace those that have gone missing.
Our View / So simple: Stop stealing ski signs
Jessica Hehir (left) and Heather Seeley check with Glen Nelson on where a trail sign should go along the Piedmont Ski Trail Sunday. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)
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Dave Johnson and Jessica Hehir look for the next sign to be installed along the Piedmont Ski Trail. Volunteers installed 14 signs Sunday. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)
The sign crew passes one of old signs that hasn’t been stolen. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)
