Gogebic County Cross-Country Ski Marathon

Cross-country skiing is growing in popularity in the U.P.

And starting next winter, there may be a second marathon event in the area.

There are plans in the works to start one in Gogebic County.

The race would be 42 kilometers long, shorter than the Noquemanon but still long enough to technically be called a marathon.

It would start at the ABR Trails in Erwin Township and finish at the Ironwood Memorial Building.

The proposed race doesn’t have a name yet.

But it already has a board of directors and a tentative date — the second Saturday in January.

That means it wouldn’t conflict with either the Noquemanon, or the American Birkebeiner in northwest Wisconsin.

That event is the largest cross-country ski marathon in North America.