Hiking & Biking Events With the hectic and complex lifestyles so many people lead, it is difficult to develop many group hiking or biking events that enough people will commit to, to make it a reality.  Panhandle Trails will  attempt to organize some group hikes , if enough area hikers  contact Panhandle Trails with their interest in  such group hikes.   If you know of a hiking or mountain biking event in the Panhandle, or nearby areas, please email us with the information, so that we can pass it along for the benefit of area residents.  We will also list websites of organizations that sponsor hikes or bike rides.   Events: "National Forest Service ATV Meeting" - The National Forest Service is iniviting public input on ATV use on public lands.  Two meetings have been scheduled in Chadron for Wednesday, January 16.  Two hours have been allowed for each meeting.  The first meeting is at 2:00 PM, while the second is at 6:00 PM.  Both are being held at Motel 6 in Chadron.  For more information, please call (308) 432-0300. "Winter/Spring Hikes" - Because of hunting seasons, holidays, and the uncertainties of the weather, hiking during this period of the year pretty much has to be on fairly short notice.  If you want to be notified when a Chadron area weekend hike is tentatively being planned, along with the final decision and details, please send the webmaster your email address and/or phone number.  Generally, such a plan will start at the first of the week, after a favorable long-range forecast.  Then, about two days before the hike, if the forecast remains favorable, it will be finalized with exact times and places.  You can reach the webmaster at panhandletrails@yahoo.com or by phone at (308) 432-0464. Bike Ride Across Nebraska - this ride starts in Gordon and runs to Waterloo  Usually held in June..  For more information, call (402) 397-9785, or go to: www.bran-inc.org/ Cheyenne, Wyoming 5K & 10 K Walks - normally held in April.  Sponsored by the Cheyenne High Plains Wanderers.  For more information, call:  (307) 638-9979 The Big Mick - Mickelson Trail bike ride in the Black Hills usually held in June.  For more information, call: (605) 745-3463 Black Hills Moonwalks - these hikes are conducted by the forest service in the Black Hills every evening there is a full moon, starting in May.  Listed below, were the seven Moonwalks for 2007: May 5 - Big Horn Sheep, near Silver City June 2 - Sink Holes & Hydrology, west of Sturgis June 30 - Civilian Conservation Corps Contributions, west of Custer July 28 - Stewardship and Conservation Partners at Slate Creek, west of Hill City August 25 - Secluded Niches of the Forest, in western Black Hills September 22 - Clean Water, a Forest Product, on Rapid Creek, west of Rapid City October 27 - Gold Mountain Mine, west of Hill City For brochures, directions, to get on the e-mail list or for more information, call (605) 343-1567. "Ride The Trail" - bike the Mickelson Trail in the Black Hills, normally in September.  For more information, call: (605) 584-3896, or go online to: www.mickelsontrail.com  Websites with scheduled events: Black Hills Volkssport Association - www.ava.org/clubs/bhva/ -  this association sponsors quite a few group hikes in many locations around the Black Hills every year. Saturday Night Alive Christian Singles - www.saturdaynightalivesingles.com - this organization sponsors several biking and/or hiking events every year in the Black Hills.  Their next biking event will be on the Mickelson Trail June 8-10, 2007.  The SNA Fall Retreat generally includes a hike in the Horsethief Lake/Old Baldy area.  This year's retreat is slated for October 5-7.  SNA also has a Fall bike ride through Spearfish Canyon, on September 29, and will sometimes include short hikes in the event.  Hiking/Biking Events Held in Chadron Area for 2007 Hike The Ridge - Part of National Trails Day, this hike was held south of Chadron on June 2, and included segments of the Pine Ridge Trail, a trail through Strong Canyon, and stopped by Whiskey Cave. Coffee Mill Butte Hike - Group hike on June 30, from the Coffee Mill Butte Trail Head on the Pine Ridge Trail. Chadron Volksmarch - Chadron's first-ever Volksmarch, held July 13. Memorial Park Triathlon - Walk, run, and bike events in Chadron's Memorial Park held on August 25. Medicine Bow Peak Hike - Group hike for area hikers up 12,013-foot Medicine Bow Peak in Wyoming, held September 9. Bear Mountain Hike - Group hike for area hikers up Bear Mountain in the Black Hills, held September 22. Fall Colors Hike - originally scheduled for The Cliffs area, held at Chadron State Park trails on October 14, due to rain. Flannigan Butte Hike - original plans were for hiking Barrel butte on November 4, but group voted to hike up Flannigan Butte instead.