Forester is riding for the trees

Port Washington Forester Jon Crain said he’s lucky to have found his calling— and he’s about to put that passion to the test.

Crain is embarking on the Tour des Trees, a five-day, 320-mile bike ride across Colorado to raise money for the Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund, aka Tree Fund.

Along the way, he will stop in towns to plant trees and help educate the public about the importance of trees in cities.

Crain won’t be alone in this journey. He and a member of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources make up Team Wisconsin for the ride, and they will be among 97 bicyclists taking part in the event.

Crain said he feels compelled to take part in the event.

“I almost feel like it’s my duty,” he said, noting the Tree Fund has awarded nearly $4.5 million in grants for research and education about trees — and he’s depended on information from the group in his job.

“I feel I’m using these benefits without giving back,” Crain said. “If there’s something I’m able to do to give back, I should.”

Information from the Tree Fund has helped him discover new and better planting techniques, determine which species best fit the community and helped him as he established the city’s nursery.

It’s also helped him create better management practices, improve workforce and public safety and deal with pests, most notably the emerald ash borer, which has decimated the city’s ash population.  

“Trees are under a lot of stress in urban areas,” Crain noted. “The temperature extremes and the pollution, chemicals such as the salt we use on the roads in winter, soil compaction and the small growing spaces we have.”

Crain said he also considers the ride a way to raise awareness of the importance of trees in a community.

“I think it’s something people don’t really think about,” he said — especially since it takes a long time for trees to mature so  “a lot of the benefits of trees won’t happen until I’m long gone.”

In addition to raising awareness of trees and their importance, the ride is also a fundraiser. Crain said the goal is to raise $400,000, with each rider expected to raise at least $3,500.

He’s still working on that part of the ride, but in the meantime has been training to handle the physical aspects. However, he said, there’s not a lot he can do to train for the 23,000 foot elevation change the bicyclists will encounter along the way.

“I think I’m going to be all right,” he said. “We’ll see how I adjust to the thin air.”

The ride kicks off on Sunday, Aug. 29, and runs through Friday, Sept. 3.

But Crain won’t be resting too long after that. A week later, he’s taking part in the Ice Age Trail 50, a 50-mile run.

“They weren’t supposed to be at the same time,” he said, but with the pandemic, timing and plans changed.

“At the end, I don’t think it’s going to be all smiles,” he said, laughing. “Maybe a week or two later...”

To support Crain’s fundraising efforts, visit https://tour-des-trees-2021.blackbaud-sites.com/fundraising/jons-tour-de....