Trail News | Chippewa Moraine Chapter IAPTF

2009 MSC Calendar Announced

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:49:07 -0600

Here's the 2009 Mobile Skills Crew Calendar.

If you like to travel, there are opportunities this year all over the state. If you like to stay closer to home, two great opportunities pop up in September and October:

• In September, be part of building the new trail in the jaw-dropping new Straight Lake State Park in Polk County, just to our west.

• In October, Taylor County (even closer to the east) offers a great fall weekend of trail building and maintenance.

See the full calendar.

Parade of Colors Album

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:43:03 -0500

Regional Gathering

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:04:34 -0500

REGIONAL CHAPTER MEETING

CONTACTS – Randy Myren, 608 931-7342 (randy@iceagetrail.org)

Local contact - Tim McRaith, 715 354-7660 (tim.mcraith@witc.edu)

WHEN: Saturday, November 1, 2008 10 AM – 2:00 PM.

LOCATION: Knights of Columbus. 1121 Nunn Ave. Rice Lake Wi. 54868

DIRECTIONS: At the intersection of highways 53 and 48 in Rice Lake head east on hwy 48 (0.9 miles) to Nunn Ave. Turn left (north) (0.4 miles) to 1121 Nunn Ave.

HIKE: Nothing is confirmed at this time.

WHAT TO BRING: SUGGESTED POT LUCK ASSIGNMENTS ARE:

• CHIPPEWA MORAINE – Salads/ Bread

The host chapter traditionally provides the main course, takes care of facility needs, ensures that cutlery, plates, napkins, etc are available, and places IAT Event signs to help folks find the meeting location.

Agenda:

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS (10:00-10:15)

CHAPTER EXCHANGE (10:15 -11:15}

Taking the Mission to the Ground: Chapter informational reports and Q&A. What’s working, what isn’t and if so, what are we doing about it?

FOUNDATION UPDATES (11:20 -11:55)

LUNCH (noon - 12:30)

Pot Luck Lunch

REGIONAL TRAIL IMPROVEMENT OUTING (12:35 – 1:05)

Brainstorm, discussion, and decision

LAND ACQUISTIONS (1:10 – 1:30)

DNR staff Q&A.

OPEN DISCUSSION (1:35 – 1:55)

ADJOURNMENT (2:00)

Next regional meeting date and location

Housekeeping

**Hike is to be determined; various options are near-by.

Thanks from "Fall into the Future"

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:35:13 -0500

Congratulations on your Fall Color Hike and thank you for hosting those of us that attended Fall into the Future!

We all had a great time thanks to your Chapter’s hospitality and hard work. The variety of hikes, food, refreshments, organization and WEATHER were outstanding.

We all left with wonderful memories and pictures of the Ice Age Trail in Chippewa County……..and full stomachs on top of that. It was a much quieter bus ride back than on the way there!

Keep up the great work and please extend this THANK YOU to all that helped.

My best,

Mike

Mike Wollmer

Executive Director

Parade of Colors Hike Coverage

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:05:17 -0500

The Parade of Colors Fall Hike on the Ice Age Trail, Saturday, October 4, is generating some appreciated media attention.

Chippewa Herald - Newspaper (featured on page 1 - above the fold - on Sunday, Sept. 28) [Archived version]

Chippewa Herald Video Interview - Online version includes video interview

MidwestWeekends.com - Popular travel site featuring short trips out of the Twin Cities written by former Pioneer-Press travel writer, Beth Gauper

Parade of Colors Fall Hike - Oct. 4

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:00:16 -0500

Fall color will soon touch the leaves of the Chippewa Moraine area, and nothing can beat a walk along the trail in early October: the reds and yellows reflecting in the deep blue ponds and lakes all set against the green background of the towering pines and oaks.

Join us on Saturday, October 4 for the annual Parade of Colors Fall Hike. We'll help you get started with trail walking by tailoring a hike to meet your interest and ability, we'll take you to the starting point and give you a good map, and we'll welcome you back with a picnic lunch in celebration.

This is the 50th anniversary year of the Ice Age Trail and our organization which has envisioned and built it. Come celebrate with us!

You can register for your hike any time between 9 and 11 AM on Saturday morning. You can walk 6 miles, 1 mile, or almost any distance in between. You can't go wrong with any of your options, as the trail glows at this time of year with color. If it's a social experience you enjoy, bring a friend or make a new one on the trail. If it's serenity you seek, you'll find that aplenty.

Either way, these golden days of fall come once a year, and this is an opportunity to enjoy fall at its most resplendent!

Press Release

Chippewa Herald Story

MidwestWeekends.com Story

Poster

Fall into the Future

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:42:36 -0500

We have an extraordinary opportunity to participate in a special state-wide event of the Ice Age Park & Trail Foundation right here in the Chippewa Valley.

Fall into the Future is the title of a weekend of conversations about the future of the Ice Age Trail and our role in making it happen. The heart of the weekend occurs from late Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon at the Beaver Creek Reserve, near Fall Creek, October 4-5.

"But wait," you say. "That's the Saturday of our Parade of Colors Fall Hike." Indeed it is! And again, it's our opportunity to welcome our trail friends from around the state and show off our section of the trail and the hospitality we show in bringing people to the trail.

The keynote speakers and discussion leaders will talk about how we can insure the continued success and eventual completion of the trail by bringing on board the next generation and a diverse public to the trail.

Please mark your calendars and plan to help out at the Parade of Colors on Saturday morning. And please register for the Fall into the Future presentations and conversations at Beaver Creek.

For complete details, schedule, and registration form, click here. You can register for precisely which meals you wish to eat at Beaver Creek.

August 23 Trail Improvement Day Photos

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:01:35 -0500

Potluck Picnic/Meeting, and a Recipe!

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:53:51 -0500

The picnic was great fun, 14 attended, weather was splendid, food was better, company was best. Sorry you weren't there. If you want a taste of the affair, you can make the highly acclaimed dish that Brenda Rederer brought and imagine being there as you eat it. Here's the recipe, by popular demand! (Thanks, Brenda!)

Trail Day Soufflé

1 Package frozen chopped spinach or 12 ounces of fresh spinach (cooked and chopped with stems)

3 eggs

4 TB flour

1/2 cup mixed shredded cheese (brick, colby, cheddar, whatever you have except american)

1/4 cup melted butter plus 2 TB set aside

1 lb. small curd cottage cheese

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

1/2 - 3/4 cup crushed seasoned croutons

Cook spinach, drain well and cool. Beat eggs, add flour, butter, salt and pepper. Add spinach and stir to blend. Fold in cheese. Mix crushed croutons with the 2 TB melted butter. Pour into lightly greased 2 qt. casserole (any shape). Sprinkle buttered crumbs on top of spinach and bake for 1 hour at 325. This can be cut into squares or spooned. Also great left over.

New Chippewa County Glacial Geology Publication Available

Tue, 27 May 2008 23:42:30 -0500

An important publication is now available on Glacial Geology in Chippewa County, written by Dr. Kent Syverson of UW-EC. Information on the book, as well as ordering information, is available here.

To roll out the book, Dr. Syverson will lead a field trip on Saturday, Sept. 27. It is designed for laypersons. Dr. Syverson is very engaging and led an extremely popular field trip for our chapter two years ago. Information on the trip is here.

Trail Condition Report

Tue, 20 May 2008 00:33:38 -0500

Whether you're doing the Mammoth Walk, or a you are a regular trail "adopter", this form is for you to use to record your findings. Download (by clicking on the title above), fill in (use Word), email back.

SPECIAL NOTE: This document may not open if double-clicked; you may need to open it from within WORD. (Microsoft is trying to repair this problem.)

New Trail Guides Published

Thu, 01 May 2008 22:53:28 -0500

An all new Atlas and Companion Guide, and a gorgeous new book about the Ice Age Trail have all been published this spring and are available locally at the Chippewa Moraine Visitors Center and from the Chapter. IAT Staffer Drew Hanson was interviewed in Isthmus about the publications, and you can read about it here.

50th Anniversary Is Subject of Leader-Telegram Coverage

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 21:13:53 -0600

The Ice Age Trail and the Ice Age Park & Trail Foundation celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2008 with events and recognition across the state. An open house in Rice Lake kicked off a year of celebration in northwestern Wisconsin on January 28th.

The anniversary was the subject of a feature article in the Sunday, Jan. 27, Leader-Telegram. In case you missed it, you can read it here.

Watch for upcoming anniversary events, including the Annual Conference at Campbellsport on April 16-20, and the fall Parade of Colors at the Chippewa
Moraine, October 3-5, which will feature our annual fall color hike as well as other events that will attract trail enthusiasts from around the state. In addition, National Trails Day, June 7, will be recognized as an anniversary event featuring a pie and ice cream social at several trail locations around the state.

IAPTF Announces New Field Staff

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:14:10 -0600

Randy Myren has been named as the new Field Representative for the IAPTF serving the western section of trail (that's us!).

Randy Myren, who currently lives in Janesville, has accepted the position for the Western section of the Trail. As an active volunteer with the Rock County
Chapter, he is keenly aware the needs and challenges of Chapters small and
large. The depth of his involvement in our 2 Janesville MSC events in 2007
was a contributing factor in the choice. Randy will be relocating to the
Western part of the Trail within the next 2 months and working for us and
traveling the area in early February. In addition to his Ice Age Trail
involvement, Randy has been active with 4-H, FFA, Lion's groups and a
variety of sports groups. Randy is from the Eau Claire area and looking
forward to moving closer to home and family.

In the Eastern part of the state, Brad Crary will be leading the way for us.
Brad has been a familiar face with the IAPTF as well. Since 2003, he has
worked on every MSC trail event.........on crews and as a crew leader, crew
leader manager and technical advisor. He has been very active in the
Waukesha/Milwaukee Chapter and coordinated dozens of workdays there. He has
worked part-time for the IAPTF for the last 5 months providing
administrative, technical and computer assistance to the rest of our staff.
His background in the construction and building inspector professions gives
him some special insight into many Trail structures and layout.
Brad resides in Pewaukee, but will be relocating to the Madison area by
early summer. He started this past week.

Chapter Calendar Online at IAPTF Web

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:52:25 -0500

You can see all upcoming chapter events, along with other IAPTF events, at the chapter's calendar page on the IAPTF website. A direct link now appears on the top of our chapter website sidebar on each page (in the right column).

Check on our current chapter events, as well as those scheduled into the future using the calendar icons at the top of the page.

Mobile Skills Crew projects are also listed here, as well as IAPTF events of state-wide interest.

If you are looking for events from another chapter, you can start with the Chapters page on the website. It shows a map of the state, and you can click on the part of the trail you are interested in. The link to this page is also shown in the right column, or you can find it at the main IAPTF home page by clicking on the IAPTF Chapters in the About IAPTF menu.

Trail Maintenance Is Critical Function

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:38:20 -0500

Our chapter maintenance program consists of a series of workdays, or "trail improvement days" scheduled primarily on Saturdays in spring and fall.

If you are interested in helping with trail work at a work day or as a trail segment adopter, either call Jim (715 289-3672) or send an email message (see "Contact Us!" on this page).

The next trail improvement day is scheduled for Saturday, August 11. Volunteers will meet at 9:30 AM at the Chippewa Moraine Visitor Center. Bring a lunch, water, and gloves.

Trail adopters identify a segment of trail that they "adopt" for the season. It involves hiking the trail several times during the season, and identifying any maintenance needs in the section. Small maintenance is usually undertaken by the adopter, such as picking up branches across the trail, or even pulling some small trees off the trail. Other larger jobs can be noted and the information provided to Jim to be scheduled on workdays.

Trail maintenance is a major part of keeping the trail hikable and one of the chapter's major responsibilities.

History Magazine Features Ice Age Trail's Beginnings

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 22:22:09 -0500

The Origins of Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail: Ray Zillmer’s Path to Protect the Past

In 1958 Milwaukee lawyer Ray Zillmer proposed the Wisconsin Glacier National Forest Park, an elegant 500-mile line that would protect the glacial landscape that had shaped Wisconsin’s history. The spirit of his idea came to life in the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, which protects and celebrates the effects of glaciation and gives the people recreational opportunities close to home, amid the state’s farms and working forests.

A 14 page article about the origins of the trail appears in the Spring 2007 issue of The Wisconsin Magazine of History. You can find it in libraries, or you can buy the issue by ordering it online from the Wisconsin Historical Society. The cost is $8.95.

Trail Reporting Forms on IAPTF Web

Sun, 04 Mar 2007 23:53:51 -0600

The IAPTF staff would like to point out a couple of potentially useful forms that are now available from IAPTF’s new website. The link is: http://www.iceagetrail.org/reportform.htm

First is an “Ice Age Trail Segment Report Form”. This is a form that you could use as part of a Chapter IAT Segment Monitoring Program for volunteers who might want to hike the Trail regularly and report on Trail conditions. This might provide a means of attracting new volunteers and generate useful information about current local conditions for IAT trail maintainers. This reporting format is being used in the NW part of the state and we’d like your feedback and any suggestions you may have once local volunteers have given it a try.

Second is a “DNR Trail Incident Report Form”. The DNR has put this form together so that anyone hiking the Ice Age Trail or any other state trail can report on various sorts of incidents. One use of this form is to report evidence of unauthorized use of the Ice Age Trail, such as evidence of unauthorized ATV, horse or bike use of the Ice Age Trail. Another use is to report on trail conditions. I especially like the simple format regarding trail maintenance issues requiring attention. Having this information will help DNR better track the needs of state trails and justify its already very small budget which has at times has been threatened with reductions. It will also help volunteers and staff work together to resolve on-the-ground needs. If you use this form (encouraged!) please send a copy to both DNR and IAPTF staff.

Thank you for all the great effort you put into the Ice Age Trail!

Trail Calendar

Sat, 10 Feb 2007 15:05:54 -0600

If you've misplaced your annual trail calendar you can download a suitable replacement here or click on the Members tab, and download the calendar there.

Trail Maintenance Handbook is online

Sat, 10 Feb 2007 15:04:38 -0600

Have you ever wondered about the correct color for signs on the trail, or what goes into designing a trail? Now you can download the appropriate chapter of the National Park Service's Ice Age Trail Handbook for Trail Design, Construction, and Maintenance from the NPS's own website. If you're a trail volunteer doing maintenance, it's a good reference before you head out to paint, trim, or repair!

You'll find the link on our links sidebar on the homepage.