Chippewa Moraine Chapter IAPTF

You'll not be finding any leprechauns at our meeting on Monday, March 17, but you may have a tale or two to tell of meeting the little rascals along the trail. Regardless, there will be a tale or two to tell about our spring trail plans, so don't you go hiding yourself from the rest of us.

And don't you be forgettin' that our meeting will begin at 6 PM. The place is the Chippewa Falls Public Library, just inside the main entrance. (We'll be done in time to search for the gold at the end of the rainbow, or just maybe even the mythical green beer.)

OK, it doesn't exactly look like spring, but it is time to be thinking about our trail events coming up. It's time to send in your reservation for the Annual Conference, held this year at Camp Matawa, near Campbellsport in Sheboygan County. The conference is annual, but this year's is a 50th Anniversary extravaganza, with an added day and lots of great hikes, informative presentations, and workshops. The North Kettle Moraine is where the IAT got its start, and so that's where the anniversary conference is being held. The conference is April 16-20. Full information is in Mammoth Tales, or at www.iceagetrail.org. Register soon!

We'll be looking for help as usual at the Outdoor Expo, Sunday April 27.

In May, our local activities begin with a "First Sunday" hike on May 4, a Trail Improvement Day on May 10, a Trail Building (MSC) project at Murphy Flowage in Rusk County (May 15-18). We'll squeeze in a chapter meeting on May 19.

A gorgeous new book about the Ice Age Trail, featuring essays and 120 color photos, will soon be available. You can read about it here:

http://www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress/books/4325.htm

The photographer spent a year hiking the trail and capturing the images in the book. He's done other projects for the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and the Florida Trails as well, and been featured in numerous magazines including National Geographic Adventure and Smithsonian. Congressman Obey wrote the introduction, and various aspects are explored by local experts  as well as by Ellen Kort, former Wisconsin Poet Laureate. You can pre-order it directly from UW Press or other booksellers.