Chippewa Moraine Chapter IAPTF

The IAPTF is celebrating it’s 50th birthday in mammoth ways, and kicking it off is a special event called the Mammoth March. On June 7, National Trails Day, people like you will be hiking all over the state and with the goal of hiking every step of the trail. It’s a cross between those “A Day In The Life” books and a full body scan. The whole trail gets walked in one day, and everywhere someone is observing any problem areas that need correction, such as blow-downs, washouts, rotten boards, etc.

Our regular National Trails Day events will be going on at the eastern end of the trail, but you can sign up to walk an additional section elsewhere in the afternoon. If you’d like to be a part of this historic hike, please reply by email stating what part of the trail you’d like to take.

Everyone is invited to this first “First Sunday” hike for the year. Most of the warmer months we’ll head out on a new segment of the trail, just for enjoyment. By popular demand, we’ve changed the meeting time to 1 PM, and we’ll meet at the Chippewa Moraine. Bring a lunch, water, snack, and rain gear or ice axe (as appropriate). As a special treat, JoAnn Parks will kick off this season and lead the inaugural hike.

Soon you’ll have your house all ship-shape after spring cleaning, now it’s time to tackle the trail! Time to shake out the rugs and pull away the downed trees and branches. Join us for a day or half day on Saturday, May 10. Meet at the Visitor Center at 9:30 AM. Be sure to bring gloves, sturdy shoes, water, a lunch, and possibly bug repellant. The ticks should be mighty hungry.

Our last regular chapter meeting until fall (our July meeting is mostly just fun), the May 19 meeting will be at the Chippewa Falls Public Library at 6 PM. We’ll make sure the spring and summer events are well under control, take a look at our Bylaws, and begin to plan for the fall extravaganza that is coming our way (you’ll have to come to the meeting to find out!

Whether you’re an old hand at the MSC trailbuilding projects or can’t figure out why they are called “Mobile Skills Projects”, consider joining the fun at Murphy Flowage (a.k.a. Hemlock Creek) on May 15-18. The location is in Rusk County’s gorgeous Blue Hills, north of Weyerhaeuser and east of Rice Lake. This project was started last year, and several CM Chapter members experienced part of the event. It’s a great opportunity to learn about trail building from an expert, even if you are just curious. Meet trail workers from around the state, work hard, eat well, have fun. Go to the Ice Age Trail web site for full details. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged (there are no grocery stores in the Blue Hills)!

Here are some opportunities for you to “give back” to the Ice Age Trail:
- National Trails Day event team member
- First Sunday hike leader
- Trail segment adopter 
- Mowing team member
- Trail Improvement team member
- Fall Color Hike team member

I could go on, but you get the idea. Let us know what projects you’d like to be a part of, and we’ll get you into the action.

We’ve got some great new items of trail information and gear at available at the Visitor Center (or by request at our meeting):
- The atlas has been completely re-issued and redesigned. It’s up-to-date and should stay that way.
- The Companion Guide has also been revised and expanded.
- Ceramic coffee mugs with the IANST logo in living color.
- 50th Anniversary commemorative special edition cap
- Long-sleeve t-shirts in charcoal with a neat IAT map (limited sizes)
- and of course our usual footprint shirts, hats, and patches and pins.

If you want to buy an atlas or companion guide at the chapter meeting, send an email and we’ll have it there!

Thanks to Nancy Schuster, Tony Schuster, and Pat McKearn for a day of hard work at the Outdoor Expo. They provided trail information and inspiration to scores of Expo visitors anxious to know more about the trail. It was definitely our most heavily attended Expo ever, and everyone left exhausted but feeling great about our very successful day.

Thanks also to Christine Schaaf for representing our chapter at the IAPTF Annual Conference in the North Kettle Moraine.

“Walk with me and I’ll take you back ten thousand years.”