Volunteers Carve Out Path On Ice Age Trail
By Megan Parker
Regional Editor
CORNELL — Snow clung to branches and to the leafblanketed forest floor. Mud caked on volunteers' pants.
Despite unseasonable weather, crews blazed a new segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail last week in Brunet Island State Park near Cornell.
"This is tough," Ice Age mobile skills crew program manager Tim Malzhan said of the steep faces and deep ravines on the segment, which borders the Chippewa River's western shore.
About 50 volunteers from across the state moved rocks and earth on the mile-long segment Oct. 13.
Hikers can access the segment on county Highway CC. Crews also finished up work started in May on the nearby six-tenths of a mile Perch Lake segment.
"Our theme for this section of the trail is to maximize contact with the Chippewa River," Mr. Malzhan said.
The section bridges the gap between the Chippewa Moraine segment to the west and a Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest segment in Taylor County to the east.
About 600 of the trail's 1,000 miles are complete. The Ice Age Trail follows the edge of the most recent continental glaciation in Wisconsin.
Mr. Malzhan said the volunteer-based mobile skills crew, started five years ago, has built 50 miles of trail, completing about six projects a year.
Theresa Werner of Belleville dug rotten wood from under the trail's surface last week.
"I like getting around and seeing the state and all the little areas you don't know about," she said.
About a dozen Cornell High School students scooped loose dirt into pails and flattened the trail tread. Several agreed it was better to be outside than in class, despite the weather.
Mr. Malzhan said trail building is more difficult than most hikers realize.
"It's more involved than just clearing brush and putting some paint on trees," he said.
He estimates each mile of new trail requires 100 hours of planning. He and crew leader manager Brad Crary of Pewaukee walked the segment in every season, measuring grades and marking the tread with flags.
Brunet Island State Park Manager Mike Rivers said the new segment will offer a nice day hike for park visitors.
"The status of (the Ice Age National Scenic Trail) is outstanding," he said while taking a break from moving rocks.
Megan Parker may be reached at (800) 236-4004, ext. 3867 or megan.parker@ecpc.com.
From The Country Today, a rural newspaper published in Eau Claire, 10/18/06, p 5C
Chippewa Moraine Chapter IAPTF
Information about the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Chippewa County, and the volunteers that build, maintain, and support it.