Join The Hike This Sunday!
Fall hiking season is in the air, and a perfect day is shaping up for our monthly walk, as we explore the trail step by step. It’s just a hike, and just for fun. (Well... We may pick up a branch or two, just as you might do if you were hiking alone.)
Sunday, Sept. 2. Meet at 9:30 AM at Chippewa Moraine Visitors Center
Bring a lunch and water, and the hike should be about 5.5 miles. We’ll walk from the Deerfly Trail to Hwy E and back. If you want to shorten your walk and quit at E, we can spot your car there.
You’ll see a recently-revealed massive glacial erratic, several impressive beaver dams, and numerous small lakes and ponds.
Finish The Boardwalk! Saturday, Sept. 8
The trail improvement crew did a fantastic job of building a beautiful dry walkway through a flood-prone area last month, but we left satisfied, but knowing we’d be back in September to finish it up. Join us on Saturday, Sept. 8 as we finish the walk and, depending on time and participation, tackle a few other tasks.
Meet at the Chippewa Moraine Visitors Center at 9:30 AM and bring a lunch and water. Be sure to wear water-resistant boots and bring work gloves.
Help us plan for the day by letting us know if you are planning to attend. Just email chapter@iatchippewa.org.
(For a photos of last month’s progress, go here: <http://www.greendarner.com/ChippewaMoraine/chapternews/mudbrook_boardwalk_shaping_.html> )
Chapter Meeting Monday, Sept. 17
With our major fall event to go, our September meeting is a chance to work out the details for that and other fall activities, as well as review our summer trail season. Join us at the Chippewa Falls public library at 6:45 Monday, Sept. 17, for our regular meeting.
Save the Date: Annual Parade of Colors Hike, Saturday, Oct. 6
Our annual gala event, the Parade of Colors Hike, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 6 this year. Plan to be there, whether you enjoy the day as a hiker, or help out as a volunteer. Rick Magyar is coordinating this year’s event, so if you want to help, contact Rick: 715 720-1495 or email standing_turtle@yahoo.com. As usual, shuttle drivers, hosts, refreshment makers, etc. are all needed.
Devils Lake Workday, Saturday, Sept. 8
If your heart lies in the direction of Devils Lake State Park near Baraboo, and you’d like to enhance your trail work skills with extra time to enjoy the Devils Lake area, a special event is planned for Saturday Sept. 8 by the Baraboo Hills Chapter. You’ll find information on our web site at this location:
<http://www.greendarner.com/ChippewaMoraine/lotsmorehere/related_opportunities/devils_lake_state_park_work.html>
Join the Mobile Skills Crew in Lincoln County, Sept. 20-23
The MSC will be back in the north woods at the Timberland Wilderness State Ice Age Trail Area in Lincoln County. You can learn trailbuilding skills, enjoy the beautiful location and comaraderie, and contribute to the IAT. Work a day or up to 3 1/2 days. Contact Tim Malzhan for details: 608 592-1433 or tim@iceagetrail.org. (Lincoln County is only two counties east of us!)
Reminder: Wilderness Navigation Course, Sept. 29
This course should just about guarantee you’ll never get lost. Or maybe not. But if you’ve wanted to know more, this is your chance. The instructor is Al Wiburg, head of the Environmental Adventure Center at UWEC. It’s at Beaver Creek, and sponsored by UWEC Continuing Education. The fee is $95. Here’s the full scoop, from our chapter web site:
<http://www.greendarner.com/ChippewaMoraine/lotsmorehere/related_opportunities/wilderness_navigation_findi.html>
Felsenmere and Devils Kettle Hike, Sunday, Sept. 30
The Blue Hills chapter to our north has planned an interesting outing for Sunday, Sept. 30. They will hike to the Felsenmeer and Devil's Kettle in the Blue Hills, north of Weyerhaeuser. Bring a lunch and liquid for a 4 to 5 hour hike. Meet at the Blue Hills Inn parking lot at 10 am. It’s at the intersection of Hwy W and O, north of Weyerhaeuser. You can follow Co Hwy F north out of Weyerhaeuser to westbound Hwy O and turn west, or take Hwy C (then O) eastbound out of Rice Lake. (Directions/map are here: <http://www.bluehillsinn.com/directions/>). If you arrive late, look for parked cars a mile south on W until 11 am. For more information, contact Jim Kurz, (715) 532-7246.
See you on the trail...