In this edition:
Potluck Supper/July Meeting - Monday, July 21
Mammoth Walk, Trails Day Report
Potluck Supper and July Meeting - July 21
Our annual summer gathering at the Chippewa Moraine Ice Age Reserve's Visitor Center has become a favorite event of the year. Relax, enjoy each other's company, and enjoy the variety of food that somehow appears. We'll have a brief meeting to talk about fall events and the progress of our bylaws, but mainly it's to enjoy a beautiful summer evening, looking over the prairie flowers toward the blue lakes and green hills beyond.
Come at 6, so when we start eating your contribution is included in the menu. Bring your own beverage, utensils, plate. Bring your stories about your summer activities and adventures.
Mammoth Walk Is Damp, But Celebration Goes On!
The day dawned threatening, and the weather kept its promise, so not a lot of people showed up for the well-planned Trails Day event we had scheduled on the first Saturday in June. Thanks to Nancy Schuster for superb advance planning, we were even "covered" in case of rain with a pop-up canopy that she and Tony donated to the cause!
The Mammoth Walkers kept their "gigs" and made sure we covered all our sections of trail, part of the statewide effort.
But the real stars of the show were JoAnn Parks and Dawn Matott, who completed their 1000 mile odyssey, 5 years to the day of beginning it. They crossed the finish line at the Hwy CC parking lot, and were greeted by a crowd of well-wishers and celebrants who shared a specially-decorated cake and champagne! A local newspaper reporter arrived on the scene to interview them. IAPTF Board of Directors President Bill Welch of Lodi came to share in the welcome and congratulations.
Lake Fair
Our chapter set up a terriffic display about the Ice Age Trail and staffed it with able ambassadors at the regional Lake Fair on Sunday, June 8. The new canopy was just what was needed for the sun and rain at Lake Wissota State Park. Hundreds of park visitors made their way around the many exhibits including our own, and we were delighted to meet and visit with the brand new director of the Wisconsin State Parks.
Special thanks to our trail ambassadors, Donna Pachaud, Carol Johnson, and Pat McKearn for providing helpful information about the trail to visitors.
Trail Impacted Elsewhere By Storms
The early summer storms were kind to us, but they were hard on much of Wisconsin. Where the storm fury and the Ice Age Trail coincided, some trail damage resulted. Especially hard hit were the Devils Lake State Park area and the City of Portage. So if you hope to hike in the eastern or central part of the state, you might want to check first with the appropriate chapter leader. Find out who to contact in the various areas by checking at http://www.iceagetrail.org/chapter. A full bore assessment was underway to determine what damage needed repair, and the results should be on the web site in the future.
Upcoming Dates
Mon. July 21 Potluck & Meeting 6 PM at the Chippewa Moraine Visitor Center
Sun. August 3 "First Sunday" Hike 1 PM at the Chippewa Moraine Visitor Center
Sat. August 9 Trail Improvm't Day 9:30 AM at the Chippewa Mor Visitor Center
Finally, mark your calendars now for a fall event that we will be very much a part of, and which occurs in our area. It's the final 50th Anniversary event, and it will occur on October 4th and 5th at Beaver Creek Reserve. You can learn more here.