Ice Age Trail Dispatch
May 2010
In this edition:
"Sunday Hike" On Sunday May 2
Trail Improvement Day, Saturday May 8
Special Presentation: Mysteries of the Chippewa Moraine Landscape Revealed! Monday May 17
"Trilliums and Tweets", an Ice Age Trail Fair, Saturday May 22
Coming in June: National Trails Day, Saturday June 5
"Sunday Hike" This Sunday May 2
The weather is perfect, the spring wildflowers are appearing, the leaflets aren't too big yet, and the spring birds are flitting about the woods. What a perfect day for a a hike on the Ice Age Trail!
Join a group on Sunday, May 2 at 1 PM at the Chippewa Moraine Ice Age Reserve Visitor Center for a picture-perfect hike on the trail. Share in discoveries of newly-appearing flowers and birds, and enjoy the company of fellow trekkers!
What's showing? We might see a fox, her mouth laden with squirrels for her kits; trilliums and spring beauties, and tiny leaves of trees. The vultures are soaring, but don't let them put you off. Mallards, wood ducks, geese; white-throated sparrows, robins, and likely a few warblers are all waiting our return.
Our hiking hosts will be JoAnn Parks, Donna Pachaud, and Carol Johnson. Our hike will be in the Chippewa Moraine area. Bring along a snack, water, and your favorite tick strategy.
As usual, if you plan to come, take a moment to let us know.
The next "Sunday Hike" is planned for May 2.
Trail Improvement Day, Saturday May 8
It's always a great day on the trail in springtime, and if you like combining being outside in the woods with doing a little brush cutting and branch removal, you'll love our trail improvement day on Saturday, May 8.
Meet at 9:30 AM at the Chippewa Moraine Visitor Center, and we'll head out to a section of trail in need of some care. Bring along water, lunch (if you plan to stay past noon), your favorite tick-prevention strategy. Be sure to wear good work shoes or boots and long pants and sleeves.
Help us plan to make your time well spent by contacting us if you plan to attend.
Future Trail Cleanup or Improvement Day is planned for June 26.
Geologist To Tell Local Glacial Story May 17
UWEC Professor Kent Syverson will present a program about the geology we find along the trail at our May meeting on Monday, May 17, at 7 PM. The program, which is intended for a general audience, will be preceded at 6 PM by our regular chapter meeting.
Syverson is the author of the definitive publication on glacial geology of Chippewa County, and has led popular field trips to explain the glacial story to general audiences as well. He's an engaging speaker, and we're thrilled to have him for this presentation.
The program will be at the Chippewa Falls Public Library, 105 W Central St., Chippewa Falls. (Map)
Focusing on the Chippewa Moraine area, Syverson will explain some of the puzzling landscape that greets the hiker along the trails. He'll remind us anew what makes our part of the trail unique along the Ice Age Trail.
Be sure to bring your hiking friend along to this meeting.
Please note that our chapter meeting will be at 6 PM (as usual) at the library, and the special program will follow at 7 PM.
Ice Age Trail Fair "Trilliums and Tweets" Coming May 22
How do you enjoy the Ice Age Trail?
If you think of it as only a place to go for a hike, then prepare to have your horizons expanded at Trilliums and Tweets, an Ice Age Trail Fair on Saturday, May 22, all day, at the Chippewa Moraine Visitor Center.
Presentations, hikes, and demonstrations will all focus on the many ways the trail can be the canvas upon which you paint your outdoor activity. An emphasis is on family-friendly activities, so bring the kids. If you come around noon, we'll be grilling hot dogs.
We've lined up an all-star cast of experts, enthusiasts, and other resources to let you in on their passions, all of which are enjoyed even more along the Ice Age Trail.
A full schedule is still being finalized. Here are some highlights:
- Bears and Cooking on the trail
- Owls and Cavity Birds
- Leave No Trace and Walking your dog on the trail
- Wildlflowering on the trail
- Outdoor photography along the trail
- The trail up-close and personal (for the kids)
Finally, a very special presentation on Owen Gromme, the dean of American wildlife artists.
Shortly the full schedule will appear at www.iceagetrail.org. Check under the calendar tab.
There will be lots of opportunities for chapter members to help out, with greeting, staffing booths, assisting presenters, helping with food, etc. We're starting to make up a schedule so let us know which part (or all) of the day you'd like to be available to help. We'll also be looking for refreshments, so if that interests you, let us know as well. Just email your preferred time and activity to chapter@iatchippewa.org.
Reminder: the date of this event has changed from our 2010 Trail Calendar postcard.
National Trails Day Hike Coming Saturday June 5
Across the country hikers celebrate National Trails Day on Saturday, June 5. This year, we'll join the party with a Trails Day hike in the Chippewa River/Firth Lake area. The center of activity will be the Ice Age Trail Parking Area, 2 miles north of Cornell on Hwy CC. Meet at 9:30 AM for the hike.
If you'd like to shuttle, provide treats, or staff the headquarters, please contact us.
Where To Find Information
Here's where to look for IAT and IATA information:
IATA Information in General: www.iceagetrail.org
Chippewa Moraine Chapter Information: www.iatchippewa.org AND www.iceagetrail.org/ChippewaMoraine/index.htm ANDwww.twitter.com/iatachippewa (subscribe!)
Calendar of Chapter and Alliance Events: www.iceagetrail.org/ChippewaMoraine/calendar.htm
Hiking the trail: www.iceagetrail.org (check the options under the "Hike the IAT" tab)
National Park Service Information about the Ice Age Trail: www.nps.gov/iatr/index.htm
See you on the trail,
Richard Smith
Chippewa Moraine Chapter Chair
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The Ice Age Trail
A Walk Through Time