Ice Age Trail Alliance Celebrate the National Parks Centennial
Chippewa Moraine Chapter On the Ice Age National Scenic Trail
Ice Age Trail Dispatch
July 2016
Chapter Meeting and Potluck Picnic at Obey Interpretive Center, Monday July 18
Enjoy a potluck picnic and re-connect with trail friends at the chapter potluck picnic this coming Monday, July 18 at the Obey Interpretive Center at the Chippewa Moraine. We’ll serve at 6 PM. Bring your contribution for the meal, your utensils, and beverage.
Following the meeting, we’ll have a shortened chapter meeting to share updates. Afterwards, for those interested, we’ll go indoors to preview a new NPS video titled Mammoths & Moraines, On the Trail of the Ice Age.
Our annual mid-summer potluck and picnic is a traditional favorite chapter meeting and opportunity to enjoy a picnic with trail friends on a beautiful summer evening overlooking the forests and lakes of the Chippewa Moraine from the patio adjoining the Interpretive Center. The Obey Interpretive Center is at 13394 Co Hwy M, New Auburn WI 54757.
IAT Joins Photo Exhibit at Heyde Center Celebrating National Parks Centennial
A photo exhibition being shown at the Heyde Center in Chippewa Falls will present photos taken in the many national parks by prominent Chippewa Valley photographers. Curated by Rick Koziel, retired director of Beaver Creek Reserve, the exhibition will feature 80 photographs and interpretive information, collectively giving a tour of both the beauty and diversity of our national parks as well as the talents of many local photographers.
Thanks to the persistence of exhibitor and IATA member Jeff Henry, a photo is included of an iconic scene of the landscape of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail taken by Richard Smith. The setting, which happens also to be in the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve, is emblematic of the National Park Service role in protecting outstanding scenic and cultural resources the public.
The exhibit can be viewed from Monday, July 18 - Friday, Aug. 26. An Artist Reception will be held on Friday, July 29 from 6-8 PM. The Heyde Center is open weekdays, Mon - Thursday 10-5, Friday 10-4, and during events. There is no cost for admission to the exhibit. The Heyde Center is at 3 South High St., Chippewa Falls WI. More information. Directions
What’s Been Happening?
We don’t schedule a regular workday in July (but mark your calendar for Saturday, Aug. 27). Lots of volunteer efforts are quietly underway just the same:
• Maintenance chief Jerry Sazama and volunteers have held two “Wildcard Workdays” as time and weather permitted to repair the Firth Lake boardwalk and nearby tread and signage, and storm damage.
• Diane Harp and crew continue on the ongoing yellow blaze repainting project.
• Our intrepid trail adopters have made visits to their respective segments of trail to check on conditions and do light maintenance (and new adopters Bob & Lisa Eierman were trained).
Nancy and Tony Schuster and JoAnn Parks have been surveying various segments in detail for the newest version of the Trail Guidebook.
• We’ve shuttled backpackers and hikers from Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
• Our Ice Age Store at the Obey Center has been restocked by Kate Lindsay and is enjoying healthy sales needing recording.
• Our board member volunteers Jerry Sazama and Nancy Schuster continue their regular meetings.
• Some of our members took advantage of the MSC project in nearby Rusk County led by Jerry Sazama.
• A tour group of educators learned about the trail and trail design from Tim Malzhan and our local volunteers in late June.
Feeling left out? Find out if there’s a role for you!
Trail Building and Maintenance Work Planned for Taylor Co July 26-31
On July 26-31, an IATA Mobile Skills Crew event is planned for Taylor County. It’s close by, and a great opportunity to pick up state-of-the-art trail maintenance techniques and skills. This project focuses on reopening a section of trail closed due to busy beavers, with boardwalk and bridge construction and tread and signage. For more information and a registration link, check here.
National Park Service Birthday Celebration at Muir Park on Saturday, Aug. 6
The NPS, IATA, and Friends of John Muir invite everyone to celebrate the NPS 100th Anniversary at Muir Park in Marquette County. Hikes, workshops, speakers, family activities all are planned. Find out more information and make your reservation.
Volunteers: Are you Trail Safe!
We’ve mentioned the new safety initiative from the National Park Service. When it is too hot to hike, sit back and explore the lessons online. Take a look at the NPS IAT website and scroll down to the Trail Safe! feature to find the link. Be sure to complete the Training Verification Roster back at the Trail Safe! home page, and keep track of your time spent and report it to the chapter. Questions?
Where to Find IATA and Chapter Event Information
The go-to place to find current information about all our chapter events and IATA events everywhere is the calendar at the IATA website, www.iceagetrail.org. The Calendar link is at the upper right corner of the page, or bookmark www.iceagetrail.org/events/. To find our chapter-specific events, either choose Chippewa Moraine from the dropdown menu under Event Category and click the “Find Events” button, or just bookmark this button ⬇︎
Chippewa Moraine Chapter Events
See you on the trail,
Richard Smith
Chippewa Moraine Chapter Chair
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The Ice Age Trail
A Walk Through Time