Ice Age Trail Alliance
Chippewa Moraine Chapter
Ice Age Trail Dispatch
August 2022
First Sunday Hike for AUGUST 7th
Together, Let’s walk to help the homeless veterans in OUR community.
For our First Sunday Hike in August, we will be partnering with the Bohemian Lodge on Sunday, August 7th. The Bohemian Lodge is sponsoring the hike to raise funds for homeless veterans. Hikers are asked to make a freewill donation to the Bohemian Lodge for their fundraiser. The hike will be held on the beautiful Chippewa River segment. Hikers should meet at the CC parking lot by 11:00am. Wear good hiking shoes or sturdy tennis shoes. Long pants tucked into your socks are recommended as protection from ticks. We hope you will join us for this hike to support our local homeless veterans.
If you plan to hike with us, contact JoAnn Parks at jjjparks123@gmail.com . Hope to see you there.
August Trail Work Day - Firth Lake - August 20th
For our August Trail Work Day, we will be working on a number of projects, including DCA building and tread work. This is an ongoing project. The trail to one campsite has been finished, and now work will continue on the campsite. A second DCA will also be established. We will be meeting at the Obey Center by 7:30 and will be done around noon.
If you are interested in joining us for this trail improvement project, please contact Jerry Sazama at sazfam@aol.com.
If you would like to participate in this project, but do not have a Volunteer Agreement yet, please see the information below to get your Volunteer Agreement. You don’t need trail work experience to participate. We usually work in teams of three, and new-comers can be be paired with experienced volunteers. It’s a great opportunity to learn. Plan to wear sturdy shoes or boots, long pants (tucked into wool socks), long sleeved shirts, and a hat. Bring a pair of work gloves. (If you don’t have any, we have a supply of gloves). Bring water and some snacks.
The Mammoth Hike Challenge is Back!
The Alliance is gearing up for the Mammoth Hike Challenge 2022. Registration is now open on the Ice Age Trail website. Go to https://www.iceagetrail.org/mammoth-hike-challenge/ to register. Participants are challenged to walk/hike/run/backpack 42 miles on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and visit 3 Trail Communities. Mileage can be accumulated individually or you can register as a team and combine your miles. (So a family of four hiking together would each hike 10.5 miles) The Challenge is open to all ages and ability levels. People who complete the Mammoth Hike Challenge will earn a 2022 limited edition challenge patch and certificate.
It is getting easier to travel to a Trail Community each year. Cornell became the 13th Trail Community in 2020. In 2021, they added Antigo and Sturgeon Bay. This year they added Rib Lake and Merrill, putting the count to 17. It’s great to see more communities in the northern tier of the trail! (The other communities are: St. Croix Falls, Lodi, Cross Plains, Verona, Janesville, Milton, Whitewater, Delafield, Hartland, Slinger, West Bend, and Manitowoc/Two Rivers. By mid-August, updated itineraries will be available for planning your outings, so stay tuned. Download the free Strive ON app for information on the Trail Communities and the trails near them.
Volunteer Agreements - New Volunteers & Renewals
All new volunteers need to have a completed Volunteer Agreement for the National Park Service in order to participate in our trail improvement days or to volunteer at events. They have a new form on the Alliance Website. All members that already have a Volunteer Agreement are asked to fill out this new updated form if your form was received prior to January 2022. Thank you to those of you who have taken care of this already.
To access the new Volunteer Agreement, here is the link: https://www.iceagetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/Packet-Individual-301a-exp-10_2024.pdf Please fill out the fillable form and email it to Daniel_Watson@nps.gov
NOTE: The fillable boxes are on everything except the signature line. You can fill in the rest of the document and then print it off. Sign and then scan your document and save to your computer. Then send it to Dan Watson as an attachment. Or simply mail the signed document via snail mail. Dan’s address is on the directions page that comes with the form. Another option: Dan says you can type your signature in the date box next to your signature line.
When you send in the Volunteer Agreement to Dan Watson, he will sign it and return it to you. Please print a copy for yourself or save it in your files. Email me at chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org to let me know that you have received your new signed Volunteer Agreement.
2022 Chapter Events - Come join us on our chapter hikes and trail work days!
We have the following events on our calendar for 2022. Come join us for our hikes, meetings, and trail work events!
August 7: First Sunday Hike - Location Change: Chippewa River Segment.
- We are partnering with BetterLife Lodge 141 (Bohemian Hall). They are holding a hike to benefit homeless veterans.
August 20: Trail Maintenance Day
September 4: First Sunday Hike - Chippewa Moraine Segment - Hiker’s Choice
September 17: Trail Maintenance Day
September 19: Chapter Meeting and Pizza Party
October 1: Parade of Colors Hike - Chippewa Moraine Segment - with shuttles
October 8: Mammoth Challenge Hike - Chippewa River Segment
October 15: Trail Maintenance Day
November 21: Annual Chapter Meeting 6:30
See you on the trail!
Vicki Christianson
Chippewa Moraine Chapter Coordinator
chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org
--
The Ice Age Trail
A Walk Through Time