Ice Age Trail Alliance
Chippewa Moraine Chapter
Ice Age Trail Dispatch
April 2023
Chapter Work Day - April 15
This winter’s heavy snows were hard on the Ice Age Trail in Chippewa County. There is a lot of debris to clear throughout the trail. We need a large team for our April Trail Clean-up on April 15th. We will be clearing trail on the Harwood Lakes segment, and possibly the eastern end of the Chippewa Moraine segment between Ice Age Trail Drive and Plummer Lake Road. It’s all hands on deck for this work day. If you have never done trail work, but have thought about trying it, this is a great first time opportunity. Volunteers will be divided into teams to do sections of the trail. These teams will be a mix of experienced and new volunteers.
We will be meeting at the Obey Center (13394 Co. Hwy. M, New Auburn) at 8:00am on April 15th. We will be dividing the crew into teams assigned to specific sections of the trail. People should wear pants, long sleeved shirts, and sturdy boots. You should also bring work gloves. Bring water and a sack lunch. Please contact Vicki Christianson at chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org as soon as possible if you are joining us for the work day.
If you are a new volunteer, please fill out the Volunteer Agreement. Look below for information on filling out the Volunteer Agreement.
Calling all Sawyers, Swampers, and Trail Volunteers- May 4-7
The Ice Age Trail Alliance is holding a special Trail Clean-Up event for the Blue Hills, Hemlock Creek, Bear Lake and Grassy Lake segments which suffered significant damage this winter. Damage on the Southern Blue Hills was so extensive that the segment has been closed all winter. They are calling for sawyers and swampers from all over the state to clear downed and damaged trees along these segments. In addition, they are calling for local chapter volunteers to assist with removing debris from the trail so that the sawyers and swampers can focus on their chainsaw work. These volunteers will do lopping, hand-sawing, and brush removal at a safe distance behind the sawyer/swamper teams. On the Grassy Lake segment, there will also be trail repair due to a logging project.
Volunteers will be meeting at Murphy Flowage each morning. This will be the base camp for the event. Volunteers are welcome to camp at Murphy’s Flowage during the event. Everyone is welcome to stay for supper each night, even if you are not staying overnight. You can volunteer for one, two, three, or four days. Temporary access points have been arranged to break the segments in sections.
Blue Hills and Hemlock Creek Segments: May 4-7 (clean up winter storm damage: chainsaw work , trail debris cleanup)
Contact Dave Caliebe at dave@iceagetrail.org
Let him know which days you are able to work. Indicate if you are a sawyer, swamper, or trail cleanup volunteer.
Bear Lake and Grassy Lake Segments: May 4-5 (spring cleanup, chainsaw work, signage, and tread repair)
Contact Lisa Szela at lisa@iceagetrail.org
Let her know which days you are able to work. Indicate if you are a sawyer, swamper, or trail cleanup volunteer.
Gaylord Nelson Earth Green Award Recipient: Jerry Sazama
Jerry Sazama is being presented with the “Earth Green Award” by the Chippewa Valley Group of the Sierra Club - Wisconsin. This award recognizes Jerry’s significant contributions to the environmental health of the Chippewa Valley and western Wisconsin through his dedication to the Ice Age Trail Alliance and the Chippewa County Land Conservancy. The event is scheduled for Monday, April 17th at 5:30 at the First Congregational UCC Community Room located at 310 Broadway St. in Eau Claire. There will be a reception with beverages, appetizers, and dinner, followed by a short program.
Members of our chapter are invited to attend this event. There is a fee of $25 per person to attend. If you are interested in attending the event, contact me at chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org and I will email you the registration form. Or you can copy the above registration to a word document and print it off.
First Sunday Hike: May Flower Hike - May 7th
Come join us for a hike on a trail carpeted with spring ephemerals such as marsh marigolds, trout lilies, spring beauties, hepatica, trillium and anemones. Early May is the best time for this glorious display of color. Hikers will meet at the Ice Age Trail parking lot on Cty. CC at 1:00 for this in and back 3.8 mile hike on the Chippewa River Segment.
If you plan to attend this hike, please contact Vicki Christianson at chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org to register.
Mobile Skills Crew 2023 Events - Next: Rib Lake
Have you thought about getting involved with MSC (Mobile Skills Crew) projects? The MSC calendar has been set and there are projects going on all over the state in 2023. Attending an event is a great way to learn about trail building, invasive species removal, and building structures such as boardwalk and bridges. Experience is not a requirement. It’s terrific on-the-job training. Information on the events is available on the Ice Age Trail Website. Check it out at: https://www.iceagetrail.org/our-work/trail-building-maintenance/msc-program/
Apr. 27-30 Rib Lake (Trail Building)
May 17-22 Rib Lake (Trail Building)
June 8-11 John Muir Park (IAT-University: Crew Leader Training)
June 21-25 Storrs Lake
July 12-16 John Muir Park (IAT-University)
Aug. 9-13 Iola Ski Hill & Emmons Creek (Trail Building)
Sept. 6-10 Sturgeon Bay (Trail Building)
Sept, 26-Oct. 1 Rib Lake (Trail Building and Celebration)
Oct. 18-22 Cross Plains
Time to Renew Your Volunteer Agreement
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.
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 Please note the large box at the bottom of the first page of the new Volunteer Agreement. Dan Watson has provided links and videos for volunteers to look at.
NOTE: Fill in all the required boxes. The fillable boxes are on everything except the signature line. You can type your name and date in the date box next to the signature line. Save the document to your computer and then send it to Dan Watson as an attachment. Or print off your completed document, sign it, and mail it to Dan Watson Dan’s address is on the directions page that comes with the form.
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.
Chapter Calendar 2023
These are our annual events. Watch for upcoming events and additions (in red) to this calendar in the monthly newsletters.
April 15 Monthly Trail Maintenance
April 17 Green Earth Award and Dinner with the Chippewa Valley Group of the Sierra Club
April 22 Adventure North 50K
April 20-24 Annual IATA Conference in Sheboygan
May 4-7 Sawyer/Swamper/Lopper Crew - Blue Hills, Hemlock Creek, Bear Lake, and Grassy Lake
May 7 First Sunday Hike - Chippewa River
May 10 Mayflower Hike with Natural Resources Foundation - Chippewa River
May 15 Chapter Meeting
May 20 Trail Maintenance Day
June 3 National Trails Day Hike - Harwood Lakes
June 17 Monthly Trail Maintenance
June 20 Solstice Hike with Girl Scouts
June 28 Blue Hills Trail Maintenance Day
July 17 Chapter Picnic at Mill Yard Park, Cornell
August 2 Blue Hills Trail Maintenance Day
Aug. 6 First Sunday Hike
Aug. 19 Trail Maintenance Day
Sept. 3 First Sunday Hike
Sept. 16 Trail Maintenance Day
September 21 Blue Hills Trail Maintenance Day
Oct. - All Month: Mammoth Hike Challenge
Oct. 7 Parade of Colors Hike - Chippewa Moraine
Oct. 14 Hike and Meet Monty- Chippewa River
Oct. 21 Trail Maintenance Day
Nov. 20 Annual Chapter Meeting
See you on the trail!
Vicki Christianson
Chippewa Moraine Chapter Coordinator
chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org
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The Ice Age Trail
A Walk Through Time
Newsletters and information are also available at the chapter web site: http://www.iatchippewa.org. You can also go here to View Online.