Think about winter hiking. It has its own beauty. Whether there is snow or no snow, winter is a great time to hike. With all the leaves off the trees, you can see the shape of the land in a way that is impossible in the summertime. In hummocky areas, the hills are stacked one after another. It's even more beautiful when the hills are blanketed with snow.

LAKE WISSOTA STATE PARK - FEBRUARY 8TH

BRUNET ISLAND STATE PARK - FEBRUARY 15TH

You have two opportunities for candlelight skiing and snowshoeing.

Lake Wissota is having its event from 5:30-8 p.m. on February 8th. The event takes place near the southern end of the park by the boat landing parking. Look for the shelter where they are holding the event.

Brunet Island State Park is having its event on February 15th. This event takes place at the pavilion by the beach. It begins with a sledding event from 3-5 p.m. on the beach hill. Then from 5-7 p.m. they will be having the candlelight ski and snowshoe.

The route starts at the pavilion and goes along the high shoreline all the way to the North Campground. It loops through the campground and then picks up the Timber Trail. This takes you back toward the beach. You cross the ball field and then head past the beach to reach the pavilion.

The fire is stoked in both of the stone fireplaces, and hot refreshments and beverages are waiting to warm you up. Cross-country skis and snowshoes are available for free use if you don't have your own. This is a great event. The trail is groomed and lit by luminary candles.

We have co-sponsored a snowshoe event at Camp Nawakwa for a number of years with the Girl Scouts. We are continuing this event at Our Nawakwa this year.

This year, the event is open to all youth ages 8 and up. Our Nawakwa serves youth organizations in the Chippewa Valley: Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H, Church groups, and more. They will have snowshoes available for those who don't have any.

We encourage participating youth to register (click on the link at left or use the QR code above).

Chippewa Moraine IATA chapter is leading the hike around Picnic Lake. We need volunteers to snowshoe with the kids. If you are a snowshoer, consider joining us for this hike. Please contact Vicki Christianson at chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org if you would like to attend as a volunteer.

We have 2 large trail-building projects in 2025, in addition to the regular trail maintenance we do each year.

The first project will be on the Harwood Lakes Segment east of Deerfly Trail. This project will move us off the wide logging road and take us along a wetland to the south and then up higher as we pass Deer Lake. We will rejoin the trail at the west end of the horsetail section. This will move us off a logging area and provide us with a scenic view.

The second project will be new trail on the Otter Lake Preserve which the Alliance acquired in December 2023. This is located at the southeast corner of Otter Lake. The west end of the trail will be on 365th St. (north of the Curve Inn) and the east end of the trail will come out along County H north of the S-curve. This property is along the leading edge of the last glacier. It has high relief hummocky topography (aka very hilly).

Both of these projects will require more volunteers than usual. The main work will be clearing and cutting trail. Otter Lake will require a bridge over a creek.

Please consider volunteering for these projects. Volunteering on the Ice Age Trail requires a volunteer agreement. If you would like to volunteer for trail work or at events, please fill out the Volunteer Agreement and send it to the National Park Service. They will sign and date it, and send it back to you. Please email chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org and let us know the date that your agreement was signed by the staff at the National Park Service. Your agreement is good for one year after that date.

All volunteers need to have a completed Volunteer Agreement for the National Park Service each year in order to participate in our trail improvement days or to volunteer at events. They have a new form on the Alliance Website.

If you have previously submitted an agreement, please check last year’s agreement to see when you are due to renew, and mark it on your calendar to do it then.

To access the new Volunteer Agreement, here is the link: https://www.iceagetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/Packet-Individual-301a-IATR-Staff_508.pdf

Please fill out the fillable form and email it to iatr_vip_ice_age_trail@nps.gov (Do not copy and paste the email address. You need to type it in. Otherwise, it may bounce back to you. You CAN click on the link and then the email will be properly addressed.)

NOTE: Fill in all the required boxes. The fillable boxes are on everything except the signature line.

SIGNATURE: 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 NPS as an attachment. Or print out your completed document, sign it, and mail it to the NPS. The email address is on the directions page that comes with the form.

When you send in the Volunteer Agreement to NPS, they will sign it and return it to you. Please print a copy for yourself or save it in your files. Email the chapter at chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org to let us know that you have received your new signed Volunteer Agreement.

If you are reading this, you’ve noticed that we have a beautiful new look to our chapter website. If you have a bookmark, it is the same URL as before: https://iatchippewa.org. Explore all the pages on the website. Let us know if there are any other pages you would like to see on the website. Contact Vicki Christianson at chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org.

The Alliance sets a calendar of trail projects throughout the Ice Age Trail. If you are interested in participating in a Trail Crew Project, you can find information on the Ice Age Trail website. You do not have to have experience in trail work in order to participate. They will train you "on the job". It is a wonderful way to learn how trail is created and maintained. You will have a greater appreciation for the trail and look at the trail with new eyes.

If you are interested in Habitat Improvement, there are 3 sessions:

• January 10-11 Table Bluff Segment https://www.iceagetrail.org/event/hip-swamplovers-2025/
• January 24-25 Hartland Segment https://www.iceagetrail.org/event/hip-hartland-marsh-preserve-2025/
• February 7-8 Gibraltar Rock https://www.iceagetrail.org/event/hip-steenbock-preserve-2025/

If you are interested in building new trail and structures, check out:

• https://mailchi.mp/iceagetrail/2025-ice-age-trail-crew-season-at-a-glance-9083669?eñ003d03ed

May 13-18 Blue Hills Dreamer Route
June 4-8 Moraine Outwash Segment, Langlade County
June 25-29 Mueller Lake Segment, Langlade County
July 16-20 Clover Valley Segment, Walworth County
August 12-16 Blue Hills Dreamer Route
September 10-14 Straight River Segment, Polk County
October 1-5 Cedar Lakes Segment, Washington County
October 22-26 Point Beach Segment, Manitowoc County & Tisch Mills, Kewaunee County

These are our annual events. Watch for information on upcoming events and additions (in red) to this calendar in the monthly newsletters.

February 15: Candlelight Ski and Snowshoe - Brunet Island State Park
February 22: Snowshoe Hike with youth at Our Nawakwa

Early March: Volunteer Zoom with Dan Watson
March 17: Chapter Meeting

April 14: Trail Maintenance Day
April 10-13: Annual IATA Conference - Stevens Point

May 4: First Sunday Hike - Chippewa River Segment
May 17: Trail Maintenance Day
May 19: Chapter Meeting

June TBD: First Aid Training with Lisa Szela
June 7: National Trails Day Hike
June 20: Solistice Hike with Our Nawakwa (includes sunset hike up Mt. Baldy)
June 21: Trail Maintenance Day

July 12: Cornell Floatilla (Possible Paddle and Hike Event)
July 21: Chapter Picnic at Mill Yard Park

August 3: First Sunday Hike (Out and back Obey to 267th)
August 16: Trail Maintenance Day

September 7: First Sunday Hike - Harwood Lakes
September 15: Chapter Meeting
September 20: Trail Maintenance Day

October 1-31: Mammoth 45 Hiking Challenge
October 4: Parade of Colors Hike - Obey Center
October 11: Hike and Meet Monty - Chippewa River Segment/Cornell Visitor Center
October 18: Trail Maintenance Day

November 17: Annual Chapter Meeting

We had a great turnout for our Annual Meeting and Potluck at the Chalet at Camp Nawakwa on November 18. The potluck dinner was a veritable smögasbörd of dishes. Thank you to all for providing such delicious food. After dinner, we had our annual meeting. We reviewed the minutes from the September meeting and last year’s annual meeting. The Treasurer’s Report was shared and the group voted to accept the proposed budget for 2025. Jerry Sazama reported on the trail work done in 2024. Projects for 2025 include the reroute east of KIm’s Crossing on the Harwood Lakes Segment, and installation of new trail on the Otter Lake Preserve which was purchased in December 2023. Elections were held for 3 officers: Julie Kosher will continue as the Assistant Coordinator, and was elected as the new Secretary. Thank you to Mary Skalecki who has served as secretary for the past 4 years. Jerry Sazama has asked to phase out of his position as Trail Coordinator, and was elected for one year in that position. Jerry nominated Ann Hansen to take his place. Ann was elected to the position of Trail Coordinator for two years. Jerry and Ann will serve together for one year as Jerry trains her for the position. Thank you to Our Nawakwa for hosting us for our meeting.

The Calendar of Chapter Events was presented for 2025. Please check for the Calendar.

Mill Yard Park Kiosk


Winery Kiosk

The carpentry crew led by Norm Card and Bruce France built two new kiosks for the Cornell Segment in October. These were installed at the two trailheads for the segment: Mill Yard Park by the Visitor’s Center and the Wisconsin Veteran Farm and Winery.

The Alliance is working on some standardized signage for kiosks around the state. These will involve trail-wide information. They will be providing this signage to the chapters. In addition, we will have local signage made for the kiosks as well. We have also contacted the high school shop teacher to have students make routed “Cornell Segment” signs to display below the metal IANST trailhead signs.

• Thank you to the kiosk crew for your hard work. The kiosks look great!
• Thank you to the City of Cornell for sharing the cost of the Kiosk at Mill Yard Park. We will share the kiosk.
• Thank you to Dan Osborn at the winery for sponsoring the cost of the Kiosk there.

Monty the Mammoth, the mascot for the Ice Age Trail, appeared in the Independence Day Parade in Cornell, Wisconsin. Monty got a ride from Cross Plains from hiker Shawn Ramsey, a Thousand Miler Wannabe. Thanks for being Monty's Trail Angel!

Local Ice Age Trail hikers from Cornell joined Monty in the parade and handed out granola bars to kids along the parade route. One even brought her walking stick that she decorated at our Hike and Meet Monty event last October. We gave out 400 granola bars with our chapter contact information.

It was great to demonstrate that the trail is here for local people, too, and not just for visitors from other parts of the state.

A great crew of Chippewa Moraine Chapter volunteers installed a new 75-foot-long bridge at Lake Wissota State Park.  The bridge includes a scenic bench.  The Lake Wissota staff and Friends of Lake Wissota State Park are thrilled with this bridge that replaces an old bridge.  The new bridge is located just beyond the swimming beach on the Beaver Meadow Nature Trail.  

With crews of 7-14 people per day, the bridge was completed in 5 days. Norm Card and Bruce France headed the project and spent 4 days over the past 8 months on lay-out, planning, and prep work.  

Our chapter greatly appreciates the knowledge, skill, and leadership that Bruce and Norm share with our chapter. A big thank you goes out to the crew members who volunteered their time and skill for this project.

A big welcome to the new volunteers who participated on this project. We look forward to working with you in the future.  Welcome to our chapter.

New Route Through Mill Yard Park

Cornell is now a segment on the Ice Age Trail. The segment begins at the Mill Yard Park at the entrance by the Visitor Center on Hwy. 64. Stop to check out the historical displays. Along Bridge Street, you will find the sluice that used to allow the mill to float logs under the street to the mill (Look for the metal railings). There is also a State Historical Sign for the Stacker. Stop in at the Visitor’s Center when it is open. Just beyond the Visitor’s Center, you will find a historical sign featuring Jean Brunet and Ezra Cornell at the base of the Stacker.

Cornell has installed a paved walkway along the shoreline all the way to Park Road. There are blazes to guide you. When you reach Park Road, cross to Thomas Street where you will reach the Old Abe Bike Trail. Follow the signage through town. The street portion of the segment follows the old CR route and ends at the Veteran’s Farm and Winery on 8th Street.

The Alliance has purchased a new piece of property within our eastern corridor. This beautiful undeveloped 76 acre property is now called the Otter Lake Preserve. It contains high-relief hummocky glacial topography, including a kettle lake, a marsh, a stream, and several small ice-walled lake plains. It is a hilly property that will connect 365th Street to County H at the southeast end of Otter Lake. It will take several years to get trail established, and once it is done, it will be a beautiful piece of trail to hike.


Thank you to Jared Wildenradt (8 time IAT hiker) for bringing this property to the attention of the Alliance and the Chippewa Moraine Chapter.

Please wait until the trail is finished before hiking on this property.

The Obey Center will be open from 9:00 - 3:00 throughout the year on Wednesday thru Sunday. The staff will host classroom groups on Wednesdays and Thursdays as scheduled. Rod Gont is looking for people to volunteer with the classroom groups throughout the school year. These visits run from 9:00 to 2:00. Time is allotted for lunch.

Volunteer work includes:

1. Staffing the front desk: greeting non-school visitors and answering their questions, selling IATA and park merchandise

2. Help Jeanette with the Exhibit Search. Students are divided into 3-person teams. They receive a worksheet. They have to travel to different stations within the displays and look for answers to questions. The volunteer has an Answer Key for the worksheet, and they check the students answers after they complete a station.

3. A volunteer may be scheduled to lead a hike.

Email or call Dave Hladilek if you are interested in volunteering. If you volunteer, Rod will contact you to find out when you are available.

Contact Dave Hladilek at Dave.Hladilek@wisconsin.gov or call him at 715-967-2800. Dave needs to do a background check because you would be working with school children. He needs your name, email, and phone number.

NOTE: Volunteers for the Ice Age Trail need to have a signed Volunteer Agreement from the National Park Service. If you do not have a volunteer agreement, you will need to get one from Dan Watson at the Wisconsin office of the National Park Service. See the article below for instructions on getting the agreement.

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is now an official unit of the National Park Service!

The change in status was announced by National Park Service Director, Chuck Sams, during a press call with Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin. (The North Country Trail and New England Trail were included in the status change and are also now units of the National Park Service.)

Attaining unit status has been a goal of the Ice Age Trail Alliance for decades. Many, many people—Alliance leadership, board members, volunteers, and supporters—have championed the cause. And at last, your voices were heard. So, thank you.

Unit Status is Important Because…

It recognizes the work of volunteers like you, who donate their time to the Trail.
It opens up new funding opportunities for the Trail.
It levels the playing field: now the Ice Age Trail, North Country Trail, and New England Trail will be treated the same as other National Scenic Trails and National Parks.

As Tammy Baldwin said of the unit designation, “the Ice Age Trail and North Country Trail officially joined the ranks of the most iconic landmarks in the United States.”

So, here’s to the Ice Age Trail—an official unit of the National Park Service. And here’s to you. Thanks for everything you’ve done to make the Trail what it is. And for everything you’ll do to get it closer to completion.