Ice Age Trail Alliance In Chippewa County

The Annual Meeting is scheduled to take place at 5:30 on Monday, November 20th at the Chippewa County Courthouse - Downstairs in Meeting Room 3.   Please enter at the door facing the parking lot which is located on the west side of the Courthouse.

The Annual Meeting will include election of officers.  The Chapter Coordinator and Chapter Treasurer are up for election this year for a two year position.  The other three positions, Secretary, Trail Maintenance Chair, and Assistant Coordinator will be confirmed for their second year of their terms.  Reports will be given on this year’s activities, trail maintenance, financial, and stewardship activities.  A report will be given on  trail construction, maintenance and stewardship for 2024.  We will approve an annual chapter budget for 2024.  A proposed calendar will be provided.

Please register for the meeting by contacting Vicki Christianson at chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org .  

We had two successful hike events in October.  There were 54 participants for the Parade of Colors Hike.  Thank you to all the volunteers who worked the booth or shuttled hikers.  You kept everything running smoothly.   We had 70 participants for the Hike and Meet Monty event.  Thank you to the volunteers who participated in the hike and helped with kids events at the Cornell Visitor Center.  Thank you to Pat Kosher for appearing as Monty.  The weather was great on both days.  It was fun to have so many children attend the HIke and Meet Monty event.  They did a great job of hiking out and back for 3.8 miles.

The Horseshoe Lake reroute on the Chippewa Moraine segment has been completed thanks to the dedicated work of trail volunteers.  Thank you to everyone who worked on the numerous workdays from August thru October.  The trail now follows along the shoreline of two lakes high above lake level.  This reroute takes you off an old county  forest trail and up onto a scenic route high above the lakes.  The route has been blazed and is ready to hike on.  If you would like to check out this reroute, it is just west of Town Line Road (160th St.) on the Chippewa Moraine Segment.  You can access it off Town Line Road or hike in from the eastern trailhead on Plummer Lake Road/Rattlesnake Rd.

We are looking for a trail adopter for the trail section between Ice Age Trail Drive and 267th Ave. on the Chippewa Moraine segment.  This would involve walking this section at least 3 times per year (spring, summer, and fall) and doing minor cleanup.  Bigger issues, such as trees down over the trail, would be reported to Jerry Sazama for our sawyers or trail maintenance crew to take care of.  

If you are interested in being a trail adopter, or if you have questions about the job, please contact Vicki Christianson at:   chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org

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.  

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 is installing a paved walkway this summer along the shoreline all the way to Park Road.  Until this is completed, please follow the gravel road that curves around parallel to the shoreline.  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.