Ice Age Trail Alliance: Waukesha/Milwaukee Counties Chapter Information

The Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter was established in 1984 and currently has 330 members. We are responsible for maintaining 44.1 miles of trail that extends between Monches (on the border of Washington County) and the Town of Eagle (on the border of Jefferson County).

The Chapter meets the third Thursday of the each month (except July and December) at 7:00 pm at Lapham Peak’s Homestead Hollow/Trecker Lodge facility. Our agenda always allows opportunity for discussion of news and concerns beyond scheduled reports, and occasionally we have speakers with informative and entertaining programs at the meetings. The Chapter regularly sponsors Ice Age Trail workdays, hikes and campouts.

Click here to take a look at the chapter’s newsletter.

Upcoming Events

Below is a taste of some of our upcoming events. To view details on these events as well as a listing of the chapter’s many other upcoming events, follow the Get Involved! link to the chapter’s events calendar.

We will be partnering with the Eagle School District and promoting the Ice Age Trail Alliance by handing out informational materials at the Eagle Area Community Showcase. This event is going to take place at the Eagle Elementary School. It is sponsored by the Alice Baker Library. Area businesses and organizations are represented and a pancake breakfast is going to be hosted by Friends of the Library in the cafeteria. More details can be found at: www.alicebaker.lib.wi.us. Hope to see you there!

Chapter Meetings

January 21st at 7:00 pm - The Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter of the IATA will meet at Lapham Peak State Park, just south of Delafield off of Hwy C (Homestead Hollow/Trecker Lodge)

February 18th at 7:00 pm - The meeting will include nominations for Chapter positions, and volunteer sign up for the March 20th Eagle Showcase and the March 27th Lake Country Community Fest. Bring snacks to share and a beverage of your choice. We’ll meet at the Lapham Peak State Park Homestead Hollow/Trecker Lodge.

Community Outreach

March 20th from 8:00 am - Noon - Eagle Showcase at Eagle School. Check the calendar for more details. Contact Kris Jensen if you’re interested in volunteering to watch the IATA booth.

March 27th - Lake Country Community Fest. Check the calendar for more details. Contact Kris Jensen if you’re interested in volunteering to watch the IATA booth.

Hikes

March 27th at 9:00 am - We will go up, over, and down the county’s highest point. The tower at the top provides a beautiful view. Meet at Evergreen Commons, just inside the park entrance. The park is located on County C one mile south of I-94, just south of downtown Delafield. We will end at Hwy 18 for a distance of 3.6 miles. Free return shuttle provided. For more information, contact Frank at 414-351-9129 or Russ at 262-968-4489.

Workdays

March 20th: 9:00 am - 12:00 noon - Brady’s Rocks

April 17th: 9:00 am - 12:00 noon - TBD

May 22nd: 9:00 am - 12:00 noon- TBD

Recommended attire for all workdays includes: hiking boots, leather work gloves, long-sleeve shirt, pants, hat and sunglasses. We also recommend bringing a backpack, water bottle, insect repellent, sunscreen and raingear depending on the weather conditions and time of year we will be working in.

Adopt-a-Trail Program - WE NEED YOU!

The Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter relies very heavily on volunteers to maintain the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, and report any trail issues so they can be addressed quickly. To report an accident, suspected illegal activity or maintenance problem on any segment of the Ice Age Trail, please download, complete and submit a Trail Incident Form to the Wisconsin DNR’s State Trails Coordinator.

Adopt-a-Trail Checklist
Trail Monitoring Guidelines

For more information on getting involved with the Adopt-a-Trail program and learning about Trail Maintenance, contact our Trail Maintenance Manager, Pat Witkowski (262-490-3515).

Walk the Wauk Program

The Chapter’s Walk the Wauk program rewards hikers who have walked all Ice Age Trail segments in the Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter’s territory.

Recent Highlights

April 18, 2009 - Work day along the east end of the Westbrook Church parking lot, located in Hartland.

April 18, 2009 - A 500 pound rock was removed from Lapham Peak State Park and transported to the Ice Age Trail Alliance’s Headquarters in Cross Plains.

The Headquarter’s Open House on July 18, 2009, was a perfect opportunity to share the new facility and beautiful landscaping with the surrounding communities and dignitaries who attended the festivities. A rock from each of the 22 chapters was engraved, and has become a permanent fixture on the grounds.

July 9, 2009 - Work day building a puncheon for the Waterville segment. Thanks to everyone who

volunteered their time, tools, and talent for this project.

July, 2009 - Eagle Scout candidate, Chris Heyrman, completed the bridge below, with the help of other volunteers. The bridge is located in the Merton segment, just south of Hartling Road.

September 19, 2009 - We started with a 3-mile hike through the Eagle Segment in the morning, and then did some trail maintenance near Brady’s Rocks to finish up the day.