Ice Age Trail Alliance: Waushara County Chapter Information

SPECIAL NOTE: When the snow gets deep and there is no place to park at trailhead lots, you do not want to park on the road. We hear you! Waushara County Chapter volunteers will try and keep several parking areas clear this winter. Check out the chapter’s Explore the Trail page for updated recommendations. We will do our best to keep you updated as weather conditions change.

The chapter is excited to introduce its new website. You will find some fun photos of our events and the different segments that exist in Waushara County. Go to www.wausharacountyiat.webs.com. Check out the “Photo of the Month”, see what the “Winter Trail Tales” have us guessing about and the “Winter Wonderland” in Waushara County.

The Waushara County Chapter’s mission is to help create, support and protect the Ice Age National Scenic Trail within Waushara County.

Trail work got started in Waushara County in the mid-1970s by Joe Mills, who referred to the project as the “Nature Trail”. Paul Walker continued the efforts during the 1980s. The current chapter was founded in the late 1990s by Tom Pintar.

The Waushara County Chapter’s membership consists of approximately 90-100 individuals and families with 15-20 active volunteers. Among many other responsibilities, these volunteers work hard to maintain 19 off-road miles of the Ice Age Trail divided between six segments:

- Chaffee Creek Segment
- Wedde Creek Segment
- Mecan River Segment
- Greenwood Wildlife Segment
- Bohn Lake Segment
- Deerfield Segment

The land over which the Ice Age Trail passes in Waushara County is owned and managed by a variety of partners. Private landowners host Trail segments through handshake agreements or easements providing permanent Trail protection. Other segments cross land managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), including State Wildlife Areas, State Fishery Areas and State Ice Age Trail Areas.

Check out the chapter’s Events Calendar for details on upcoming events. Below are some highlights:

March 22, 2010 - Chapter Meeting at the Anna Follett Memorial Community Center in Coloma, WI. Join us to learn more about upcoming events, hikes, workdays and future happenings.

February 6, 2010, Waushara County hosted its 11th Annual Candlelite Sweetheart Event and Hike. It was a beautiful night, the weather was perfect and the snow decided to stick around, so sledding, snowshoeing and skiing was in order. The Clauson’s Family Band entertained a full house with close to 150 plus in attendance throughout the night. The Ice Age Trail was lined with over 500 candles around Bohn Lake with a big heart outlined appropriately in the center. A bonfire gave a cozy place to sit, warm up and the kids roasted marshmallows. Randy Lennartz, the chapter coordinator, supplied sleds for anyone struggling with a physical challenge, so everyone could take advantage of this newly built accessible hiking trail. It was an event that was definitely accessible for everyone to enjoy! Check out the chapter website for more highlights at www.wausharacountyiat.webs.com.

Photo 1 by Lynn Ellen Photography. Photos 2, 3 and 4 by Flo Walker and Photo 5 by Shaina Klassy.

May 13 - Freshman from the Almond-Bancroft High School environmental service program spent the day removing brush and clearing the trail to prepare for the new wheelchair accessible trail at the Bohn Lake State Ice Age Trail Area. Working hard and enjoying the great outdoors in Waushara County!

In July 2009, the Operating Engineers Local 139, contributed their time, labor and equipment to the “Bohn Lake Accessible Hiking Trail Project”. A project that was originally expected to be finished in July 2010 was completed and readily available to our hikers in July 2009! Along with the other 50 plus donors and contributors, the engineers were determined to see this project through to the end!

October 10, 2009, was a BIG day for the Bohn Lake segment. The chapter had a full day agenda for its guests. First, we started off with a Grand Opening Reception for the donors and contributors to the “Bohn Lake Accessible Hiking Trail Project” followed by a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to officially open the newly built “accessible” hiking trail to everyone!

Randy Lennartz, Chapter Coordinator, says a few words before the ribbon cutting begins.

Pictured standing in center photo: Randy Lennartz, Chapter Coordinator, Mike Wollmer, Alliance Executive Director, Mike Bergum, DNR Property Manager, AJ McCaskey, Chapter Member. Seated: Andy Janicki, DNR Accessibility Specialist and Jenny Addis, Chapter Member.

To end the day, we invited the community to “Take a Walk on the Wild Side” and join us for our 11th Annual Fall Colors Hike, which drew in a record breaking total of 86 registered hikers!

A “BIG” thank you is in order for our hard working volunteers and chapter members who were a key component in making this a successful 2009!!

Chapter Members pictured from left to right: Lee Hazlett, Barb Hazlett, Joan Klem, Jean Clark and John Klem.

Almond/Bancroft School Instructor, Brenda Ramczyk, seen planting a flower with her student. Freshman volunteers pictured posing with Bohn Lake welcome sign. Also known as A.C.E.S. (Adventure Club with Environmental Services)

Wautoma Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at the Bohn Lake State Ice Age Trail Area. Waushara County Chapter members are joined by the Wautoma Chamber of Commerce, community volunteers and contributors for the opening of the All Access Spur Route of the Bohn Lake Segment located on 9th Drive north of County Highway C, near Hancock.

August 1, 2009, the Bohn Lake Segment welcomed hikers for a tour of the summer sky, known as the “Moonlight Hike.” The night consisted of hiking the newly constructed 1/4 mile long accessible trail with chapter member Guy Kaplan as their leader, sharing his astrology knowledge, wildflower information and other interesting facts and history. The hike took the group to the south overlook of Bohn Lake. The weather cooperated and with nearly 20 people in attendance, it bypassed the attendance in year’s past!!! A perfect night to showcase all the hard work and effort put into constructing the Bohn Lake Segment of the Ice Age Trail! The “Moonlight Hike” was clearly a success!!

Ken Tennessen of Wautoma got this shot while walking the Ice Age Trail. If you have a great photograph along the Ice Age Trail in Waushara County, please mail it to Guy at gk500@uniontel.net.

For more information on chapter activities and/or hiking the Ice Age Trail in this region, contact one of the chapter’s leaders: