Yellow pin flags mark the center line along the route of the new Ice Age National Scenic Trail as it travels through Walla Hi County Park in Manitowoc County. Photo by Dave Caliebe.
Walla Hi County Park in Manitowoc County is home to undulating terrain formed as continental-sized loads of rock and soil, carried by two massive lobes of ice, met and co-mingled. The resulting 125-mile interlobate Kettle Moraine rises in a topographic swell more typically associated with the Adirondack Mountains. This dramatic expression of glacial landscape will soon host nearly 2 miles of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Sustainably built trails, following natural contours of the park, will highlight the impressive rugged beauty of the region.
Mobile Skills Crew Trailbuilding Event
Walla Hi Segment
Manitowoc County
Wednesday, September 13 – Sunday, September 17
Register for the project
Map of project area
As with all Mobile Skills Crew events, no experience is necessary and there’s a role for volunteers of all ages and abilities…bring the whole family!
Your participation is welcome for any amount of time you can give. Training is provided by certified volunteer crew leaders, and all participants get free meals and (for those working with us for multiple days) a free place to pitch a tent.
What We’re Doing:
While the primary focus of this project is to open a new segment, we’ll also shine a light revealing a hidden gem of a county park. We’re excited to work with the striking features of the land and create sustainable trails for current and future generations of hikers. In the process, there will be plenty of rock work: stone steps to access the views and retaining walls to protect the trail on the slopes. Additionally, new signage will be installed, thousands of feet of tread will be constructed, and hundreds of meals will be prepared.
Schedule:
Work begins on Wednesday, September 13th and concludes Sunday, September 17th. Trailbuilding activities begin each day around 8:00 a.m. and typically wrap up between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day except for Sunday where the work ends at noon.
Project Team members will be on site by Tuesday; if you are interested in arriving early, please call Special Projects Coordinator, Brad Crary at 262-370-2995.
Checking in at Base Camp:
Base camp and volunteer check in will be located at the Walla Hi County Park, 18941 Mueller Road, Kiel, WI 53042. (Directions here.) Volunteers should report each day to Base Camp for registration, assignments and shuttles to the work site. Watch for yellow “Ice Age Trail Event” signs as you arrive in the area. Morning and evening meals will be served here and lunch will be in the field.
Register:
To help us plan this event with your needs in mind, please register by Saturday, September 9th
Questions?
Please contact Brad Crary (262-370-2995, brad@iceagetrail.org) or the IATA office (800-227-0046).
Special note: This project was made possible in part by generous grant from the Ruth St. John and John Dunham West Foundation, Inc.
We hope to see you soon!
Happy Trails,
The Walla Hi MSC Project Team