A guarantee for April MSC events: Unpredictable weather. Yet, the promise of cloudy, 40-degree days and chilly, rain-soaked nights didn’t deter 73 volunteers who donated 1,995 service hours. They remained undaunted even after waking to half a foot of snow on Sunday morning.
“It was the first time I’ve ever seen a tread crew shovel snow off the flag line so they could build Trail,” said Dave Caliebe, Trail Program Manager for the Ice Age Trail Alliance.
Energetic volunteers met project goals by the end of the day on Friday, reported Patrick Gleissner, the Alliance’s Trail Operations Coordinator. Consequently, the efforts on Saturday and Sunday enabled crews to get a jumpstart on May’s project list.
“April’s project was about doing the heavy lifting in preparation for May’s traibuilding event,” noted Gleissner. “We completed four boardwalks and started four more structures.” The boardwalks will allow future treadwork crews to safely cross wetlands when building the next mile of Ice Age Trail along the Rib Lake Segment.
Crews also started work on a stepping stone project at a water crossing, roughed in 1,000 feet of tread, and cleared a half-mile of the corridor.
Project Outcomes:
- 73 volunteers donated 1,995 service hours
- Completed 5 boardwalks totaling 217 feet
- Started 3 boardwalks totaling 261 feet
- Began placing stepping stones for a 7-stone water crossing
- Roughed in 1,000 feet of tread
- Cleared a 1/2-mile of corridor
Special thanks to:
- Bob and Ann Rusch for decades of commitment to the Ice Age Trail and being the driving force in rebuilding the Rib Lake Segment.
- Lee “Butch” Clendenning and Gail Clendenning for donating the gap-closing easement, the site of April and May’s trailbuilding projects and for Butch letting us take over his property while he merrily hauled boardwalk materials with his tractor.
- The Village of Rib Lake (an Ice Age Trail Community!) for providing a truly wonderful basecamp at the amazing Lakeview Park and Campground.
- Wisconsin Hoofers for bringing out a hardy group of volunteers to swell the ranks.
- Dan Hagen, Anchor and Assistant News Director, for providing great news coverage on Rhinelander Channel 12.
- Alice Weinert for bringing cookies, bundt cake, and games for post-work socializing all the way from Chicago.
Generous funding for volunteer support and trailbuilding supplies came from
Bob and Ann Rusch.
Award Ceremony!
On Saturday evening, Executive Director, Luke Kloberdanz, presented Bob Rusch with a 40 Years of Service Award during a celebration in his honor.
Up Next:
Rib Lake Segment, Taylor County
May 17 – 21, 2023
The effort continues toward building four brand-new, gap-closing miles. We’ll complete a 2.5-mile section and get a head start on the last mile.
