Save the Date: Trail Improvement, Verona Segment, Dane County

Photo Credit: Cameron Gillie

9AM – 3PM, May 11 and 12, 2024 (Saturday and Sunday)

Reddan Woods Reroute

We will be constructing tread (walking surface) for a 516′ reroute. This bypasses a heavily eroded section of trail that follows the fall line down a hillside, and will follow a more sustainable winding route.

More details will be provided via the Dane County trailbuilders-dciat mailing list in late April. To be added to this list, contact Megan Schliesman (schliesfrau@gmail.com) and ask to be added to our Trailbuilders list.  (Note: Megan cannot answer questions about workdays; she coordinates the list, not workdays.)  Emails sent on the listserv will contain all the details for a workday, and you should contact the listed leader for any given workday with questions.

Your help is welcomed for any part of the project. No experience is necessary – certified crew leaders will guide you to get started!

 

Trail Improvement, University Ridge-Madison Segment, Dane County

Photo Credit: Cameron Gillie

Friends,

It’s time to head out to University Ridge to continue the trail improvement work we’ve been doing over the past 14 months.  The results of our work are gratifying–I walked the west woods today to the Woods Rd. trailhead  The look and feel of the trail is such a wonderful improvement!  It soothes the soul…

We have only 385 feet of trail left to finish phase 1 of this project.  Wow!  

What: Clear invasive brush to improve forest health, reveal the area’s natural beauty and enhance the hiking experience.  We will pile the cut brush for winter burning.  Note: We will not be burning brush piles on Feb. 18.

Hand tools will be provided.

Chain sawyers (NPS certified): Sawyers are very welcome and much needed.

When: Sunday, February 18,  9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.   

Where:  University Ridge Golf Course.  Enter through the main gate at 9002 County Hwy. PD, Madison.

Park in the large parking lot near the clubhouse.  See map.

What to wear/what to bring: Please dress appropriately for the weather.  There is plenty of thorny gooseberry, prickly ash and buckthorn, so keep your skin covered.  Leather gloves are a must.  Bring plenty of water, snacks and lunch.

Homework:    There are several attachments to this event.  Please take a few minutes to read them. This info will help you identify black cherry (good), common buckthorn (bad) and burning bush (bad).  You’ll also learn the basics of constructing a proper brush pile.  Trust me–poorly-built brush piles are a huge time-waster when it’s time to burn them.

Volunteers in Parks (VIP) program:  The National Park Service asks that all volunteers file, on a yearly basis, a Volunteer Service Agreement form.  In the unlikely event of an injury, a VIP’s medical expenses are covered by the federal government.  Go to:  https://www.iceagetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/packet-individual-301a-exp-10_2024.pdf 

Courtesy:  If you are going to arrive late or cannot come as planned, I understand.  Please afford me and your fellow volunteers the courtesy of a phone call, text or email to me as early as possible.  Thank you.

If you plan to help on February 18, please reply to this message.  This is very important so I can plan for enough tools and supplies.  It also allows me to communicate with you, should plans change due to weather, etc.

Questions?  Call, email or text me.  I hope to see you Sunday morning!

Happy Trails

Link to work site location: Map for next trail improvement day

Building & burning brush piles (handout)

Black cherry v buckthorn

Burning Bush shrub winter id.

 

Habitat Improvement: Table Bluff Segment at SwampLovers’ Preserve

What You’ll Help Do:

Help maintain habitat diversity and ecosystem quality in Alliance-owned SwampLover’s Preserve. Remove invasive brush from the oak savannas and woodlands using loppers and hand saws. Trained sawyers will bring down invasive trees, too. All this effort prepares the preserve for future broadcast burning. If there is adequate snow cover, we’ll also burn the brush piles.

Join us each day, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Friday, January 19, and learn what it takes to maintain the lush prairies and savannas of these Preserves.

We also need NPS-trained sawyers and swampers (a person to ensure crew safety when a sawyer is running the chainsaw) and brush haulers to pile and burn the debris. We encourage NPS-certified sawyers to bring their chainsaw and PPE.

Registration:

 

 

 

All Talents and Abilities Welcome!
No experience is necessary and there’s a role for volunteers of all ages and abilities. Certified and friendly staff and volunteer crew leaders will provide hands-on training to get you started right away.

Schedule 
Your contribution of time and energy is welcome for any part of the event.

The event runs Friday, January 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Lunch is provided.

Parking and Volunteer Check-In

Parking may be limited this time of year, so please consider ride-sharing. (Park at Scheele Road parking lot.)

There is no overnight camping or base camp for this project.

What to Bring
• Winter-appropriate footwear. If snowy/icy, consider snowshoes and ice cleats (Micro Spikes, Yak Traks, etc.) for secure footing.
• A plastic sled and/or backpack for hauling gear may prove helpful.
• Appropriate ‘near-fire’ clothing (no synthetics – leave that fancy coat at home).
• Clothing to dress in layers (for warmth and to keep dry).
• A daypack, sunscreen, and leather gloves.
• A water bottle(s) and a thermos filled with a warm beverage.
• NPS certified sawyers are welcome and encouraged to bring your own saw and PPE.

Looking Ahead:

Join us for similar-style habitat improvement efforts at Steenbock Preserve:

February 9 & 10: Steenbock Preserve, Gibraltar Rock Segment, Columbia County

Questions?
Please contact Steve Pence, Land Restoration Specialist, by emailing: Steve@iceagetrail.org

We hope to see you soon!

Happy Trails,

The Table Bluff Segment Project Team

 

Dane County Winter Fun Extravaganza

Event Description

Join the Ice Age Trail Alliance, Lussier Family Heritage Center and Dane County Parks at the Winter Fun Extravaganza!  The event will be a great opportunity to get outside this winter.  Ice Age Trail Alliance volunteers will be at the snowshoe area to help attendees with gear and questions. Alliance members will also have maps, stickers and bandanas for everyone who comes by to say hello.

Here is a list of fun things that will be going on that you can participate in.

  • Sledding – A few sleds will be available at first come, first serve basis.
  • Warming Shelter Fire – We will light up the fire in the warming shelter and be providing s’mores with a donation to our environmental education programs.
  • Snowshoeing – Snowshoe rentals will be $5 a pair to use during the event on a first come, first serve basis.
  • Permit Free Weekend for Cross County Skiing!
  • Bonfire – We will have a bonfire going at the shelter and be providing s’mores and hot chocolate with a donation to our environmental education programs.
  • Snow free play! Use our igloo bricks to build an igloo, make snow people and more!

This is a free event open to the public, no registration is required. This event is weather dependent, check Dane County Parks’ Facebook event page and other social media platforms for cancelations.

Location

Indian Lake County Park

8183 State Highway 19
Cross Plains, WI 53528
Get Directions

Contact

heritagecenter@countyofdane.com

 

*Image credit: Lussier Family Heritage Center, Dane County Parks

Dane Chapter Annual Meeting, Cross Plains

Photo of the book cover from our guest speaker.

Event: Chapter Annual Meeting – Dane County Chapter

Time:

5:45 pm Social hour

6:15 pm Potluck Dinner – Bring a dish to pass.

7:00 pm Business meeting, followed by a presentation by photographer and Thousand Miler Cameron Gillie.

Location:

Rosemary Garfoot Library, 2107 Julius St, Cross Plains, WI 53528 (Park along Jovina Street and use that entrance.)

Contact:

Bob Kaspar

Guided Hike- Springfield Hill

Enjoy a nice wintertime hike! There is not quite enough snow to use snowshoes, but that won’t stop us from having lots of fun. Come out for a nice time!

[CANCELLED] Snowshoe Hike- Liebetrau Prairie

This event is cancelled due to weather. Please check back for more group hike opportunities!

 

Enjoy a nice wintertime hike, and if there is enough snow (fingers-crossed) we will be using snowshoes. Come out for a nice time!

Winter Solstice Hike – Springfield Hill Segment

Join the fun on Thursday, December 21, 2023 to celebrate the Winter Solstice on the Ice Age Trail! 

Details

Dress for the weather. Headlamps and/or flashlights will be needed. There are no bathroom facilities available at the Springfield Hill Segment.

After the hike, enjoy FREE hot cocoa provided by the Dane County Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance. All are welcome, including well-behaved and leashed dogs.

Springfield Hill Segment
This segment, a short loop that can be hiked in either direction, highlights the 198-acre Springfield Hill Natural Resource Area. This property consists of steep wooded valleys, glacial kettle ponds, and open meadow. The stunning prairie changes with the seasons and demonstrates what’s possible through extensive and ongoing restoration efforts. The Trail’s route provides outstanding views from atop Springfield Hill, one of the highest points in the area.

Photo by Joe Ulmer. 

Trail Improvement, Madison Segment, Dane County

Photo Credit: Cameron Gillie

When: Saturday, November 18,  9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.   

Where:  University Ridge Golf Course.  Enter through the main gate at 9002 County Hwy. PD, Madison.  Park in the large parking lot near the clubhouse.  See map.

Parking Please park in the area shown on the attached map.

What to wear/what to bring: Wear a hat, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks and lightweight boots.  There is plenty of thorny gooseberry and multiflora rose.  Leather gloves are a must.  Bring plenty of water, snacks and lunch.

Volunteers in Parks (VIP) program:  The National Park Service asks that all volunteers file, on a yearly basis, a Volunteer Service Agreement form.  In the unlikely event of an injury, a VIP’s medical expenses are covered by the federal government.  Go to:  https://www.iceagetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/Packet-Individual-301a-IATR-Staff_508-1.pdf

Courtesy:  If you are going to arrive late or cannot come as planned, I understand.  Please afford me and your fellow volunteers the courtesy of a phone call, text or email to me as early as possible.  Thank you.

Questions?  Call, email or text me.

Happy Trails

Link to map: University golf course map 11-18-23

A Road Walk Becomes a Walk in the Woods!

The final MSC Trailbuilding project for 2023 in Cross Plains brought a record number of volunteers and service hours.

A group of volunteers gather in a circle at the Cross Plains Segment for a morning meeting prior to the Trailbuilding event.
A record breaking number of volunteers gathered for the final 2023 MSC Trailbuilding Project in Cross Plains. Photo by Amy Lord.
The five-day trailbuilding project from October 18 – October 22 along the Cross Plains Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail ticked a lot of boxes: Enthusiastic volunteers, great weather, even better food, vibrant autumn color, an evening watching UW-Madison’s women’s volleyball on the big screen (literally), and pumpkin carving! As a bonus, volunteers built 3.1 miles of tread, including a 0.6-mile white-blazed loop trail.
Continue reading

Habitat Improvement: Table Bluff Segment at SwampLovers’ Preserve

What You’ll Help Do:

Help maintain habitat diversity and ecosystem quality in Alliance-owned SwampLover’s Preserve. Remove invasive brush from the oak savannas and woodlands using loppers and hand saws. Trained sawyers will bring down invasive trees, too. All this effort prepares the preserve for future broadcast burning. If there is adequate snow cover, we’ll also burn the brush piles.

Join us each day, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Friday, January 12, and Saturday, January 13, and learn what it takes to maintain the lush prairies and savannas of these Preserves.

We also need NPS-trained sawyers and swampers (a person to ensure crew safety when a sawyer is running the chainsaw) and brush haulers to pile and burn the debris. We encourage NPS-certified sawyers to bring their chainsaw and PPE.

Registration:
To help us plan this event with your needs in mind, please register by Tuesday, January 9, 2024.

Limit: 50 volunteers.

 

 

 

All Talents and Abilities Welcome!
No experience is necessary and there’s a role for volunteers of all ages and abilities. Certified and friendly staff and volunteer crew leaders will provide hands-on training to get you started right away.

Schedule 
Your contribution of time and energy is welcome for any part of the event.

The event runs Friday, January 12 through Saturday, January 13. Each day’s event hours are 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Lunch is provided each day.

Parking and Volunteer Check-In

Parking may be limited this time of year, so please consider ride-sharing. (Park at Scheele Road parking lot.)

There is no overnight camping or base camp for this project.

What to Bring
• Winter-appropriate footwear. If snowy/icy, consider snowshoes and ice cleats (Micro Spikes, Yak Traks, etc.) for secure footing.
• A plastic sled and/or backpack for hauling gear may prove helpful.
• Appropriate ‘near-fire’ clothing (no synthetics – leave that fancy coat at home).
• Clothing to dress in layers (for warmth and to keep dry).
• A daypack, sunscreen, and leather gloves.
• A water bottle(s) and a thermos filled with a warm beverage.
• NPS certified sawyers are welcome and encouraged to bring your own saw and PPE.

Looking Ahead:

Join us for similar-style habitat improvement efforts and at two other Alliance-owned preserves.

January 26 & 27: Hartland Marsh Preserve, Hartland Segment, Waukesha County

February 9 & 10: Steenbock Preserve, Gibraltar Rock Segment, Columbia County

Interested in knowing what’s in store for the entire season? Our Season at a Glance is coming, soon!

Questions?
Please contact Steve Pence, Land Restoration Specialist, by emailing: Steve@iceagetrail.org

We hope to see you soon!

Happy Trails,

The Table Bluff Segment Project Team

 

Mammoth Hike Challenge BINGO

Join Monty and the Ice Age Trail Alliance for this FUN Mammoth Hike Challenge event = BINGO at Nineteen09 Wine Bar in Cross Plains.

No registration needed but early arrival is suggested to get a table.

IATA staff and volunteers, along with Monty, will be onsite at 4:00 selling merchandise, answering questions and talking Trail. BINGO takes place 5:00 – 7:00 pm. $5 per card. Prizes every round.

Event Details: 

  • Sunday, October 15
  • 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
  • BINGO takes place 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Mammoth Hike Challenge TRAIL MAGIC: Nineteen09 will be donating 20% of all sales from Sunday, October 15 to the Ice Age Trail Alliance!

New to Nineteen09? They are a locally owned wine bar, gift shop and event venue in Cross Plains, WI. Enjoy a glass of wine, specialty cocktail or mocktail, along with locally crafted beer in a historic building or if the weather is nice, outside on their beautiful patio. Check out their website to learn more, www.nineteen09.com.

Explore Cross Plains, an Ice Age Trail Community, before heading to Nineteen09 and bingo.

       

 

 

 

August Chapter Meeting – Dane County

The next regular business meeting of the Dane County Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance will be held Monday, August 28, 2023 (that’s next week Monday) at 6:30 pm, at the park shelter at Badger Prairie County Park in Verona.  Business usually wraps up by 8:15 pm.

I’d like to invite you all to our first in-person chapter meeting since January, 2020.  We’ve been zooming our chapter meetings since I got up the nerve to test Zoom in the spring of 2020.  We’ve done alright, but we get the same folks every meeting, and I hope that a personal invitation will attract a few new faces to the ranks of those of us who show up all the time.

At our regular business meetings, we get reports from all the committees that we have, including stewardship and trail builders.  The trail folks have a bunch of potential trail improvements to report, including a big mobile skills crew project in October near Cross Plains, and the stewardship folks put a lot of work in every week to make the trail and its surrounding lands as natural as they can make it.  We should also have reports on the upcoming hike-a-thon and other fun stuff.

If 6:30 conflicts with dinner, bring it along.  If it conflicts with dessert, bring it.  If it conflicts with consumption of post-dinner refreshments, bring them, along with a designated driver if necessary.

The shelter is a few feet from the Ice Age Trail, between Maple Grove Drive, just off East Verona Avenue, and the Verona Public Library.  I plan to put up Ice Age Trail Event signs at both ends of the park road, along with a sign at the parking lot next to the shelter.  Zoom in on the Google Map below for details.

Happy trails,

Bob Kaspar, Coordinator

Dane County Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance

Trail Improvement, Madison Segment, Dane County

Photo Credit: Cameron Gillie

I’m planning a trail improvement day at University Ridge golf course.  We’re going to make a huge improvement at the Woods Road trailhead!  In a few hours we will transform this area from buckthorn jungle to an attractive Ice Age NST trailhead.
What: Clear invasive brush to improve forest health, reveal the area’s natural beauty and enhance the hiking experience.  Pile the cut brush for winter burning.
Chain sawyers: We can use gas chain saws in this area.  Your help will be much appreciated.  Battery-powered saw?  We love you too!
When: Sunday, July 23,  9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.   
Where:  University Ridge Golf Course.  Enter through the main gate at 9002 County Hwy. PD, Madison.
Parking Please park in the area shown on the attached map.  PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON WOODS ROAD–THE SHOULDER IS NARROW AND STEEP.  TRAFFIC MOVES FAST ON THIS ROAD.  INSTEAD, PARK SAFELY IN THE AREA SHOWN ON THE ATTACHED MAP.
What to wear/what to bring: Wear a hat, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks and lightweight boots.  There is plenty of thorny gooseberry and multiflora rose.  Leather gloves are a must.  It is tick season.  Wear outer clothing treated with Permethrin.  Tick-borne illness is no fun!  Bring plenty of water, snacks and lunch.
Volunteers in Parks (VIP) program:  The National Park Service asks that all volunteers file, on a yearly basis, a Volunteer Service Agreement form.  In the unlikely event of an injury, a VIP’s medical expenses are covered by the federal government.  Go to:  https://www.iceagetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/Packet-Individual-301a-IATR-Staff_508-1.pdf 
Courtesy:  If you are going to arrive late or cannot come as planned, I understand.  Please afford me and your fellow volunteers the courtesy of a phone call, text or email to me as early as possible.  Thank you.
If you plan to help on July 23, please reply to this message.  This is very important so I can plan for enough tools and supplies.  It also allows me to communicate with you, should plans change due to weather, etc.
Questions?  Call, email or text me.  I hope to see you on July 23!

Happy Trails

Link to details: July 23 workday map

Future in the Outdoors – Stewardship Social

Join fellow young professionals for a summer evening of stewardship, snacks, and fun!

The Ice Age Trail Alliance invites young professionals to a special Future in the Outdoors “Stewardship Social” volunteer event. This event is a fun way to learn more about the Alliance’s Habitat Improvement program, support the native wildflowers, and increase habitat for critical pollinators. It is also a great way to try your hand at volunteering, meet other young professionals interested in the outdoors, and even find a hiking buddy for the upcoming 2023 Mammoth Hike Challenge!

Future in the Outdoors – Stewardship Social will take place at the southern end of the Table Bluff Segment on Picnic Hill Prairie in the Swamplovers Preserve (Cross Plains/Dane County), one of the most diverse restored dry prairies in the area.

Project Description:

Invasive species are a sad reality for land conservation efforts.  They usually lack natural predators that keep them under control in their native ranges, leading to out-competition of native species which decreases high quality habitat for insects, birds, butterflies and other critters. The Picnic Hill Prairie on the Swamplovers Preserve has been well established for years but still needs regular tending to help the native species compete against invasive ones.

The work will include walking carefully through a medium tall prairie full of stunning wildflowers and ‘spot weeding’ invasive plants. We’ll discuss a few target weed species and explain how to identify them. From there, we will split into small groups to start weeding. You’ll have an expert close by to help answer any questions and help identify what stays and what gets pulled. Enjoy a social and snacks after weeding.

See map of the project area[PDF].

Schedule:

Thursday, August 17, 2023* @ 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

  • 5:30 p.m. Arrive, park and hike up to Picnic Hill Prairie (there is a steep incline on the trip up)
  • 6:00 – 6:15 p.m. Welcome – Introductions – Project Overview
  • 6:15 – 7:30 p.m. Get your hands dirty! Weeding in the prairie.
  • 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Social and snacks*, self-led hiking.

What to Bring:

  • Gardening gloves
  • Close-toed shoes
  • Sun hat/sunscreen
  • Bug spray
  • Long pants, long sleeve shirt (we will be in tall grass)
  • Personal drinking water and container
  • Picnic or snacks**
  • Raingear – we will work in light rain, please check the forecast

*The rain date is Thursday, August 24, 2023.

**The Ice Age Trail Alliance will provide light refreshments and snacks. A porta potty is available onsite.

We love dogs, but we ask that you not bring them to this event. Wooly mammoths are welcome.

Registration is FREE, but spots are limited!

Register today to save your spot and help us plan accordingly!

Volunteers in Parks Information:

No experience is necessary and volunteers of all ages are welcome, provided youth attend with an adult chaperone. If you are NEW to volunteering with the Ice Age Trail Alliance, please submit the volunteer agreement before the event, see below for more details.

  • Please complete this Volunteer Agreement, OF-301A Fillable Form.
  • Please email the completed form to Dan Watson, NPS Volunteer Coordinator, (daniel_watson@nps.gov).
  • Dan will reply to you with a signed copy of the form.

 

Featured image by: Cameron Gillie

Dane County Chapter Hike – Montrose Segment

Photo Credit: Brent Sieling

The Hike

The Trail starts from the parking lot heading south between two agricultural fields before entering a wooded area, and then winds uphill and west before turning to the south, passing an impressive bedrock outcropping dotted with ferns. It then continues east through an agricultural field and turns southeast to a high plateau. The Trail turns east when entering another woods, and drops down a ridge, then continues south across a farm field and reenters the woods. From this point the segment climbs gradually up the west side of a sandstone ridge, eventually making its way to a fine goat prairie and trailside bench with outstanding views across a glacial outwash plain to the Sugar River watershed and the city of Belleville. The segment takes a northeast turn and crosses a high prairie plateau before entering a woods and turns southeast to reach Cty Hwy D.

Event Details

We’ll hike the Ice Age Trail south while traversing through wooded and prairie areas. From sandstone vistas we’ll see the surrounding Sugar River Valley area. This is an out and back moderate hike (from Frenchtown Rd to Hwy D) with some rolling hills and with a total distance of about 5.5 miles.

Well behaved dogs are welcome on leash.

Be aware of possible Hwy 69 construction and allow extra time to arrive as portions may be closed. May need to access Frenchtown Rd from either Hwy PB (west) or Hwy D (east).

Location

Meet at Parking lot at the intersection of Piller Rd and Frenchtown Rd.

Dane County Chapter Hike – Verona Segment

Photo Credit: David Lonsdorf

The Hike

The Prairie Moraine section of the Verona Segment starts at the gate in the northwest corner of the parking lot, adjacent to the fenced off dog exercise area, and heads north before turning to the east. It then climbs a few switchbacks to a saddle of the terminal moraine on the St. Peter sandstone bedrock. There is a spur trail to the east to a viewing platform offering views of a ravine cut in the moraine by meltwater and of the upper Sugar River Valley in the Driftless Area to the south. The Ice Age Trail continues from the junction with the spur trail to the northwest about 0.8 miles, descending along the north-northwest side of the moraine before heading north through the woods for a short bit. The Trail then crosses Cty Hwy PB at the end of the median in the road (caution: heavy traffic), before going south to enter the Moraine Kettles portion of the Verona segment. As you head west on the segment, you will see a sign the noting the old section of roadway for the County Farm Paoli Road that was in use from 1882 to 1929. The Trail continues to the west before turning north to cut through a prairie with tall grasses and wildflowers. The next set of woods has several kettle ponds formed from ice buried when the glaciers retreated, subsequently melting to form a depression that usually fills with water. Finally there is another small prairie before reaching the Moraine Kettles parking lot and Cty Hwy M.

Event Details

Time for an evening hike on the Ice Age Trail at Prairie Moraine County Park, southeast Verona. We’ll hike through prairies and woods where you can enjoy Dane County’s most visible section of the glacial terminal moraine. Total will be 2.5-3 miles as we’ll enjoy the trail up to County M through a section we call Moraine Kettles due to some nice kettle ponds we’ll go by. We’ll also explore off the IAT in Prairie Moraine a little by going up to the observation platform for some great views of the Sugar River valley.

Location

At the gate/kiosk in the first lot as soon as you turn on Wesner Rd.

Dane County Chapter Hike – Brooklyn Wildlife Segment

Photo Credit:  MacKenzie McDermit.

The Hike

The Brooklyn Wildlife segment traverses an area featuring highly eroded glacial deposits from an earlier glacial advance more than 60,000 years ago. The segment highlights meadows, woodlands, oak savannas, and colorful prairies. The variety of habitats in the area results in great bird-watching opportunities. Herons and cranes fish in the Story Creek wetlands and plenty of turkeys resting with their young can be stirred up on sandy portions of the segment. Volunteers from the Friends of Brooklyn Wildlife Area and the Ice Age Trail Alliance’s Dane County Chapter have worked extensively on prairie restoration and removal of invasive species throughout the Brooklyn Wildlife Area. When heading north from the blue spur trail from the Hwy DD South parking lot, you will encounter a particularly impressive overlook and view from the Trail of the Story Creek wetlands and the Johnstown Moraine. Heading south of the blue spur trail will lead to a trail-side hand water pump.

Event Details

We’ll explore several miles of the Brooklyn Wildlife Area along the Ice Age Trail — maybe around 5 miles total. There’s several parking areas on that segment – we’re meeting in the larger one in the middle of the segment. Should see lots of summer prairie plants, but we’ll also be in some wooded areas that should be a bit shadier at times.

Well behaved dogs on leash are welcome.

Location

The ‘Hwy DD South’ parking lot entrance is about .8 miles south of the Dane County Hwy D intersection with Hwy DD, and just north of the Green County line.

Trail Improvement, Madison Segment, Dane County

Photo Credit: Cameron Gillie

We’re going to continue the series of University Ridge workdays on Sunday, July 9.  It’s no National Trails Day, but it is apparently Nunavut Day.  We will finish clearing buckthorn and honeysuckle from a patch started on Monday, June 12, and resume working northwards near the clubhouse.
What: Clear invasive brush to improve forest health, reveal the area’s natural beauty and enhance the hiking experience.
When: Sunday, July 9, 9 AM to 2 PM.
Where: University Ridge Golf Course.  Enter through the main gate at 9002 County Hwy. PD, Madison.  See the attached map.
What to expect:
We will cut, move and pile brush & small trees.
As noted on the attached map, we will be tackling two work areas.  Depending on turnout, we expect to start a crew in each area immediately after roundup.  (Otherwise, in case of a small turnout, we’ll work as one crew to finish work area 1 and then move to work area 2.)
Parking:
Please park in the back of the parking lot near the clubhouse.  We’ll round up and distribute tools there, and then a small group (3-5 people) will depart for Work Area 1.  The remaining group will tackle Work Area 2 near the clubhouse.
** The course is open and golf season is in full swing, so be aware that many golf carts will be moving about on the paths throughout the day.
What to expect / what to wear / what to bring:
All hand tools will be provided.
– Safety glasses and disposable ear plugs will be available – if you have your own ear/eye protection, please bring them.
– Wear a hat, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks and lightweight boots.  There is plenty of thorny gooseberry and multiflora rose, as well as poison ivy and some wild parsnip in open areas.  Leather gloves are a must.
– It is tick season.  Wear outer clothing treated with Permethrin.  Tick-borne illness is no fun!
– Bring plenty of water, snacks and lunch.

Volunteers in Parks (VIP) program:  The National Park Service asks that all volunteers file, on a yearly basis, a Volunteer Service Agreement form.  In the unlikely event of an injury, a VIP’s medical expenses are covered by the federal government.  Go to https://www.iceagetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/Packet-Individual-301a-IATR-Staff_508-1.pdf

Courtesy:  If you are going to arrive late or cannot come as planned, I understand.  Please afford me and your fellow volunteers the courtesy of a phone call, text or email to me as early as possible.  Thank you.

If you plan to help on July 9, please contact me (see info below).  This is very important so I can plan for enough tools and supplies.  It also allows me to communicate with you, should plans change due to weather, etc.

Trail Improvement, Madison Segment, Dane County

Photo Credit: Cameron Gillie

We’re going to do more trail improvement on Monday, June 12 to (hopefully) complete the great work done on Saturday, June 3.
What: Clear invasive brush to improve forest health, reveal the area’s natural beauty and enhance the hiking experience.
When: Monday, June 12,  9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  June 12 is a rare opportunity to use gas chainsaws (due to noise) in this patch of woods.  We won’t have another opportunity until the course closes in late fall.    
Where:  University Ridge Golf Course.  Enter through the main gate at 9002 County Hwy. PD, Madison.  See the attached map.
PARKING:
 1. Please park in the back of the parking lot near the clubhouse, then take the short walk on the Ice Age Trail to the work area.
  or
2. Park at the Noer Turf Research Facility, 2502 S. Pleasant View Rd. (County M), Verona and walk the Ice Age Trail to the work area.  It is a short walk.
  or
3.  There will be some parking on the grass, on the north side of the dirt cart path shown on the map.  This is the left side as you pull in.  Park with all wheels in the grass–please don’t block the path.
4. It is OK to park along the main road, IF all four wheels are in the grass.
**Monday is the day after the AmFam tournament wraps up.  The course is closed to golfing.  Expect lots of trucks and heavy equipment on the road and in parking areas.
 
What to wear/what to bring: Wear a hat, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks and lightweight boots.  There is plenty of thorny gooseberry and multiflora rose.  Leather gloves are a must.  It is tick season.  Wear outer clothing treated with Permethrin.  Tick-borne illness is no fun!  Bring plenty of water, snacks and lunch.
Volunteers in Parks (VIP) program:  The National Park Service asks that all volunteers file, on a yearly basis, a Volunteer Service Agreement form.  In the unlikely event of an injury, a VIP’s medical expenses are covered by the federal government.  Go to:  https://www.iceagetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/Packet-Individual-301a-IATR-Staff_508-1.pdf 
Courtesy:  If you are going to arrive late or cannot come as planned, I understand.  Please afford me and your fellow volunteers the courtesy of a phone call, text or email to me as early as possible.  Thank you.
If you plan to help on June 12, please reply to this message.  This is very important so I can plan for enough tools and supplies.  It also allows me to communicate with you, should plans change due to weather, etc.
Questions?  Call, email or text me.  I hope to see you on June 12!  Happy Trails

Link to details: June Trail Improvement Project map

Dane County Chapter Hike – Table Bluff Segment

Photo Credit: Black-eyed Susans in full bloom along the Table Bluff Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail by Gary Hegeman.

The Hike

Come out for a hike on this showcase IAT property! The southern end of this segment was formerly owned and manged by the non-profit Swamplovers, before they donated the land to the IAT. The wetlands across from the parking lot are the result of meltwater from the Laurentide ice sheet pouring through a preglacial valley and depositing sand and gravel and partiality filling the valley floors, which now hold wetlands and a tributary stream of Black Earth creek, a Class I trout stream. The hike starts out with several switchbacks to climb to the top of the bluff, featuring dramatic rock outcroppings of Ordovician dolomite and views to the southwest to the Blue Mounds. There is a white-blazed loop trail in addition to the main IAT trail on the hilltop. After a prairie/oak savanna that is being restored to its native state, the IAT traverses nearly a mile of of woodlands of oak and hickory before descending to the valley floor. In the valley is a second white-blazed loop trail that offers a half mile ‘bubble’ to the west of the IAT. The trail continues across the valley to rise up the opposite hillside and into a wooded area. Enjoy the more than 20 years of prairie restoration efforts in the large restored prairie with a thriving population of rare pale purple coneflowers, plus shooting star, rattle-snake master, stiff gentian, hoary vervain, prairie smoke, cream gentian, and cream baptisia have all been identified here. Exiting the prairie and heading downhill, you will encounter the other end of the second white-blazed ‘bubble’ trail. The trail then begins climbing through another prairie/oak savanna before ending at the Table Bluff Road parking lot.

Event Details

Hike through the prairies and wooded areas near Table Bluff — out in the driftless area. Round trip is 4.8 miles with a couple moderate hills. There’s a couple of white loop trails in that area we can take to vary this hike a bit, so not a complete out and back. We’ll explore the restored prairies and oak savannas along the trail and hopefully have a great view overlooking the Black Earth Creek valley with Blue Mounds off in the distance. And of course be on the look out for the Swamplovers alligator!

We can also offer a one-way 2.5 mile option with shuttle back to the start.

Well behaved dogs on leash are OK to join us.

Location

Hikers will meet at the Swamplovers end of the trail on Scheele Rd. From HWY KP, turn onto Scheele Road, which has a right turn before entering Swamplovers. The parking lot is on the right.

Member Event: Weeding and Wine Stewardship Event at Mammoth’s Back Preserve (NEW LOCATION)

UPDATE: This event will be held at Mammoth’s Back Preserve, Cross Plains Segment (Dane County). 

This event is for Ice Age Trail Alliance members. To become a member, Join today.  View membership levels and benefits

Join the Ice Age Trail Alliance at a special, members only Weeding and Wine event at the Alliance-owned Swamplovers Preserve! This event is a fun way to learn more about the Alliance’s Habitat Improvement program, support the native wildflowers, and increase habitat for critical pollinators.

Weeding and Wine will take place at the southern end of the Table Bluff Segment on Picnic Hill Prairie in the Swamplovers Preserve (Cross Plains/Dane County), one of the most diverse restored dry prairies in the area.

Project Description:

Invasive species are a sad reality for land conservation efforts.  They usually lack natural predators that keep them under control in their native ranges, leading to out-competition of native species which decreases high quality habitat for insects, birds, butterflies and other critters. The Picnic Hill Prairie on the Swamplovers Preserve has been well established for years but still needs regular tending to help the native species compete against invasive ones.

The work will include walking carefully through a medium tall prairie full of stunning wildflowers and ‘spot weeding’ invasive plants. We’ll discuss a few target weed species and explain how to identify them. From there, we will split into small groups to start weeding. You’ll have an expert close by to help answer any questions and help identify what stays and what gets pulled. Enjoy a social and snacks after weeding.

See map of the project area[PDF].

Schedule:

Thursday, July 20, 2023* @ 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

  • 5:30 p.m. Arrive, park at Mammoth’s Back Preserve, Cross Plains Segment (Dane County)
  • 6:00 – 6:15 p.m. Welcome – Introductions – Project Overview
  • 6:15 – 7:30 p.m. Get your hands dirty! Weeding in the prairie.
  • 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Social and snacks*, self-led hiking, on-your-own picnic

What to Bring:

  • Gardening gloves
  • Digging tool if you have one
  • Close-toed shoes
  • Sun hat/sunscreen
  • Bug spray
  • Long pants, long sleeve shirt (we will be in tall grass)
  • Personal drinking water and container
  • Picnic or snacks**
  • Raingear – we will work in light rain, please check the forecast

*The rain date is Thursday, July 27.

**The Ice Age Trail Alliance will provide light refreshments and snacks (including wine). A porta potty is NOT available onsite.

We love dogs, but we ask that you not bring them to this event. Wooly mammoths are welcome.

Register today! Space is limited.

This event is FREE, but donations are appreciated!

Volunteers in Parks Information:

No experience is necessary and volunteers of all ages are welcome, provided youth attend with an adult chaperone. If you are NEW to volunteering with the Ice Age Trail Alliance, please submit the volunteer agreement before the event, see below for more details.

  • Please complete this Volunteer Agreement, OF-301A Fillable Form.
  • Please email the completed form to Dan Watson, NPS Volunteer Coordinator, (daniel_watson@nps.gov).
  • Dan will reply to you with a signed copy of the form.

Dane County Chapter Hike – Liebetrau Prairie part of Table Bluff Segment

Photo Credit: Black-eyed Susans in full bloom along the Table Bluff Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail by Gary Hegeman.

The Hike

Come out for a short evening stroll on this Dane County Parks property that is part of the Table Bluff segment of the Ice Age Trail. The trail has some gentle, rolling hills and a looping portion of the trail goes through a section of woods. This 1.5-mile loop offers a grand view toward Blue Mounds (on a clear day).

Enjoy the more than 15 years of prairie restoration efforts. In spring, hikers will see shooting stars and other early prairie flowers; in summer, prairie flowers include an ever-changing explosion of compass plants, monarda, rudbeckia, coneflowers, coreopsis, milkweed, liatris and many more.

Event Details

The hike is about 1.5 miles round trip from the Pine Rd parking lot.

Location

Hikers will meet at the IATA parking lot on Pine Road Liebetrau Prairie – Table Bluff Segment

Dane County Chapter Hike – Valley View Segment

Photo Credit: Heather McEllistrem

The Hike

The Valley View segment is a delightful suburban jaunt through restored prairie, with views west to Blue Mounds. This portion of the segment is on the terminal moraine and is a fine example of prairie and oak savanna restoration. A Mobile Skills Crew event in 2021 extended this off-road segment to Timber Rd.

Event Details

Come out for a 3+ mile roundtrip (out and back) through a hidden gem portion of the Ice Age Trail. This large conservancy was donated to the Ice Age Trail Alliance and hosts a section of trail along with a number of side trails. Come check out the restored prairie, with views west to Blue Mounds. A Mobile Skills Crew event in 2021 extended this off-road segment to Timber Rd. Bug repellent and water are recommended. We’ll meet at the kiosk on the west side on Mound View Rd.

Location

Take Mineral Point Rd. ~2.3 miles west of the Beltline, turn left on Pioneer, and then right on Valley View which curves left and becomes Mound View Rd. Go another .5 miles to the kiosk on the west side on Mound View Rd and the intersection of Moraine Ridge Road. You can park along Moraine Ridge Road by the kiosk, but please be mindful not to park on any resident’s property. Valley View map.