Member Event: Behind-the-Scenes Blue Hills Hike – Rusk County

Seek Natural Thrills Not Supernatural Chills on Friday the 13th!

Deep within Rusk County forest land in northwest Wisconsin are some of the most spectacular, geologically unique sites in all of Wisconsin: Devil’s Elbow, Gundy’s Canyon, Devil’s Kettle, and more. These geological gems, hidden in a rugged and remote area, are known primarily to locals and geologists.

Be among the few to visit these sites most have never seen or heard of during this special member event! You’ll go behind-the-scenes on a tour of an area that may soon host rerouted miles of Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

Enjoy a sneak peek of this geological grandeur!

The Dreamer Route features spectacular, geologically unique sites. Photo by Dave Caliebe.

See these geological gems for yourself! Photo by Dave Caliebe.

This five-mile guided hike along a possible future route of the Blue Hills Segment presents rough, challenging terrain. Prepare for uneven ground, bush whacking, stumps, and rocks. The hike will be held rain, snow, or shine.

Enjoy a post-hike cookout at the Murphy Flowage picnic area and meet local chapter volunteers.

Hike Guides:

Dave Caliebe, Trail Program Manager for the Ice Age Trail Alliance
Fred Nash, Rusk County resident and Blue Hills Chapter Coordinator

Member Event Details:

Friday, October 13

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Blue Hills region, Rusk County (specific location details will be shared in the registration confirmation email).

Space limited to 25 hikers. $25.00/hiker (includes guided hike and cookout). Register today!

Be among the few to visit these incredible sites! Photo by Dave Caliebe.

These geologic features are mainly known only to locals and geologists. Photo by Dave Caliebe.

Good news: This member hike is an official Mammoth Hike Challenge event and qualifies for 10 bonus miles!

Remember! Sharing photos from this unique hiking adventure on social media (#MammothHikeChallenge, @iceagetrail) will help you rack up 5 bonus miles.

Not an Alliance member? Become a member (and qualify for 10 bonus miles!).

Experience geological wonders, hike potential future Ice Age Trail, and count this event as bonus miles for the Mammoth Hike Challenge! Photo by Dave Caliebe.

Make a Weekend of it – Accumulate Mammoth Hike Challenge bonus miles!

Stick around and explore neighboring Chippewa County. Hike the Chippewa River Segment and Meet Monty on October 14. Attending this official Mammoth Hike Challenge event will garner you 10 bonus miles!

And visit nearby Trail Communities, St. Croix Falls, Cornell, and Rib Lake. (If one of these is your fourth Trail Community, it qualifies for 10 bonus miles.)

The region’s ColdCache opportunities offer additional natural thrills and 5 bonus miles!

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.

Volunteer Meet and Greet – Walworth/Jefferson Chapter

Take your membership to the next level!

Join us at Second Salem Brewing Co. in Whitewater for the Walworth/Jefferson Chapter’s Volunteer Meet and Greet! Mingle with fellow chapter members and volunteers, enjoy a drink or appetizer, and learn how you can contribute to the Trail. Local chapter volunteers and Alliance staff will be happy to answer all your questions on how to get more involved.

The Walworth/Jefferson Chapter has volunteer opportunities for everyone, including…

Trailbuilding and maintenance
Leading or planning outreach events
Organizing hikes
Helping with social media
Working with Scout groups
Contributing stories to Mammoth Tales, local papers, and chapter newsletters
and much more!

Come for the beer, and leave a volunteer! More details to come, soon.

Questions?

Contact Lisa Szela, Volunteer Support Coordinator at lisa@iceagetrail.org.

Featured image photos by: Dave Caliebe and Cameron Gillie

Roznos Meadow & East Bluff Hike – Baraboo Hills/Heritage Chapter

Traverse open prairie and grassland of Roznos Meadow while enjoying the views of the surrounding Baraboo Hills. Climb the East Bluff’s south face as you enter Devil’s Lake State Park, relishing fall color along the way. We’ll meet up with the park’s Upland Trail Loop and take it over to the parking lot on Hwy 113. Shuttles will return you to your vehicle.

Hike Details:

Date & Time: Tuesday, October 24, 9:30 a.m. – noon.
Total hike distance: 3.5 miles
Elevation gain: 500 feet
Starting point: Meet at Roznos Meadow parking lot (43.40561, -89.67520)
Ending point: Hwy 113 parking lot (with shuttle back to vehicle) (43.42547, -89.68648)
Hike leader: Debby Capener (debbycapener@gmail.com)

State Park Pass required for vehicle at starting point’s parking lot.

Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest Hike – Walworth/Jefferson County Chapter

The Hike:

Kick off the Mammoth Hike Challenge with a 3, 5, 10, 15, or even 20-mile hike through the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest.

You’ll enjoy wooded moraines, kettles, and outstanding views of Rice Lake and Whitewater Lake from atop a steep rise. If you hike the entire distance, you’ll get to preview one of the ever-popular backpacking shelters found along the Trail in this region, the “stone elephant”, and the views from the Bald Bluff Scenic Overlook.

You’ll start hiking along the Whitewater Lake Segment, and depending on how far you decide to go, you may also traverse Blackhawk and Blue Spring Lake segments, ending at the Emma Carlin Trails parking area.

Event details:

Meet at the Rice Lake Boat Launch by 7:45 am at the latest. We’ll start hiking at 8:00 am.

The Walworth/Jefferson County Chapter members (volunteer shuttle drivers) will be waiting at the 3, 5, 10, 15, or 20-mile end points to drive you back to your vehicle, allowing you to hike the distance most comfortable for you (and your hiking companions if you bring them).

If you plan to hike the 20-mile distance, please bring a lunch; we will take a lunch break at the Ole Oleson historic log cabin (Blackhawk Segment).

Regardless of the distance, please pack your own water and snacks, especially if you intend to hike one of the longer distances.

____

Photos by Cameron Gillie of ThePinHoleThing.com