Tag Archives: Trail Project

Great Progress: Trail Reroute Underway in the Blue Hills

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More than one mile of tread built thanks to volunteers!

128 dedicated volunteers generously donated 4,500 service hours to build more than one mile of new tread on the Blue Hills Segment. Photo by Cameron Gillie.
128 dedicated volunteers generously donated 4,500 service hours to build more than one mile of new tread on the Blue Hills Segment. Photo by Cameron Gillie.
So, after years of patiently waiting, 128 volunteers arrived with their sleeves rolled up, ready to work. They enthusiastically churned through the construction notes—the section-by-section to-do list—collectively donating 4,500 service hours. Crews built a three-quarters-mile-long section of four-step tread, completing the last page of the construction notes by the end of the day on Thursday.

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High-Quality Tread Improves the Hiker Experience on the Greenbush Segment

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Thanks to volunteers, 4,800 feet of sustainable tread exists!

122 dedicated volunteers generously donated 2,687 service hours to build 4,800 feet of tread on the Greenbush Segment. Photo by Patrick Gleissner.
122 dedicated volunteers generously donated 2,687 service hours to build 4,800 feet of tread on the Greenbush Segment. Photo by Patrick Gleissner.
Built 30-plus years ago, the nearly 9-mile Greenbush Segment winding through the Northern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest was due for some attention. Especially the section of Ice Age Trail south of State Highway 23. In that spot, the Trail traveled straight up and down hills along a rocky, rooted path. Instead of enjoying the views, hikers had to be cautious about where they put their feet. A reroute to ensure a safer, more enjoyable experience was in order.

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New Puncheon and Stepping Stones Keep Boots Dry on the Plover River Segment

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Cheerful volunteer crews embrace muddy conditions, getting good work done!

107 dedicated volunteers generously donated 3,366 service hours to build new puncheon and stepping stones on the Plover River Segment. Photo by Patrick Gleissner
107 dedicated volunteers generously donated 3,366 service hours to build new puncheon and stepping stones on the Plover River Segment. Photo by Patrick Gleissner
Built a decade ago, the Plover River Segment needed some attention, especially the nearly one-mile-long section between STH-52 and Village Road. Picturesque and famous for its river crossing, many hiking boots had churned up the mud-prone tread along this stretch. Now, 107 volunteers collectively donated 3,366 service hours to remedy the situation and elevate the hiker experience with lengths of puncheon and strategically placed granite boulders.

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Volunteers Spruce Up Grandfather Falls Segment

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A small maintenance crew persevered through heat and humidity for a successful event in Lincoln County!

The Lincoln County Maintenance Sweep saw 24 volunteers who donated 599 service hours, plus received assistance from WisCorps members, at the Grandfather Falls Segment.
The Lincoln County Maintenance Sweep saw 24 volunteers who donated 599 service hours, plus received assistance from WisCorps members, at the Grandfather Falls Segment.
Despite a rainy forecast and driving through a deluge, volunteers remained committed to helping members of the Northwoods Chapter spruce up Lincoln County’s most popular segment: Grandfather Falls. Mother Nature rewarded their dedication by providing three rain-free work days but heaped on the heat and humidity. Evening rain storms made for exciting sky-watching and raindrop dodging.

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Thanks to Exemplary Teamwork, the Plover River Segment has New Stepping Stones

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These new stepping stones will keep boots dry for hikers!

54 volunteers donated 1,726 service hours to place 229 stepping stones on the Plover River Segment. Photo by Dave Caliebe.
54 volunteers donated 1,726 service hours to place 229 stepping stones on the Plover River Segment. Photo by Dave Caliebe.
“This project was one of my all-time favorites,” said Dave Caliebe, Trail Manager for the Ice Age Trail Alliance. “The event’s narrow scope meant all the crews did the same things: rock shopping, making crush, and setting stones. And we all got muddy!”

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Thanks to Volunteers, Hikers Have Dry Boots Through a Wetland

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Skilled construction creates a 424-foot boardwalk on the Holy Hill Segment!

28 volunteers donated 627 service hours during 4.5 days to constructs a 424-foot-long boardwalk on the Holy Hill Segment. Photo by Patrick Gleissner.
28 volunteers donated 627 service hours during 4.5 days to constructs a 424-foot-long boardwalk on the Holy Hill Segment. Photo by Patrick Gleissner.
An amended easement, negotiated between the Ice Age Trail Alliance and a private landowner, required an Ice Age Trail reroute along the Holy Hill Segment. The move took the Trail from the edge of an agricultural field onto a more scenic path, but one through a reed canary grass wetland. Luckily, Ice Age Trail Crew volunteers, skilled in boardwalk construction, capably rose to the challenge. During a 4.5-day project, 28 volunteers donated 627 hours to construct a 424-foot-long boardwalk.

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Oldest Segment Receives Maintenance Sweep Love

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A small maintenance crew in Langlade County makes great progress across challenging terrain!

The Langlade County Maintenance Sweep saw 44 volunteers who donated 1,143 service hours, plus received assistance from 6 WisCorps members. Photo by Lisa Szela.
The Langlade County Maintenance Sweep saw 44 volunteers who donated 1,143 service hours, plus received assistance from 6 WisCorps members. Photo by Lisa Szela.
It was fitting that Langlade County’s oldest Ice Age National Scenic Trail segment—12-mile-long Parrish Hills—received the most attention during the 3.5-day Maintenance Sweep event. This remote, rugged segment winds through wetland areas inside an evergreen forest where it intersects and overlaps logging roads and ATV or snowmobile trails. The challenging terrain created plenty of work for 44 volunteers who collectively donated 1,143 service hours along with the labor provided by 6 WisCorps members.

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High Spirits, Inquisitive Minds at IAT-U

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A rewarding, hands-on learning experience for volunteers!

IAT-U successfully delivered 10 trainings to a total of 94 volunteers, who generously dedicated 1,486 hours. Photo by Alice Weinert.
IAT-U successfully delivered 10 trainings to a total of 94 volunteers, who generously dedicated 1,486 hours. Photo by Alice Weinert.
“Spirits were high and minds inquisitive,” said Riley Dupee, Field Operations Specialist, describing the vibe at the recent Ice Age Trail University (IAT-U) in Dane County. “Plus, the weather was mostly sunny. The sunsets from base camp were terrific and included a firework show in the distance on Saturday night.”

IAT-U successfully delivered 10 trainings to a total of 94 volunteers, who generously dedicated 1,486 hours to learning the skills and techniques necessary to contribute to the creation, maintenance, and promotion of a National Scenic Trail.

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Teamwork Successfully Kicks Off the Trailbuilding Season

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Multiple structures got built and repaired on the Hemlock Creek Segment!

96 volunteers donated 3,325 service hours to building and repairing Trail on the Hemlock Creek Segment at the first Trailbuilding event of 2024. Photo by Miranda Murphy.
96 volunteers donated 3,325 service hours to building and repairing Trail on the Hemlock Creek Segment at the first Trailbuilding event of 2024. Photo by Miranda Murphy.
Like the warblers, sparrows, and scarlet tanagers arriving from their winter home, the Ice Age Trail Crew volunteers returned to the Trail. 96 volunteers donated 3,325 service hours in 4.5 days to building and repairing Trail on the Hemlock Creek Segment (Barron and Rusk Counties, Wis.).

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Expert Assistance Spruces Up Beloved Polk County Segments

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A small maintenance crew in Polk County resulted in big accomplishments!

At the first 2024 Maintenance Sweep event, 30 volunteers donated 677 service hours to sprucing up Polk County Segments. Photo by Dave Caliebe.
At the first 2024 Maintenance Sweep event, 30 volunteers donated 677 service hours to sprucing up Polk County Segments. Photo by Dave Caliebe.
The first Maintenance Sweep event in 2024 crossed many items off the Indianhead Chapter’s to-do list, assisted by 30 volunteers who donated 677 service hours.

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