Page 25 - Spring 2020 MT_v5.indd

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GRANT DANE Whitewater W W A U K E S H A M M M M M M M M I I I I I I I I L W AU K E E
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LAFAYETTE Monroe Janesville Geneva
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G R E E N ROCK WALWORTH KENOSHA Kenosha
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LODI VALLEY CHAPTER DANE COUNTY CHAPTER
Coordinator: Joanna Fanney Co-Coordinators: Bob Kaspar (608-239-0168)
(608-577-9984, LodiValleyChapter@iceagetrail.org)
Southern Dane
Columbia County and David Lonsdorf (608-212-1135)
County
We were pleased to help more than 130 youth get DaneCoChapter@iceagetrail.org
out on the Ice Age Trail over the past few months.
This included high school students cutting and stacking cedar as The chapter continues to face the challenges of wet
part of their homecoming service day; fourth graders helping with conditions on many of its segments, however, happily, the near-
some cedar lopping and enjoying a hike; Boy Scouts cutting invasive constant wetness of the east side of the Piller Road woods along the
sumac; and Brownies getting familiar with the Trail by hiking it. In Montrose Segment will acquire two new footbridges in 2020.
addition, youth hiked the Trail as part of our monthly Tyke Hikes and The year had its share of blessings. The Cross Plains Segment, at
our Full Moon hikes. We will continue to look for opportunities to Old Sauk Pass Road, site of two 2019 Mobile Skills Crew events,
engage youth in activities on the Trail. now has the fi nal boardwalk decked with its kick-rail plate installed.
Our chapter participated in Lodi’s National Night Out, providing Youth from Operation Fresh Start continued to have work days on
a fun, ring-toss game for children and information for adults. Our this Dane County property, and chapter volunteers hosted numerous
community outreach also included attending various Chamber of weekend trail improvement events, as well, to clear out invasive
Commerce and City Council meetings as part of our Trail Community shrubs and trees. It’s quickly become a popular section of the overall
efforts. segment, and its popularity exceeds hiking. While painting white
blazes on the loop trail, I observed a woman painting a picture of
Chapter volunteers worked with volunteers from the Dane County the newest boardwalk. Winter work days brought us volunteers from
Chapter to replace the roof on the Robertston Trailhead kiosk. The other chapters who helped give back to the Trail. Along the Madison
chapters are also cooperating to update the information provided at Segment, the tunnel under Hwy M opened in November with signage
the kiosk. in place and a split-rail fence on both sides of Hwy M to encourage
The chapter welcomed the invitation to partner with Fontana Sports peace between hikers and bikers.
to carry out this year’s Fall Color Run in October. Sixty-four trail - Tess Mulrooney
runners and walkers braved very cold temperatures to enjoy the great
views from the Gibraltar Rock Segment which starts at the Merrimac
Ferry and ends at its name sake, Gibraltar Rock. We are pleased.
The efforts of twenty chapter volunteers resulted in generous event ROCK COUNTY CHAPTER
revenue sharing on the part of Fontana Sports. We look forward to Coordinator: Dennis James
partnering with them for next year’s event. (608-302-1885,
Rock
County RockCoChapter@iceagetrail.org)
- Patti Herman
The Rock County Chapter covered a lot of ground in
2019 and has more to go in 2020. Chapter Coordinator, Dennis James,
was awarded the Midwest Region’s George and Helen Hartzog Award
for Outstanding Volunteer Service, Individual Volunteer Category by the
National Park Service. It is a much-deserved honor for Mr. James who
A Brownie troop enjoying the “big bench” on the Gibraltar Rock Segment. Chapter Coordinator, Dennis James, answers questions from travel reporters
Photo by Bill Welch. ahead of a hike on the Arbor Ridge Segment. Photo by Sevie Kenyon.
continued on page 26
Spring 2020 MAMMOTH tales 25