Page 26 - Spring 2020 MT_v5.indd

Croi
St. St S
ST. CROIX DUNN
CHAPTER highlights continued

Menomonie
Menomonie
provides leadership Skills Crew-type introduction to tools and safe trailbuilding practices,
to the chapter and is and then let loose (with supervision). We interacted, again, with college
recognized as a strong students when UW-Whitewater Microbiology students helped replace
promoter and advocate signs and freshen blazes along the Trail. And fi nally, we participated in
of the Ice Age Trail. the UW-Whitewater Homecoming parade.
The chapter added a The chapter kept busy with a National Public Lands Day hike,
tool trailer that holds introducing homeschooled children to the Trail, and leading a large
all of the chapter group of fourth graders on a hike as part of the Think Outside
equipment from initiative. We also gave talks to community groups, NAMI (National
a large mower to Association for the Mentally Ill), and at the Palmyra Public Library. Our
chainsaws, hand saws, collaboration with the City of Whitewater, an Ice Age Trail Community,
rogue hoes, axes, and had chapter members leading a camera crew along the Blackhawk
a full complement Segment and to the historic Oleson cabin just off the Trail, as part of
of safety gear. The a promotional
trailer enables chapter video put together
volunteers to work by the Tourism
on the Ice Age Trail Council.
and have access to We enjoyed our
everything needed annual potluck
to maintain it. This and pumpkin
addition has reduced
A peek inside the Rock County Chapter’s new, trips back and forth, carving get-
fully loaded tool trailer. Photo by Sevie Kenyon. together (always
improved productivity, a good time)
and enhanced safety.
and hosted a
The chapter hosted popular Wednesday evening hikes across the Regional Rally.
county during 2019 with as many as 20 people participating. Trail A fi nal work day
improvement days involved community groups and organizations such of 2019 entailed
as the Eagle Scouts, Boy Scout Troops, businesses, civic groups, the decking out a
county, cities, and towns of Rock County. During August, the chapter wintery-themed
hosted a group of national travel writers touring the area. The writers fl oat that made
hiked Trail segments Arbor Ridge and Devil’s Staircase. For most of the appearances
visitors, this was their fi rst introduction to the Ice Age Trail, and they in multiple
were able to see for themselves, its beauty and charm. Christmas
parades.
Ahead for the chapter are two priority projects. The fi rst is the Teresa Stegeman, Nancy Morgan, and Doris Manthey
continued excavation and cleanup of the Croak Brewery ruins along the - Vince Lazzaroni (left to right) get great joy in clearing ground along the
Rock River in downtown Janesville; this project, important to the civic Clover Valley Segment as they assist in the creation of a
Dispersed Camping Area. Photo by Judy Wildermuth.
history of the area, enhances the hiker experience along the Janesville
Segment. The second is new safety and footing improvements on the
Devil’s Staircase to maintain trail viability into the future. WAUKESHA/MILWAUKEE COUNTY
Waukesha and
Milwaukee CHAPTER
Counties
WALWORTH/JEFFERSON Co-Coordinators: Barb Johnson (414-779-0996,
COUNTY CHAPTER barbjoh@hotmail.com) and Robert Root
Walworth and (262-349-9339, rootco@msn.com)
Jefferson Coordinator: Andrew Whitney
Counties
(262-949-0286, andywhitney1@yahoo.com) The end of the month snowfall wasn’t the only surprise October 2019
gave us. It started with a tornado tearing across Waukesha County.
August provided a number of “just for fun”
opportunities to the Walworth-Jefferson Counties Chapter members: The storm touched down to the west, near Dousman, raced toward
A Hike and Wine Tasting in Lake Mills; camping at Interstate State the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit, and slammed into the
Park; and enjoying the hospitality of our coordinator at his mid-month trees on the Waterville Segment of the Ice Age Trail, just southwest
Birthday Bash. But, it wasn’t all play – we staffed a booth promoting of Lapham Peak. Our volunteer sawyers crew tackled the tangled
the Ice Age Trail at the Elkhorn Area High School’s College Fair/ debris from both north and south, and over a period of days, opened
Community Resource Fair. up the Trail again. The sawyers did additional follow-up work but even
when that was done, some formerly open views along the segment are
The chapter participated in the inaugural “Day of Service” offered still closed.
to members of the UW-Whitewater Freshman class. Students were
bused to the Blue Spring Lake Segment, given an abbreviated Mobile Our volunteers were busy with other projects as well. They helped
the Hartland Kiwanis on their Bark River clearing initiative between

26 MAMMOTH tales | Spring 2020