Last updated: October 31, 2023
Article
Autumn trailbuilding along the Cross Plains Segment of Ice Age National Scenic Trail
This article was originally posted on the Ice Age Trail Alliance website. Images and text used with permission.
Image courtesy of Ice Age Trail Alliance - Dave Caliebe
The five-day trailbuilding project in October 2023 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.
“It was great to end the 2023 Trailbuilding Season on such a high note!” said Dave Caliebe, Trail Program Manager for the Ice Age Trail Alliance. “This project had a record number of volunteers (268), service hours (4,776), and the best weather for working out in the field. As a result, we built the most tread of any project this year. And frankly, we couldn’t have done it without our volunteer crew leaders who capably managed newbies and seasoned trailbuilders alike.”
“There were a lot of new faces on the various crews,” agreed Chad DuChateau, the Alliance’s Director of Trail Operations. “I enjoyed talking with people curious about the entire process.” DuChateau added, “Our crew leaders taught trailbuilding techniques to folks who had never wielded a pick mattock or a McCleod before.”
Image courtesy of Ice Age Trail Alliance - Patrick Gleissner.
“This well-planned and even-better-executed trailbuilding event demonstrated the strength in partnership,” said Eric Gabriel, Superintendent, National Park Service – Ice Age National Scenic Trail. “Alliance volunteers built seamless, cohesive Trail across two properties: land owned by the National Park Service and the Department of Natural Resources.”
“Twenty-five years after I first met with landowner, Frank McNutt, about selling his property and seventeen years after the first approval was given to construct this new section of Ice Age Trail, I was thrilled for Trail construction to begin,” said Andrew Hanson, Partnerships Liaison, Wisconsin State Parks, about the new Trail across DNR land. “Many thanks to the Ice Age Trail Alliance and volunteers for their efforts!”
Gabriel echoed Hanson’s sentiments, explaining that in 2002, the National Park Service had also purchased land for the Ice Age Trail. Yet, this event was the first Trail construction project there. “I can only express heartfelt gratitude and sincere thanks to all the volunteers and partners who participated in this effort.”
The project successfully eliminated a dangerous road walk while creating a yellow-blazed path through lovely forested terrain.
Project Outcomes:
- 268 volunteers donated 4,776 service hours
- 12,000 feet of tread crafted
- 128 feet of boardwalk built (4 structures)
- 50 feet of bridge constructed (3 structures)
- 200 feet of stone retaining wall created