The Chippewa Moraine Chapter will hold its May chapter meeting at the Chippewa County Courthouse, Room 5, on Monday, May 20th at 5:30. Room 5 is in the basement at the Courthouse. Enter at the door by the parking lot. Take the elevator to the lower level. Turn right out of the elevator, then turn left at the hallway intersection. Go until you reach the corner. The room is on the right. I will have awards to be presented to those who were not able to attend the conference, but are receiving an award from the NPS or the Alliance.

Saturday, May 18th, we will have a trail maintenance day on the Firth Lake and Chippewa River Segments.

Bring water and snacks. Wear long sleeves, pants, boots, work gloves, and socks you can tuck your pants legs into. Ticks are out there.

We will meet at the Ice Age Trail parking lot on Hwy. CC at 8:00 a.m. to break into groups before heading to the trail. We hope to see you there. If you are planning to attend the work day, please email Jerry Sazama no later than May 15th. We need a head count to organize our groups and to determine the number and kinds of tools that we need to bring.

NOTE: If you are not already on our trail crew (with a Volunteer Agreement-see below), consider joining our trail crew this year. There is something special about building and maintaining the trail. You will never look at the trail with the same eyes again after participating in a work project and learning what it takes to keep our trails in top condition.

Our first guided hike will be our First Sunday Hike in May, also known as our May Flower Hike. The first week in May is the perfect time to catch the spring ephemerals in all their glory on the Chippewa River Segment….hepatica, marsh marigolds, trout lily, trillium, wood anemone, spring beauties, and more.

We will meet at the Hwy. CC parking lot at 1:00 p.m. to hike out and back on the segment, a total of 3.8 miles. JoAnn will be leading this hike, and would like a volunteer or two to lead it with her.

Contact JoAnn Parks if you have any questions, to volunteer to help with the hike, or to RSVP to attend the hike.

On May 5th, Our Nawakwa will hold an "Our Nawakwa Grand Opening" from 12:00-4:00 at Camp Nawakwa (25336 County Hwy. E). Come out to see the camp and learn about what the camp will have to offer to youth organizations in the Chippewa Valley. IATA will have a booth for the Ice Age Trail at the event.

"Come one, come all, and be part of the magic at Our Nawakwa's Grand Opening Event. We are thrilled to celebrate the next step in Nawakwa's future with you! Grab a friend, group, or troop and join us for a FREE and unforgettable celebration! Discover how Our Nawakwa can support your non-profit group, scout troop, or community gathering".

For more info and a free parking pass, visit the event page.

Come join us June 1st for a hike of the Firth Lake Segment to celebrate National Trails Day.

We will meet at the Hwy. CC parking lot. at 9 a.m.

Participants will drop half the cars at the 250th Ave. trail access, and then travel to the trailhead on 245th Ave.

Our hike will take us past the rebuilt bridge at the beaver pond (with a stop at the new DCA), across 245th, through the 2017 reroute (and the WI rock), and into the Groovy Ridge. From there we will travel around Firth Lake where we will cross the 736 foot long boardwalk, past 2 new DCAs, and finally out on the logging road to 250th Ave.

This hike will be 5.9 miles. Vicki Christianson will be leading this hike, and would like a volunteer or two to help lead it with her.

Contact Vicki if you have any questions, to volunteer to help with the hike, or to RSVP to attend the hike.

The calendar is out for IATA trail projects for 2024. Go to https://www.iceagetrail.org/our-work/trail-building-maintenance/ice-age-trail-crew/ for information on the upcoming trail events.

There will be a project May 15-19 on the Hemlock Creek Segment, which is shared by Barron and Rusk County. They will be replacing deteriorating bridges and boardwalks, refreshing signage, and repairing tread. This would be a great opportunity to participate in an Ice Age Trail Crew project. We hope to help out our neighboring chapters on this project.

If you would like to work any of the days for the Hemlock Creek Segment, you need to register for the event on the link above.

As we enter the new year, check out the new links for renewing your Volunteer Agreements. Please use the new links I have posted for the Volunteer Agreement and the email address for sending it in to Dan Watson.

All volunteers need to have a completed Volunteer Agreement for the National Park Service each year in order to participate in our trail improvement days or to volunteer at events. They have a new form on the Alliance Website.

To access the new Volunteer Agreement, here is the link: https://www.iceagetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/Packet-Individual-301a-IATR-Staff_508.pdf. Please fill out the fillable form and email it to iatr_vip_ice_age_trail@nps.gov

NOTE: Fill in all the required boxes. The fillable boxes are on everything except the signature line. You can type your name and date in the date box next to the signature line. Save the document to your computer and then send it to NPS as an attachment. Or print off your completed document, sign it, and mail it to the NPS. The email address is on the directions page that comes with the form.

When you send in the Volunteer Agreement to NPS, they will sign it and return it to you. Please print a copy for yourself or save it in your files. Email us at chippewamorainechapter@iceagetrail.org to let us know that you have received your new signed Volunteer Agreement.

These are our annual events.  Watch for information on upcoming events and additions  (in red) to this calendar in the monthly newsletters.  

May 5            First Sunday Hike 1:00  Chippewa River Segment
May 18          Trail Maintenance Day
May 20          Chapter Meeting
June 1           National Trails Day Hike 9:00  Firth Lake
June 15         Trail Maintenance Day
June 20         Solstice Hike with Girl Scouts - Nawakwa
July 15           Chapter Meeting and Picnic - Mill Yard Park
Aug. 4            First Sunday Hike 1:00  Obey Center
Aug. 17          Trail Maintenance Day
Sept. 1           First Sunday Hike  1:00  Harwood
Sept. 16         Chapter Meeting
Sept. 21         Trail Maintenance Day
Oct. 5             Parade of Colors Hike - 9-11  Obey Center
Oct. 19           Trail Maintenance Day
Nov. 18          Chapter Annual Meeting

The Alliance has purchased a new piece of property within our eastern corridor. This beautiful undeveloped 76 acre property is now called the Otter Lake Preserve. It contains high-relief hummocky glacial topography, including a kettle lake, a marsh, a stream, and several small ice-walled lake plains. It is a hilly property that will connect 365th Street to County H at the southeast end of Otter Lake. It will take several years to get trail established, and once it is done, it will be a beautiful piece of trail to hike.


Thank you to Jared Wildenradt (8 time IAT hiker) for bringing this property to the attention of the Alliance and the Chippewa Moraine Chapter.

Please wait until the trail is finished before hiking on this property.