These new stepping stones will keep boots dry for hikers!
“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!”
Collectively, 54 dedicated volunteers generously donated 1,726 service hours to transform a wet, muddy path into a winding, walkable corridor. They hunted for nearby granite boulders—from the Wolf River batholith—shoved south by the glacier. Finding the right-sized rocks, they dug them up and hauled them to the work site. Sledgehammers broke small rocks into even smaller pieces (crush), which volunteers used to stabilize each of the 229 stepping stones.
The high ratio of crew leaders to volunteers also set the project apart. Some crew leaders were fresh from an IAT-U stonework course. In contrast, others hadn’t done much stonework or led stonework crews, “but everyone stepped up in a big way,” said Caliebe. “Cohesive teams led to exemplary work and steady progress. And above all, everyone was smiling, elevating the project’s energy.”
Another ratio that worked in the project’s favor was the tamping and pinch-point bars for volunteers. “We’ve never had that many bars in the field on a project before,” said Caliebe. “The “bars” to people ratio was reminiscent of an unincorporated Wisconsin town.”
Besides being the best run of summer weather all season, the scale of work accomplished was super rewarding. “The project results just blew me away, exceeding my expectations. I’m in awe of what our volunteers can accomplish,” said Caliebe.
Special Thanks To:
- Pam Smith-Jilk for diving in and doing a fantastic job as Base Camp Manager.
- Matthew Christians and Family for providing fresh water.
- Marathon County Solid Waste Department for providing a wonderful base camp location.
- Hatley Hangout for providing a delicious pulled-pork dinner.
- Central Moraines Chapter for stepping up on short notice with food donations, tools, and volunteers.
And Thank You to Our Generous Donors:
Plover River Project sponsors:
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources through its Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program
Dwight and Linda Davis Foundation
Wausau & Marathon County Parks & Recreation Foundation
Our Ice Age Trail Crew Season sponsors:
The Henry and Margaret Reuss Charitable Remainder Trust
Sally Wilmeth and Terry Geurkink
Up Next:
August 14 – 18: Plover River Segment, Marathon County
South of Highway 52, this much-loved and well-traveled segment is ready for a few upgrades. Help build puncheon, solidify tread with granite boulders, and maintain the existing tread to withstand many future boots.
Learn More and Register Now.
September 11-15: Greenbush Segment, Sheboygan County
Enjoy early autumn color in the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit as you craft brand-new tread. Help create a new route for the Ice Age Trail south of Hwy 23, moving it from a paved multi-use trail onto a beautiful landscape of deep kettles and big trees.
Learn More and Register Now.
October 2-6: Blue Hills Segment, Rusk County
At last, it’s time the Dreamer Route became a reality. Join tread and corridor clearing crews for the first of many events working in this geologically significant area. We’ll also finish up bridge and boardwalk work on the Hemlock Creek Segment.
Learn More and Register Now.
October 23-27: John Muir Park Segment, Marquette County
Elevate hikers’ enjoyment of the Alliance-owned Muir Preserve by building a boardwalk and loop trail, setting up the Trail for future growth.
Learn More and Register Now.
