Second Seasonal Maintenance Event Spruces Up Taylor County Segments

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Pilot program proves successful.

A scenic shot of a forest with a tree featuring a painted yellow blaze.
Ice Age Trail Segments in Taylor County received some much needed summer maintenance following winter storm damage. Photo by Lisa Szela.

Taylor County has more blazed Ice Age Trail than any other county in the state. It also has one of the smallest volunteer chapters (High Point Chapter) to support it. It’s for reasons like this, the Ice Age Trail Alliance formed a maintenance crew, comprised of volunteers across the state, to lend extra hands to local volunteers.

In mid-July, this crew of 17 Alliance volunteers and 6 Wiscorps members worked side-by-side to spruce up the Mondeaux Esker Segment and parts of the Jerry Lake Segment.

Volunteers spent more than 550 hours over 4 days mowing grass, cutting branches and brush, improving signage, and making minor repairs to wet and eroded tread.

Each day ended with muddy boots, tired muscles, and a sense of genuine accomplishment.

A volunteer in protective gear uses a brush cutter along a trail.
Work in Taylor County consisted of mowing grass, cutting branches and brush, improving signage, and making minor repairs to wet and eroded tread. Photo by Mark Ormsby.

Thanks to all the volunteers who were a part of this crew—your hard work will be appreciated by all who use the Trail.

This event was the second of the year for the program, which assists local chapters with storm damage cleanup, seasonal maintenance, and other projects as needed.

Three volunteers smile and pose as they prepare dinner for other volunteers.
Each day ended with muddy boots, tired muscles, and a sense of genuine accomplishment. Plus, a yummy meal thanks to Buzz Meyer and Butch Clendenning, High Point Chapter Coordinators, and volunteer Mark Walters. Photo by Lisa Szela.

Special Thanks To:

  • The Medford – Park Falls District of the US Forest Service for a beautiful basecamp on the Mondeaux Flowage.
  • Buzz Meyer and Butch Clendenning for providing a delicious meal and for helping with event planning.
  • The National Park Service for supporting this initiative through a Park Steward Program volunteer grant.
A group of volunteers doing trail maintenance meet up as a group prior to the work day.
Volunteers from across the state came together to lend extra hands to local volunteers. Photo by Lisa Szela.

Future Events:

If you are interested in helping with future maintenance events, email Lisa Szela (lisa@iceagetrail.org) to be added to a list of interested volunteers.