Cheerful volunteer crews embrace muddy conditions, getting good work done!
Built a decade ago, the Plover River Segment needed some attention, especially the nearly one-mile-long section between STH-52 and Village Road. Picturesque and famous for its river crossing, many hiking boots had churned up the mud-prone tread along this stretch. Now, 107 volunteers collectively donated 3,366 service hours to remedy the situation and elevate the hiker experience with lengths of puncheon and strategically placed granite boulders.
“I am always grateful for the dedication and good spirits of our volunteers,” said Dave Caliebe, Trail Manager for the Ice Age Trail Alliance. “But I was amazed by what felt like a new level of cheerfulness despite the difficult conditions.”
Caliebe explained that it rained all day Thursday, but crews worked until 2:00 p.m. in deep mud.
Then, on Friday, saws whined for two hours as volunteers cut 16-foot-long, 3-inch-thick red pine boards in half before handing them off to pairs who hauled them to their respective sections. Finally, crews got down to the puncheon building.
With boards stacked, other crews focused exclusively on stabilizing tread with granite boulders, creating a stepping stone-filled path. They went “rock shopping” along the Trail corridor to locate boulders of the right size and shape to accommodate a hiking boot. Once volunteers identified a rock with potential, they dug it up. Then, they transported it to its new home along the Trail’s center line. Other volunteers smashed Wolf River granite with sledgehammers, making ‘crush’—a solid base to support stepping stones.
Gleeful, mud-covered crews continued puncheon building and stepping stone placement on Saturday. Nine-year-old Aloma enjoyed the opportunity to get muddy with her mother’s consent replacing exasperation. Part of a four-person team stepping stone crew, she helped carry rocks from one location to another in a sling. Her energetic hops officially tested the stability and distance between stepping stones.
Project Outcomes:
- 107 volunteers donated 3,366 service hours
- 1,036 feet of puncheon over 16 structures
- 173 stepping stones
- 1,000 feet of tread maintained
Special Thanks To:
- The Central Moraines Chapter for providing homemade cookies, breakfast breads, and dinner two nights—Jimmy John’s sub sandwiches and a grill out complete with all the fixings. And they provided plenty of local volunteers who filled out stone work and puncheon crews.
- Mary Jo Monday and Sue Greenway for a superb job of managing basecamp along with Pam Smith-Jilk who created a drying tent for soggy field gear.
- Tami Wiese for being Crew Leader Manager and Bob Kaspar for being Tool Manager.
- All the Crew Leaders who capably led mud-covered, smiling crews, and crew members for being so cheerful throughout the project.
- Anja Simic and Lynn Yang for donating a bench (situated at the Plover River crossing) in memory of Heidi Johnson. A Central Moraines Chapter member, Heidi attended Crew Leader training in 2011 and led crews for nearly a decade, helping to build the Plover River Segment in 2013.
- Anja Simic for also donating delicious, homemade baklava!
- Alex Bautz, Aloma and Brianna Williams, Ven Anderson, and Sage Huynh for taking time to share about their trailbuilding experience with Alliance Communications staff for an upcoming Mammoth Tales article. (And Tour Guide, Bob Kaspar.)
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:
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.
