A small maintenance crew in Polk County resulted in big accomplishments!
The first Maintenance Sweep event in 2024 crossed many items off the Indianhead Chapter’s to-do list, assisted by 30 volunteers who donated 677 service hours.
In 2016, Ice Age Trail Crew volunteers tackled improvements along the Trade River and Straight Lake segments. Still, eight years had passed since the last Alliance-led event in the county. Despite the Chapter volunteers’ efforts to adopt and maintain segments, many projects required expert assistance. The volunteers who stepped up for the three-and-half-day event brought their expertise, a sense of community, and shared responsibility.
“It was everything we hoped Maintenance Sweep events would become,” said Lisa Szela, Volunteer Support Coordinator for the Ice Age Trail Alliance. “A nice synergy formed as chapter volunteers worked side-by-side with and learned from some of the best trailbuilders around.”
Naming long-time Alliance volunteers, Szela added, “Folks like Wendell Holl and Dave Ditlefsen led a stonework crew, Bob Funk was the structures guru, while Rob Fisk taught trailbuilding basics, breaking down key concepts.”
Besides ordering great weather—mild spring temperatures and lots of sunshine—the chapter rolled out the yellow carpet, providing hearty, home-cooked meals and an ideal location for base camp.
This support fueled a productive environment, resulting in an impressive list of accomplishments:
- A 900-foot reroute along the Trade River Segment moved the Trail away from the perennially wet tread and off of old structures. Volunteers learned how to safely move a 600-pound rock while building stone steps and retaining walls. Crews repaired several structures, while others improved water flow by installing drainage dips along a mile of Trail.
- Crews repaired stonework and improved drainage along a ½ mile of the Straight Lake Segment.
- The McKenzie Creek Segment also received attention with treadwork repair and fresh blazing.
Special Thanks To:
- The Indianhead Chapter, for providing their shed as basecamp and supplying crews with additional tools. Chapter volunteers Randy Surbaugh, Barb Ceder, and Cheryl Whitman offered their assistance in planning the event, scoping out projects, and sharing their local expertise.
- Chapter volunteers Barb Ceder, Nanette Del Monaco, and Barb Katt for providing delicious homecooked meals ensuring volunteers ended the day happy and well-fed!
- The numerous crew leaders and experienced volunteers who were willing to be flexible as we tackled projects across the county.
Thank you to our generous project sponsor:
Up Next:
June 25 – 28, Maintenance Sweep event in Langlade County
Help us put the finishing touches on Trail in Langlade County! This project will focus primarily on tread work, blazing, and signage, but come ready for other Trail maintenance needs as well.
Learn more and register now.
July 30 – August 2, Maintenance Sweep event in Lincoln County
This project will focus primarily on structure repair, tread improvement, corridor clearing, and signage updates throughout the beautiful and rugged Northwoods Chapter. Come ready for other Trail maintenance work too!
Learn more and register now.
