Photo Credit: Cameron Gillie

Friends,

Have you noticed water-caused erosion on the Ice Age Trail and wished you could do something about it? Well, here is an opportunity to do exactly that! Come out and help us while learning about trail construction and proper drainage.

What: We will repair and improve a short section of the Ice Age Trail between Ice Age Lane and Noll Valley Circle. (See the attached map.) This section of trail is located on a narrow easement. For much of its length, the trail follows the fall-line* … We don’t have the option to relocate the trail, so we’re going to repair erosion damage and strengthen the trail tread against future heavy rain events.

*fall-line means the steepest possible line of descent from a given point on a slope

When: Saturday and Sunday, September 7-8, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each day.

Where: We will meet on Ice Age Lane where the Ice Age Trail crosses the road. (See attached map.)

Parking: Park on Ice Age Lane or Noll Valley Road. If possible, park with all four wheels off the pavement. Please respect our neighbors’ access to mail boxes and driveways.

What to wear/what to bring: Please dress appropriately for the weather. There is thorny gooseberry and lurking poison ivy, so keep your skin covered. Leather gloves are a must. Bring plenty of water, snacks, and lunch. Hand tools will be provided. We will be constructing drainage dips—digging the drainage structures and moving lots of dirt.

Volunteers in Parks (VIP) Program: The National Park Service asks that all volunteers file, on a yearly basis, a Volunteer Service Agreement form. In the unlikely event of an injury, a VIP’s medical expenses are covered by the federal government.

Courtesy: If you are going to arrive late or cannot come as planned, I understand. Please afford me and your fellow volunteers the courtesy of a phone call or email to me as early as possible. Thank you.

RSVP: If you can help on either day, please email me at edspoon@charter.net  This is very important so I can plan for enough tools and supplies. It also allows me to communicate with you, should plans change due to weather, etc.

Questions? Call, email, or text me. I hope to see you on this project!

Happy Trails—

Link to work site location: Project map valley view

Photo Credit: Cameron Gillie

Friends,

Have you noticed water-caused erosion on the Ice Age Trail and wished you could do something about it? Well, here is an opportunity to do exactly that! Come out and help us while learning about trail construction and proper drainage.

What: We will repair and improve a short section of the Ice Age Trail between Ice Age Lane and Noll Valley Circle. (See the attached map.) This section of trail is located on a narrow easement. For much of its length, the trail follows the fall-line* … We don’t have the option to relocate the trail, so we’re going to repair erosion damage and strengthen the trail tread against future heavy rain events.

*fall-line means the steepest possible line of descent from a given point on a slope

When: Saturday and Sunday, September 7-8, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each day.

Where: We will meet on Ice Age Lane where the Ice Age Trail crosses the road. (See attached map.)

Parking: Park on Ice Age Lane or Noll Valley Road. If possible, park with all four wheels off the pavement. Please respect our neighbors’ access to mail boxes and driveways.

What to wear/what to bring: Please dress appropriately for the weather. There is thorny gooseberry and lurking poison ivy, so keep your skin covered. Leather gloves are a must. Bring plenty of water, snacks, and lunch. Hand tools will be provided. We will be constructing drainage dips—digging the drainage structures and moving lots of dirt.

Volunteers in Parks (VIP) Program: The National Park Service asks that all volunteers file, on a yearly basis, a Volunteer Service Agreement form. In the unlikely event of an injury, a VIP’s medical expenses are covered by the federal government.

Courtesy: If you are going to arrive late or cannot come as planned, I understand. Please afford me and your fellow volunteers the courtesy of a phone call or email to me as early as possible. Thank you.

RSVP: If you can help on either day, please email me at edspoon@charter.net  This is very important so I can plan for enough tools and supplies. It also allows me to communicate with you, should plans change due to weather, etc.

Questions? Call, email, or text me. I hope to see you on this project!

Happy Trails—

Link to work site location: Project map valley view

Photo Credit: Cameron Gillie

9AM – 3PM, May 11 and 12, 2024 (Saturday and Sunday)

Reddan Woods Reroute

We will be constructing tread (walking surface) for a 516′ reroute. This bypasses a heavily eroded section of trail that follows the fall line down a hillside, and will follow a more sustainable winding route.

More details will be provided via the Dane County trailbuilders-dciat mailing list in late April. To be added to this list, contact Megan Schliesman (schliesfrau@gmail.com) and ask to be added to our Trailbuilders list.  (Note: Megan cannot answer questions about workdays; she coordinates the list, not workdays.)  Emails sent on the listserv will contain all the details for a workday, and you should contact the listed leader for any given workday with questions.

Your help is welcomed for any part of the project. No experience is necessary – certified crew leaders will guide you to get started!

Photo Credit: Cameron Gillie

Friends,

It’s time to head out to University Ridge to continue the trail improvement work we’ve been doing over the past 14 months.  The results of our work are gratifying–I walked the west woods today to the Woods Rd. trailhead  The look and feel of the trail is such a wonderful improvement!  It soothes the soul…

We have only 385 feet of trail left to finish phase 1 of this project.  Wow!  

What: Clear invasive brush to improve forest health, reveal the area’s natural beauty and enhance the hiking experience.  We will pile the cut brush for winter burning.  Note: We will not be burning brush piles on Feb. 18.

Hand tools will be provided.

Chain sawyers (NPS certified): Sawyers are very welcome and much needed.

When: Sunday, February 18,  9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.   

Where:  University Ridge Golf Course.  Enter through the main gate at 9002 County Hwy. PD, Madison.

Park in the large parking lot near the clubhouse.  See map.

What to wear/what to bring: Please dress appropriately for the weather.  There is plenty of thorny gooseberry, prickly ash and buckthorn, so keep your skin covered.  Leather gloves are a must.  Bring plenty of water, snacks and lunch.

Homework:    There are several attachments to this event.  Please take a few minutes to read them. This info will help you identify black cherry (good), common buckthorn (bad) and burning bush (bad).  You’ll also learn the basics of constructing a proper brush pile.  Trust me–poorly-built brush piles are a huge time-waster when it’s time to burn them.

Volunteers in Parks (VIP) program:  The National Park Service asks that all volunteers file, on a yearly basis, a Volunteer Service Agreement form.  In the unlikely event of an injury, a VIP’s medical expenses are covered by the federal government.  Go to:  https://www.iceagetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/packet-individual-301a-exp-10_2024.pdf 

Courtesy:  If you are going to arrive late or cannot come as planned, I understand.  Please afford me and your fellow volunteers the courtesy of a phone call, text or email to me as early as possible.  Thank you.

If you plan to help on February 18, please reply to this message.  This is very important so I can plan for enough tools and supplies.  It also allows me to communicate with you, should plans change due to weather, etc.

Questions?  Call, email or text me.  I hope to see you Sunday morning!

Happy Trails—

Link to work site location: Map for next trail improvement day

Building & burning brush piles (handout)

Black cherry v buckthorn

Burning Bush shrub winter id.