May 10-14 - MSC Crew Leader Training, Brunet Island State Park, Chippewa County – Project Announcement

Hello,

The Chippewa River flows wide and serene in the land of Ojibwa.  That beat-up suitcase stuffed with winter blues won’t last the trip; its time to lace-up your boots and bring the family to Brunet Island State Park near Cornell Thursday May 11 through Sunday May 14 because the Mobile Skills Crew Tour V officially launches in two short weeks! 

The Ice Age Trail is never anything less than ambitious and the season premiere makes no exception to that. And just to find out if we can handle double the excitement we are pleased to welcome Steve West, Eric Schwab, and Tom Willey with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado as our concurrent Crew Leadership/Skills session trainers.  Whew! 

Directions to base camp and what to bring are pasted below. If you do not have a 2006 Wisconsin State Parks Sticker please consider buying one.  Otherwise, print out and place the form below on your car dashboard upon entrance to the Park. The Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation extends a sincere thank you to the Department of Natural Resources for providing courtesy accommodations and help throughout the project.

Please respond to volunteer Crew Leader Manager Sharon Dziengel at sharondziengel@yahoo.com or 262-271-0703 ASAP regarding: when you anticipate arriving, how long you'll stay, and what meals we should plan with YOU in mind.  If you have special dietary needs please let us know.  As always, we’ll provide tools and food.

Happy Trails and see you soon!

The MSC Chippewa River Project Team

PROJECT DATES: Thursday 8am May 11 thru Sunday noon May 14.

BASE CAMP LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS:  Brunet Island State Park, Cornell, WI.  Watch for the yellow and black "Ice Age Trail Event" signs just before crossing the bridge on Highway 64 west.

Tent camping – bring your own gear.

NORTH campground campsites # 59-69 are reserved for MSC volunteers.

Bringing a trailer?  Check in at camp and you’ll receive instructions where to park.

WORKSITE LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS:  Along the west side of the Chippewa River / County Hwy. CC ~2.2-miles north of Hwy. 64.  Follow the yellow and black "Ice Age Trail Event" signs.

Day-arrivals should check in at the greeter station/Trailhead/kiosk on County Hwy CC.

Two MSC tool trailers will parked at different locations on County Hwy CC – go to the Trailhead on the east side of Hwy CC, (2 miles north of the intersection of Hwy CC and Hwy 64).

SCHEDULE: Leave base camp daily at 7:55 am and car pool to the Co. CC trailhead. Lunch will be in the field.  Work ends about 5pm.  Dinner will be served at camp HQ around 6:30 pm.

DRIVING AND DIRECTIONS:

PLEASE REFER TO PAGE 73, COORDINATES C-7, IN THE DELORME WISCONSIN ATLAS AND GAZETTEER for options from your location.  The project area is also shown on map 96e in the Ice Age Trail Atlas.

From the west, find your way to Highway 64 into Cornell.  Brunet Island State Park is on Park Road, just past the bridge, about 2 miles from downtown.

From the south and deep east find your way to I-94 then exit north on Hwy 12/27 at Black River Falls; continue north toward Augusta.  Stay on Hwy. 27 to Cadott then into Cornell.  In Cornell turn west on Hwy. 64, go a couple of blocks and turn right on Park Road to Brunet Island State Park.

From Waupaca and other eastern locations, jump across on Hwy. 10 or Hwy. 29 then south/deep east suggestions above. 

WHAT TO BRING:

Clothes: hiking/work boots, leather work glovers, long-sleeved work shirt(s), long pants, shorts/swim-wear and t-shirts, wool/polypropylene  socks, hat for heat retention and/or shade, rain gear, gaiters, layered approach to dress for the weather. 

Bug Spray, sunscreen, lip-balm.

Overnight Equipment: sleeping bag, sleeping pad and tent.

Other: day pack, towel, handkerchief, flashlight or headlamp, water bottles, personal items

Positive Outlook, smiles, camera and film/memory card, cup for morning coffee or evening tea.

Tim Malzhan

Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation

SC Field Coordinator

Mobile Skills Crew Program Manager

608.592.1433 (tel)