10/19/08

June 1-4 - Trail Relocation and Chainsaw Safety Training - East New Wood State Wildlife Area (SWA), Lincoln County – Project Announcement

Next up on the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation Mobile Skills Crew calendar is a Trail Improvement project in Lincoln County, Thursday June 1^st through Sunday noon, June 4^th.  You're invited to celebrate National Trails Day by helping IAPTF volunteers continue to improve hiking opportunities west of the Wisconsin River and enjoying the special camaraderie that results.  Directions to base camp, work access points, and what to bring are pasted below.  Many thanks to the Lincoln County Department of Forestry for providing us with free accommodations at rustic Camp New Wood County Park, located north of Merrill about 11 miles on highway 107. 

Project needs include corridor clearing, chainsaw work (safety equipment is required) tread and trail signage.  No bones about it; we’re leaning on your talent and good humor to help meet our goal of certifying at least 3.6 miles of the IAT to NPS-standards in one of if not the finest semi-primitive environments that the Trail passes through statewide.  This project will connect with MSC work completed in October 2003 and May 2005.  When the woods return to silence observers of nature and hikers will quietly applaud your efforts for years to come. Check out Map #84e in the IAT Atlas for a preview of the area.

F.I.S.T.A. Chainsaw Safety Training will be offered Sunday, 8am to about 3.  RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED.  First dibs go to MSC crew leaders in training.  We have room for 15 total participants.  If interested please be sure to include that information in your response.  Thanks to financial support from the National Park Service we are able to offer this opportunity at no charge.

Please respond to volunteer Crew Leader Manager Sharon Dziengel ASAP (sharondziengel@yahoo.com or 262-271-0703) regarding when you anticipate arriving, how long you'll stay, and what meals we should plan with YOU in mind including any special dietary needs.  Team members will be onsite early in the week. 

MOBILE SKILLS CREW // LINCOLN COUNTY Thursday June 1^st 8am through Sunday noon, June 4^th.

GENERAL DIRECTIONS: LOCATE THE CITY OF MERRILL ON YOUR WISCONSIN HIGHWAY MAP AND YOU’RE GETTING CLOSE; IF USING THE DELORME WISCONSIN ATLAS AND GAZETTEER, SEE PAGE 76, COORDINATES B- 2.  From the south, take I-39/51 to Merrill; from the west, take Highway 64 to Merrill and turn north on Hwy. 107 to base camp.

BASE CAMP LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS:  Camp New Wood County Park is approximately 11 miles north of the Merrill on Highway 107 along the Wisconsin River.  Watch for the yellow and black "Ice Age Trail Event" signs. 

Tent camping and one shelter provided courtesy of the Lincoln County Forestry Department.  Campsite # 3 is reserved for the camp kitchen and #’s 4-7 for tents.  Water and rustic facilities are on-site.  The nearest shower facility is at Council Grounds State Park, approximately a 15-minute drive south on Hwy 107. A State Parks sticker is required for entrance.  Call 715-539-2631 or 715-539-2035 for more information.

Cell phone reception is sketchy from base camp and from all work locations.  Father Menards Hill, about 3 miles south of base camp on Highway 107, is a sure bet to latch onto a working signal.

WORKSITE LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS:  New Wood State Wildlife Area and the Lincoln County Forest. Drive time from Camp New Wood to the work site is about 20 minutes.  From Merrill, drive time is about 40 minutes.  Follow the yellow and black "Ice Age Trail Event" signs.

From Camp New Wood County Park:  Go north on Highway 107 approximately 3 miles to the intersection of County E; go west (left) across the Wisconsin River on County E. Stay on County E approximately 6 miles and turn south (left), staying on County E, to Conservation Avenue, approximately 2 miles.  Turn right (west) on Conservation Avenue.  Go approximately 2.5 miles to the “New Wood Segment” trailhead sign.  Parking is on the left, the trailhead entrance sign on your right.  Park away from the gate and well off the road.  Follow the yellow and black "Ice Age Trail Event" signs.

SCHEDULE: Car pool from base camp daily at 7:55 am.  Lunch will be in the field.  Work ends about 5pm.  Dinner is back at Camp around 7pm. 

WHAT TO BRING: Please see below.  BUG SPRAY IS ESSENTIAL and a mosquito head net may come in handy.

CLOTHES

OVERNIGHT EQUIPMENT

OTHER

Tim Malzhan

Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation

SC Field Coordinator

Mobile Skills Crew Program Manager

608.592.1433 (tel)