September 15-18, 2005 - Work Project - Chequamegon National Forest, Taylor County – Project Announcement - IAT Thank You! 

As promised in the email announcement for the Mondeaux Flowage MSC project, the weather was picture perfect (not to mention the full moon show on Friday evening).  70’s, sunny and no rain.  Just as nice was the constructed trail, the food and, of course, the camaraderie.  Thanks to everyone involved in making this an MSC project to remember! 

I would specifically like to thank Mark, Bob and Florence Berglund, and Sharon Thiede, as well as the ever-present ‘Ladies of Chippewa’ for helping to feed the hungry volunteers.  Also, thanks to Steve from the Mondeaux Dam Concession for his kindness and assistance.  A generous donation from the Taylor County Tourism Committee enabled us to have a special Friday Fish Fry there. 

As usual, Dawn Meier from the US-Forest Service came through and generously provided nearly the entire Eastwood Campground.  More than once I heard MSC’ers state just how great a site we had.  Thanks to Mark Berglund and Buzz Meyer for – among other things - organizing and MC-ing the 25^th Anniversary Celebration of the IANST (see attached Congressional Record).  A special thanks for Mike Wollmer as an ATA and Todd McAllister as an ATA and his pre-project eyes (and fajitas!).  And, lastly, we all must thank the tireless efforts of the undersized, yet extremely dedicated, High Point Chapter for maintaining approximately 40 miles of Ice Age Trail in Taylor County.  I truly hope we helped their cause. 

All-in-all, 47 people contributed over 1250 hours of their personal time to this very worthy project.  Accomplishments on the Trail last weekend include over 1700 feet of high-quality constructed trail tread, two technical bridges over a meandering creek, about 3.5 miles of updated trail signage (including 9 new 4x4 posts), a new IAT plaque at the concession area and 25 feet of stepping stones.  Ten folks participated in a chainsaw safety course on Sunday instructed by FISTA.  All of this and no injuries to report….other than the occasion sore back.   

Nice job everyone and we hope you come out to the Waupaca project in October.  Further details on that project will be forthcoming. 

Thanks,

Kevin

Project Team Leader

Kevin Thusius

Land Stewardship Coordinator

Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation

P.O. Box 176

Cross Plains, WI 53528

(608) 798-1866

Fax (608) 798-1979

kevin@iceagetrail.org