June 21-24 - Trail Rehab, Murphy Flowage Recreation Area, Rusk County - IAT Thank You!

Hello,

            Thank you for all you did to make last weeks Murphy Flowage project in Rusk County a whole lot of fun and something all of us can be proud of.  Whether you heaped a third scoop of ice cream on a tired volunteer’s plate or built a rock wall to support the critical edge, collectively, we took a big forward step in crafting a regional showcase of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. 

            Despite a couple of scares we all seem to have caught our breath.  If you haven’t heard, Thelma is home and doing well, Jim is gardening, Gary is fiddling with new bridge designs, Pete beat the virus and is off fishing somewhere with Grandpa.   

            So many contributed over the course of the project and the months leading up to it that I’m afraid I’ll miss important folks.  Apologies in advance and here goes: special thanks to Paul Teska and the Rusk County Forestry Department for assistance with permit needs, contributing kiosk building materials, providing wonderful facilities for camp HQ, and general counsel; Ron Brewster, for leading and executing kiosk construction; host chapters Superior Lobe and Blue Hills volunteers for advance work and wonderful support throughout; vendors and contributors including Greeners Building Supply, Pat’s Sanitation, the Blue Hills Inn, Jennie-O Turkey, Wal Mart and Bell Timber; Dale Crisler and Tim McRaith for camp combustibles; our Junior Trail Builders, aka, tomorrows guiding lights, for showing us how its done; the fabulous MSC Crew Leaders and the all the tireless project support volunteers, greeters, trail signers and field crews; the accordion and piano music Saturday night and gee tars around the fire most others; to David Hobbs Honda of Glendale (buy your next Honda car or truck there!) for the Ridgeline truck.  Lastly, thank you to our agency partners the National Park Service/Challenge Cost Share Program, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, for their ongoing support. 

            If someone asks “specifically, what was accomplished”, you can say: one half-mile of newly constructed tread, one half-mile of upgraded tread, 3.5+ MILES of trail signage, one 16’ bridge and 24’ of boardwalk ramps, one brand spanking new informational kiosk, and one NPS certified mile of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.  If someone asks “What do people take from this”, I know you’ll have your own answer.  What I hear others say is: mutual respect, camaraderie to spare, attentive listening, and maybe just maybe an extra dose of belief that yes, this crazy Ice Age Trail is possible, yes, we can play a role in making the IAT a premier hiking experience, and yes, we’ll be back for more! 

            Next up is the most technically challenging Trail building project that the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation and Mobile Skills Crew has undertaken.  The name says it all - Devils Staircase, Riverside Park, Janesville, July 19-21.  That project announcement will follow next week.  Meanwhile, you can register in advance using the following link:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=5L2x7UKaleSBV9GF9DJpEQ_3d_3d 

            Happy Independence Day and as always, Happy Trails!

            The MSC Murphy Flowage Project Team              

Tim Malzhan

Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation

Mobile Skills Crew Program Manager

SC Field Coordinator

608.592.1433 (tel)