Friday, January 22, 2010

IAT Volunteers Needed!

From Matt Kaufmann mkaufmann@wisc.edu
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Hoofers!

Help volunteer for the Ice Age Trail!

As you may or may not be aware, Wisconsin is home to a 1200 mile foot path with national significance. This trail is known as the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (often referred to as the Ice Age Trail) and roughly follows the extent of the most recent glaciation. There are only 11 national scenic trails in the US, and the IAT has the same designation as the more famous Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail. With a western terminus at Interstate State Park near St. Croix Falls and an eastern terminus at Potawatomi State Park in Door County, the trail winds across Wisconsin through the forests, among farm fields, on the prairies, and through towns, villages and even a few small cities. In fact, the trail skirts Madison to the west and south.

If you have been in the club for a while, you have surely seen trips announced for volunteer opportunities on the IAT. We have done trail building and maintaining, removing invasive species, planting prairies, burning brush piles, etc! Hoofers also hikes, snowshoes, skis, and backpacks the trail throughout the great state of Wisconsin.

Here is another volunteer opportunity Hoofers should take advantage of. Email the contact below, Sharon, stating your interest and tell her that you are with Hoofers!

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21 Jan 2010
Contribute to the Ice Age Trail Companion Guide

Maybe you don't need an excuse to hike your favorite segment or explore a new segment of the Ice Age Trail, but here's one anyway. The IATA is going to be updating the Ice Age Trail Companion Guide for a 2011 edition, and we could use your help as a field editor!



What you do as a Field Editor: Travel to an area of Ice Age Trail and check that Trail and trailhead descriptions listed in the current Companion Guide are still accurate. Update town information and verify Trail access descriptions for car and foot travelers. (Take a look at this excerpt if you’re not familiar with the format.)



You’ll be given an editing packet with guidelines, text copies of the Trail section to work from and maps. Expectations are that you’ll hike your segment and submit your revisions and updates by September 1st, 2010.



The Companion Guide is a valuable tool for day-, section- and thru-hikers of the Ice Age Trail. It contains Trail descriptions, GPS waypoints and information on Trail access, area communities and IATA volunteer chapters.



This is a great opportunity to explore an area of the Ice Age Trail and get to know the community around it. Segments of all lengths are available...helping out by covering a one-mile segment is just as valuable as a ten-mile segment.



If interested or for more information contact volunteer Sharon Dziengel (sharondziengel(at)yahoo.com, 262-271-0703) by April 1st, 2010. We hope to see you in the "field"!

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