Ice Age Trail Alliance; new trail construction

The Ice Age Trail Alliances' Mobile Skills Crew will be hosting two projects at Straight Lake State Park in Luck WI to finish 5 miles of new sustainable Ice Age National Scenic Hiking Trail. The first is May 11-16th and will be an American Hiking Society volunteer vacation as well. We will also get some help from 9 AmeriCorps members who will live and work in the park for 6 weeks. The second project is from July 15-18. This project will bring Lodi schools summer saunter program to western Wisconsin and we will have 50 kids helping for some of the project. Experienced and rookie trail builders from SCA's alum are needed to help create this legacy. Below are the descriptions from the AHS website. Project Information: Some places lodge deep within and stir the soul: Straight Lake State Park is such a place. You will wake to the call of Trumpeter Swans and sleep by the wail of coyote. Led by Ice Age Trail Alliance Mobile Skills Crew volunteers, foot by foot, hand over hand, you’ll work with other volunteers from throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest to construct sustainable tread on steep cross slopes, build rock and timber retaining walls, and enjoy jaw-dropping scenery. Camping sites, meals, tools and equipment will be provided. Trail construction activities begin at 8:00 am and typically wrap up about 4:30 pm. Showers are a short carpool away. Come for a day or stay for the week. Area Description: The Wisconsin Land Legacy Report lists Straight Lake at the top of a five point scale indicating the area’s outstanding ecological qualities. Unique features include large blocks of oak and northern hardwood forest, ephemeral ponds, basalt outcroppings and what has been described as the finest example of a glacial tunnel channel in the Midwest. Two high quality, undeveloped lakes provide memorable quiet and solitude. The rolling glacial terrain supports extensive second-growth forest approaching old growth characteristics. Nearby attractions include Interstate Park, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail Interpretive Center, the renowned Dalles of the St. Croix gorge, and the Potholes trail. Pre-register at http://www.iceagetrail.org/msccalendar.htm or http://www.americanhiking.org/ProjectRegistrationDetail.aspx?projectId=490 Looking forward to seeing you this summer! Pete Englund 651 402-3061 Straight Lake Project Coordinator 9 time SCA Alum