distinguished lecture series save the dates … · distinguished lecture series presents: cheryl...
TRANSCRIPT
Distinguished Lecture Series Presents: Cheryl Strayed
Author of: Wild, From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, is speaking in Madison March 5th. Event is Free!Date: Wednesday, March 05, 2014Time: 7:30 p.m.Location: Varsity Hall, Union South, UW MadisonWebsite: http://www.union.wisc.edu/wud/dls-about.htmContact: [email protected]
Cheryl Strayed is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling memoir, Wild, which was the inaugural selection for the launch of Oprah’s Book Club 2.0. Strayed is also the author of The New York Times bestseller Tiny Beautiful Things and the critically acclaimed novel Torch.
Jan2014
Save the Dates
For more info about Lodi Valley Chapter events visit: http://lodivalley.iceagetrail.org/
Trail Improvement Events: For more info call Bill Welch at 608-843-3926March 15th, Saturday, 9amApril 19th, Saturday, 9amLocations: To Be Determined Soon.
Chapter meetings: Third Thursday of the month: February 20, April 17, & May 15. Meet at 7 pm at the Lodi Medical Clinic, 160 Valley Drive. For more info, contact Joanna at 608-592-7817 Lodi Valley Chapter Annual Meeting: Saturday, March 29 from 5-00 – 8:30pmWest Point Town HallN2114 Rausch Rd, LodiTim Eisele presentation: From Weeds to Wildflowers on Gobblers Ridge (see page 2)Invitations & more info will be sent out soon!
IAT University: April 23 – 27Crew leadership & skills training at Gibraltar Rock Mobile Skills Crew Project: April 24 – 27Gibraltar Rock Phase II (see page 3)
For more info about MSCP or IATU visit: http://www.iceagetrail.org/mobile-skills-crew-program
The IATA Annual Conference: April 10-13 Swinging from one end of the trail to the other, the conference will take place in Sturgeon Bay at The Lodge at Leatham Smith. Stay tuned for information and registration!
A Publication by the Lodi Valley Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance
If you have poems, photos, stories, or topic ideas for future Mammoth Prints, submit
to Joanna: [email protected] Prints
Editor: Joanna Kramer FanneyGraphic Designer: David Erickson
Lodi Valley Chapter Annual Meeting March 29th
“From Weeds to Wild Flowers on Gobbler Ridge” Presented by Tim Eisele (pronounced eyes-lee)
What is it like to try to take land that at one time was a cornfield and return it to native vegetation?
That’s what you can see in the Power Point presentation, “From Weeds to Wild Flow-ers on Gobbler Ridge.” Tim and Linda Eisele, of Madison, purchased 100 acres in Wisconsin’s Driftless Region of Crawford County in 1990 and since then, have been working to manage the land, while leaving the smallest possible foot-print.
Besides managing the woodland to en-courage oak and aspen trees, the Eisele’s began a project to turn a portion of the cool season grasses and Canada goldenrod into warm season grasses (big bluestem and Indian grass) and a mixture of prairie flowers. They continually man-age the land by pulling out invasive species and holding controlled burns every four to five years. This presentation shows the trials and tribula-tions of landowners trying to make a difference. They have taken photos throughout the process to document changes in the land and you’ll en-joy being up close and personal with their land management efforts and seeing photos of the insects, birds and wildlife that use the prairie.
Tim Eisele is a freelance outdoor writer and photographer living in Madison. He once worked for the Wisconsin DNR and today cov-ers the DNR, legislature, and Natural Resources
Board for Wisconsin Outdoor News. His articles have appeared in the Wisconsin State Journal, The Capital Times, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and books such as the brand new “A Passion for Grouse.” For 12 years he edited and produced Woodland Management magazine for the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association.
Eisele has been honored by several organizations for his outdoor communications, including: Wisconsin Wildlife Federation’s Conservation Communicator of the year in 1995 and 2009; Madison Audubon Society’s James Zimmerman Award for excellence in environmen-tal communications in 2011; Conservation Congress Outdoor Writers Award in 2001; Wisconsin Indian Head Country’s Warren Knowles Award in 2004; and the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association Distinguished Service Award in 2001. Tim and his wife Linda own and manage 100 acres of woodland and prairie in Crawford County and they received the Crawford County Land Conservation Department Forestry Award in 2011 and were the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Wild Turkey Woodland Owners of the Year in 2005.
In 1994 Tim was selected by the Chief of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to visit Wash-ington, D.C. and serve as a judge for the 1995-96 Federal Duck Stamp Contest. He currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame in Stevens Point; Board of Directors of the UW-Madison Friends of the Arboretum in Madison; and the Advisory Council of Trees For Tomorrow in Eagle River.
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Mobile Skills Crew Project Returns to Gibraltar Rock! On October 23-27, 2013, the Lodi Valley Chapter hosted a Mobile Skills Crew Project and built 1.5 miles of trail in the woods around Gibraltar Rock, creating a beautiful natural alternative to the paved trail for people wanting to go to the top of the Rock. Recent land acquisitions and easement agreements for property surrounding the Rock will provide an impressive trail system with spectacular views. Many of you may remember how fun and rewarding it was to host this event in Lodi. We are excited to announce that Phase II of Trail building at Gibraltar Rock will return to Lodi April 23 – 27! The Lodi Valley Chapter will play a major role in making this project a success…..and your assistance will be needed to make it happen. There will be many opportunities to volunteer in a way that fits your abilities and interests. You can work on the trail, guided by and learning from a trained crew leader. You can also provide project support by helping with meals/meal clean-up, assisting with registration, and other support tasks. Every contribution is valuable to make this project a great experience for all the volunteers. We will also need people to make desserts for the hungry volunteers. If you would like to help out in this way please contact Bill Welch at 608-843-3926 or email [email protected] More information will be sent out via e-mail and will be available on the Ice Age Trail Alliance website closer to the event. This is the first Mobile Skills Crew project of the 2014 season. Please mark your calendar to be part of the fun of this Ice Age Trail Alliance event. Contact Bill Welch with any questions.
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Tom Burlage!
Lodi Valley Chapter Leaders:
Coordinator: Joanna Kramer Fanney, 608-592-7817
Treasurer: Barbara Wollmer, 608-592-3025
Co-Secretaries: Jody Crowley Beers, 608-592-2031 and Julie Richardson, 608-592-4606
Maintenance: Bill Welch, 608-843-3926
National Trails Day Sponsor Tom Burlage takes a photo while enjoying a hike on the West Marsh Segment of the Ice Age Trail. Along with promot-ing wellness at his chiropractic clinic in Lodi, he relishes time spent with his family and in nature,
exercising his lively dogs, and expressing creativity through photography.
We appreciate our sponsors!!Tom Burlage, DC, DACSP
Burlage Chiropractic Wellness Center801 N Main, Ste. I
Lodi, WI 53555608 592-1444 www.burlagechiro.com
Spectacular View from Gibralter Rock
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Interested in becoming a member of the Ice Age Trail Alliance? Visit http://www.iceagetrail.org/ or call 1-800-227-0046.
You can chose to affiliate with a specific chapter, or join as a statewide member.
Trail Poem:
“The raw beauty of the moment just jumps right out at you:frost covering everything, a spider’s web heavy with dew,sunlight filters through the leaves, to kiss the frost away.
I see my last breath on the wind; it’s the start of a new day.I think I’m the luckiest person alive, as I start off on a hike
in no hurry at all. I stop to enjoy all of the things I like.”
— Author Unknown
Winter Photo taken from New Trail at Gibraltar Rock. Kurt Eakle, photographer. For prints, contact [email protected]
Volunteer Spotlight:
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Hats off to our Fantastic Volunteers!!
The Lodi Valley Chapter generated 245.5 VIP hours from October - December,
not including the October Mobile Skills Crew Project.
Wow, that’s a lot of volunteering!
Giving time to the Trail is Fun & Rewarding, plus you’ll meet a lot of Terrific Trail People! For information on how to be more involved,
contact Joanna at 608-592-7817.
Hiking 101: Cold Weather Hydration
Adapted from American Hiking Society’s December e-newsletter
In all seasons, it’s imperative to hydrate regularly while hiking. Serious dehydration is dangerous, and even very mild dehydration can ruin the fun of a good hike. In the warmer months, remember-ing to hydrate is easy. The weather is warm; we sweat and water tastes good. But in the colder months, it’s harder to remember to hydrate, and even when we do, we risk trying to sip from a water bottle that is slushy or even a block of ice.
Despite the fact that sweating isn’t as obvious in the winter, hydration can be more important in the colder months than the warmer months. Cold, dry air strips the water from our bodies faster than
warm humid air, necessitating consuming more water during a winter hike.
To keep water from freezing, try using an insulated water bottle, filling it with warm water instead of cold. If you have a non-insulated water bottle, be sure it is tightly sealed and keep it on the inside of your jacket to prevent freezing.
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By Greg Hamilton- Partners for Fish and Wildlife Biologist
If you have recently taken a hike up Steenbock Hill along Ice Age Trail’s Gibraltar Segment, you may have noticed there has been substantial tree and brush clearing taking place. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service teamed up with the Ice Age Trail Alliance to restore the historic vegetation on Steenbock Hill. Forestry mowing was used this fall to remove smaller diameter trees and brush. A second phase of work planned this winter will utilize hand thinning, piling, and burning to remove Red Cedar trees on steeper slopes. The objective of the thinning project is to release suppressed native prairie vegetation and potentially viable seed lying dormant in the soil. Both mesic (moist) and dry prairie plant communi-ties exist on Steenbock Hill. These very rare native plant communities have been shaded out by non-desirable woody vegetation. Without historic natural disturbance regimes, like fire and grazing, we rapidly loose our native plant communities to succession; turning prairies into woods. Although prairie plant’s seed remains viable for years, eventually shade, moisture and weathering will destroy much of the seed. Losing native plant associations and their genetic material lessens our chances to restore habitats for rare and declining wildlife species. Once prairie habitat disappears, prairie habi-tat specialists like grassland birds, Leafhoppers (insects), and prairie Ringneck snakes disappear also. In general, rare plant communities contain rare wildlife; restoring these unique plant communities ensures their existence for future generations.
This habitat restoration project will rely on local volunteers for long term success. Succession happens at an alarming rate. Cedars will slowly creep back in overtime if prescribed fire is not used to manage this area. Luckily, all you need is a loppers or small hand saw to cut a young cedar. Re-sprouting deciduous brush from forestry mowing can be controlled with periodic fire also. Otherwise, both brush and cedars will have to be cut and treated by hand. Volunteers can assist in protecting and conserving these unique habitats by understanding what they have in their local community, encouraging landowners to participate in restoration pro-grams and by practicing good land stewardship. The Lodi and surrounding area has many prairie remnants hiding on south and west facing bluffs, which are privately owned. Look for bluffs with cedars and indicators of prairie vegetation (little bluestem looks auburn in the fall and is easily recog-nizable from a distance). If you know a landowner with a bluff like this, share what you know about these rare habitats and feel free to pass on my contact information. The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program helps private landowners restore many different types of wildlife habitat across the state. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist’s work one-on-one with landowners, assisting them with identifying what habitats they have on their property, what their interests are and how the Partners Program may be of assistance to them. Local knowledge of existing restorable habitats and interests in land stewardship can make the difference for these unique treasures in our back yard.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicePartners for Fish and Wildlife Program4511 Helgesen DriveMadison, WI 53718608-221-1206 x [email protected]://www.fws.gov/midwest/partners/getinvolved.html
Steenbock Hill, Tree and Brush Clearing
Photographs on page 8.
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Forestry mowed area with dormant mesic prairie patch.
Bluff prairie suppressed by cedar tree growth.
Steenbock Hill, Tree and Brush Clearing Photos
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Ice Age Nordic Ski Team
The Ice Age Trail has one more thing to be excited about -- it’s very own cross country ski team! The Ice Age Nordic Ski Team was established in 2013 as a regional ski team for the Lodi Area XC Ski Club, The Blue Mound Nordic ski club from Mt. Horeb, and a new group of junior skiers from Waunakee. With beautiful new uniforms and Monte the wholly mammoth as its mascot, the new team will be spreading the word about the Ice Age Trail throughout the state.
Officially, the team is self-sufficient and not dependent or sanctioned by the IATA. “We just loved the name and the concept of identifying with the Ice Age Trail”, says Head Coach Dale Fanney. During pre-snow months, the team works out on a regular basis, running and hiking with poles on the IAT, specifically the Marsh Segments and the Gibraltar Segments in Lodi. “My favorite workout in November is to run with poles the length of the Gilbralter trail and back----scenic and hilly!” adds coach Fanney.
The ski team races in the Wisconsin Nordic Ski League and has boys and girls high school and middle school divisions. Currently, we have about 20 high school skiers from Lodi and Mt.Horeb and 21 middle school skiers from Lodi, Mt.Horeb and Waunakee. We compete in the Southern Conference with Madison, Peak Nordic, Burlington and North Kettle Moraine teams. Interestingly, every team in our conference is based on or near an Ice Age Trail segment or an important glacial feature of the terminal Moraine such as Lapham Peak State Park, Blue Mounds State Park and the North and South Kettle Moraine.
Altogether, there are 26 teams in the Wisconsin Nordic League with plans to expand as the life sport of XC skiing becomes more popular again in the younger age groups. As we all know, XC skiing is one of the healthiest sports and promotes a lifetime of fun and fitness in the beautiful outdoors.
The Ice Age Nordic middle school girls cross-country ski team took third place at Rhinelander on Saturday, January 4. Pictured: (left to right) Thana Zoske, Siri Martin, Maddy Lee, Maggie Conway, and Syd Cowden. Not pictured: Rachel Campbell