"Next up on the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation Mobile Skills Crew calendar is a dramatic undertaking in historic Riverside Park, City of Janesville, Rock County, Thursday July 19 through Sunday noon, July 22.
No bones about it, this is the most technically challenging trail building project in Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation history. The name says it all: Devils Staircase. CCC workers labored here in 1933. Telephone Pioneer volunteers followed suit in 1989. With this project we will refresh those histories and add new pages to this legacy.
While another Independence Day celebration folds into history, it occurs to me that volunteering to help create, support and protect one of the America's elite National Scenic Trails - and Wisconsin's only State Scenic Trail - the Ice Age Trail - is an endeavor our Nation's founding fathers would applaud. Check out Map # 29e in the IAT Atlas (upper left hand corner) for a preview of the area, and/or browse this website for pictures and more. See you in Janesville!"
With these words, out went the call for volunteers to help with the project. 180 people responded. They came from all over to a hillside overlooking the Rock River in Janesville, Wisconsin. The turnout was phenominal and exceeded all expectations. Volunteers came from across the state and from the surrounding area to support this project. There were youth groups, seasoned Ice Age Trail volunteers, and senior citizens helping. There were many friendships formed.
Starting Thursday morning and wrapping up by noon on Sunday, the volunteers managed to carve out a mile-long hiking trail to be proud of from the rocky hillside.
One observer reported, "Huge rocks were lowered from the golf course to be placed as stone steps from the upper trail to the lower trail (all by hand). The work was slow but fascinating to watch. Each rock had to be precisely placed and stabilized before another could be lowered. There were also steps going in at Sandy Point back by the old rope. Everything is blending beautify with existing natural features to showcase the Devil's Staircase. This trail is being built to last and will be there for many generations to come. Many people working on the trail commented on how beautiful it is."
We are still compiling photos of the weekend and will put together a page showcasing the work, but in the meantime, check out a little photo gallery on the project. Even more information and photos are available at the Mobile Skills Crew's Page.
Thanks to everyone who helped out. This could never have been done without you!
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