justnorth posted on March 26, 2007 05:16 :: 1981 Views
When Jason Dorgan sets off on a trip across Wisconsin next month, he will be following what many would maintain is one of the state’s most scenic routes. And with an anticipated 21- to 23-day itinerary, he should have plenty of time to take in the sights – if he stops long enough to catch his breath and look around.
Dorgan, a distance runner from Madison, will be attempting to run the entire National Scenic Ice Age Trail, a distance of approximately 1,000 miles. Starting April 14 at Interstate State Park on the St. Croix River near St. Croix Falls, he's planning on running 45 to 50 miles a day until reaching Potawatomi State Park on Green Bay in Door County.
If he is successful in his endeavor, Dorgan will become one of a growing list of more than three dozen people who have completed the entire trail, but the first to have run the entire distance.
The Ice Age Trail roughly follows the last outline, or “terminus” of the most recent glacier, which covered Wisconsin more than 10,000 years ago. The proposal for an Ice Age Trail dates back to the 1950s when a Milwaukeean named Ray Zillmer first proposed a trail and park winding through Wisconsin along the terminal moraine.
The Ice Age Park & Trail Foundation [www.iceagetrail.org] (exit JustNorth) was later established to help make the trail a reality. In 1980, Congress designated the trail as a National Scenic Trail, similar to the well-known Appalachian Trail. In 1987, the State of Wisconsin gave it the second designation of State Scenic Trail. Today, development and management of the trail is a cooperative effort among the foundation and its local volunteer chapters, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the National Parks Service [www.nps.gov/iatr] (exit JustNorth).
“Wisconsin has some of the world's finest examples of the effects of continental glaciation,” says Andrew Hanson, an Ice Age Trail specialist who works for both the foundation and DNR.
Hanson says the basic features defining the route of the Ice Age Trail are the Kettle Moraine of eastern Wisconsin and extending westward along the most-recent terminal moraine. Geologic features along the route include: kames, lakes, drumlins, ice-walled-lake plains, outwash plains, eskers, tunnel channels, unglaciated features of the Driftless Area and other older landforms.
Currently, more than 600 miles of the trail have been completed. Connecting segments follow lightly to moderately trafficked roads.
Dorgan says the two main reasons he is attempting the thousand mile run is to raise awareness of the trail, and to help raise funds to complete the trail. He is also hoping to attract more members to the Ice Age Trail and Park Foundation and is inviting people to join along with him on his run to experience the trail. He has created a Web site [http://www.iceagetrail1000.com] (exit JustNorth) that includes his daily route for the run along with other information about the Ice Age Trail and distance running.
“As we approach the 50th anniversary of the trail in 2008, this is a great time to reflect on what has been accomplished and to continue planning for what needs to be done to convert road segments to trail,” Dorgan says. “If my run can motivate a few more people to get involved with the trail and foundation then it will be a success.”
Other than fundraising efforts sponsored by the foundation and volunteers, one of the main sources of funds for the trail has been the Knowles–Nelson Stewardship Program. That program, named after former Governors Warren Knowles and Gaylord Nelson, sets aside $3 million annually for acquisition of land for state trails, including the Ice Age Trail. Both men had a hand in shaping the Ice Age Trail: Knowles served on the Ice Age Park & Trail Foundation board of directors and, as a U.S. Senator, Nelson co-sponsored the legislation that made the Ice Age Trail one of the eight National Scenic Trails.
“Thanks to the Stewardship Program, 57 miles of the Ice Age Trail in 17 counties have been permanently protected for current and future generations to enjoy,” Hanson says, who notes the foundation has used Stewardship funds to protect an additional 30 properties along the Ice Age Trail.
People who are interested in joining Dorgan for any part of his trail run or who would like to make a donation to the foundation on behalf of his efforts can find more information on his Web site.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Brigit Brown, DNR state trails coordinator - (608) 266-2183 or Andrew Hanson, Ice Age Trail Trailway Director – (608) 663-1281
[EDITOR’S ADVISORY: Jason Dorgan will be appearing on the Larry Meiller program on the Ideas Network of Wisconsin Public Radio on Thursday, March 22. The program runs from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on WPR stations across Wisconsin. Check the WPR Web site at http://www.wpr.org (exit JustNorth) for stations and schedules.]
Article Source:
http://justnorth.com/Articles/tabid/105/articleType/AuthorView/authorID/12/justnorth.aspx