Local residents help expand Ice Age Trail in Taylor County
Jeanine and Rick Fassl write, “Those of you who are familiar with the section of the Ice Age Trail (IAT) we are lucky enough to have in our part of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, just outside of town, may be interested to learn that three local residents teamed up with an amazing array of staff and volunteers to blaze a brand new trail through the Rusch preserve near Rib Lake in Taylor County this past week.
Jeff and Lin Tortomasi, along with Rick and Jeanine Fassl, made the trek up to the Rib Lake area to reconnect with some of Jeff’s former teachers and School Board members from his time as the School District Administrator and to help with the new trail.
In spite of the rain, cold, mud and mosquitos, Jeff, Rick and Jeanine put in some hard, manual labor in establishing a new trail through a section of the Rusch preserve, which was generously donated to the IAT by Bob and Ann Rusch of Rib Lake, WI.
As documented in the photos below, the work was hard and dirty but the rewards of making new friends and renewing acquaintances with old friends was well worth the effort.
The local Walworth/Jefferson Chapter of the IAT is always looking for help in maintaining trails and enjoying the opportunities of having this historic section of the Ice Age Trail in our own backyard. For more information, check out www.iceagetrail.org/volunteer/chapter or walworthjeffersoncochapter@iceagetrail.org or www.timmshilltrail.com/ruschpreserve/ruschpreserve.htm
Our thanks to Jeanine and Rick Fassl for sharing the story of this ambitious, appreciated project together with the photos.
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