Location: Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, WI
Front country: tent camping in a designated campground
Strenuous. 6-8 mile daily hikes.
We are excited about our new project partnership with Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, working in 3 Wilderness areas doing an assortment of tasks.
Service Project Details
We are excited about our new project partnership with Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. During our week, we will strive to work in three designated wilderness areas: Headwaters Wilderness, Blackjack Springs Wilderness, and Whisker Lake Wilderness.
Headwaters Wilderness: repair a boardwalk. This would involve hiking in boards, nails, and tools about half a mile. Then hiking out broken boardwalk boards. The boardwalk is located on the Giant Pine Trail (sometimes called Giant White Pine Grove) which is a 2-mile loop trail. We would use crosscut saws to clear the trail and loppers and hand saws to remove the smaller brush. This trail is known for being one of the best examples of mature hemlock hardwoods with a white pine super canopy in northeastern Wisconsin. The only other trail in this 18,000-plus acre wilderness is the Shelp Lake boardwalk. It is a short boardwalk through a spruce-tamarack bog that overlooks a small lake on the southern edge of the Wilderness. The bog plants have taken over the end of the boardwalk and need to be cut back.
Blackjack Springs Wilderness: The proximity to the town of Eagle River, the pristine Whispering Lake, and great fishing in the Blackjack Creek and Deerskin River makes this our most visited wilderness. There are 4 miles of trail in the 5,800 acre Blackjack Wilderness. There is a 2-mile loop around Whispering Lake and a 1.5 mile spur that reaches Blackjack Springs. These trails get overrun by maple saplings in many areas and need to get cut back regularly. We would use crosscut saws to remove larger trees and hand tools for the brush. Some tread work is needed along the springs trail where we would use Mcleods and Polaskis to level out the trail.
Whisker Lake Wilderness: If the previous projects are finished, we will move on to the Whisker Lake Wilderness. There are about 11 miles of trails in the 7,500-acre wilderness. A large portion of this wilderness has been taken over by beavers and many beaver dams have been built on the trails. A large portion of the wilderness’ trails get little use, and these trails need to be brushed and marked. We will brush open and blaze trees throughout the wilderness to better mark these trails. We will concentrate our efforts on the trail nearest Edith Lake, where swampy conditions have made the trail nearly disappear. (Rubber boots would be a good idea for this area!) We will find and clear the best route to the rest of the trail system.
Project Leaders: Sue Blish and Vania Gillette
Agency Website
Itinerary:
Sunday, September 10th. The Volunteer group meets at midday at a time/place TBD. The group will go through check-in, introductions, orientation, and will help set up camp in preparation for the work week ahead.
Monday, September 11th. Workday.
Tuesday, September 12th. Workday.
Wednesday, September 13th. Day off.
Thursday, September 14th. Workday.
Friday, September 15th. Workday.
Saturday, September 16th. Break down camp, goodbyes, and depart.
Nearest Cities
Eagle River, WI
Nearest Airports
Free Time Details
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is an incredible Forest to explore. The Eagle River-Florence District has a wide variety of trails to hike or bike. There are multiple fishing docks and beautiful swim beaches located in our recreation areas. The Wilderness areas are located closest to Eagle River, WI. Eagle River is on a chain of 28 lakes, the largest connected freshwater chain on the planet, and is a world-class fishing destination with incredible musky, panfish, and bass fishing. The town of Eagle River is a tourist destination so there are lots of activities available including mini-golf, go-carts, Farmers Markets (Sundays and Wednesdays), bowling, a movie theater, horseback riding, fishing, hiking, and a plethora of restaurants and bars to choose from.
Accommodations
Front country: tent camping in a designated campground
Difficulty
Strenuous. 6-8 mile daily hikes.
Task Details
Bending, cutting, hauling, swinging, digging, throwing, pushing, lifting, etc.
Equipment List
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