Lodi Valley Chapter
The Lodi Valley Chapter maintains over nine miles of beautiful
Ice Age Trail in southern Columbia County as well as the segment
from the Dane County line south though the loop at the Lodi Marsh.
The Ice Age Trail in this region passes through some unique geological features and diverse ecological habitats, giving hikers an excellent experience of glacially shaped valleys, bluffs and drumlins while passing through prairies, savannas and woodlands. The Trail also wanders though the historic city of Lodi, where you may be tempted off the Trail by our restaurants, pubs, German bakery and specialty shops.
Recent land acquisitions will allow volunteers to build several more miles of the Ice Age Trail in the next few years, giving hikers the opportunity to walk from the Merrimac Ferry on Lake Wisconsin, over several glacial bluffs, including Gibraltar Rock, and out to the Lodi Marsh, with much less road connection along the way.
During the year the chapter offers a variety of hikes and outings and hosts an annual 5K and 10K walk/run on National Trails Day in June (more info below). Chapter meetings are the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM at Lodi Medical Clinic, 160 Valley Drive in Lodi, across from the high school (driving directions). Please browse through our events calendar for upcoming activities. We look forward to seeing you at one of our events!
For more information on chapter activities and/or hiking the Ice Age Trail in this region, contact one of the chapter's leaders:
Barbara Wollmer, Coordinator (608-217-2082)
Bill Welch, Newsletter Editor (608-592-5666)
Luke Kloberdanz, Trail Maintenance Coordinator (608-592-1707)
Joanna Fanney, Secretary (608-592-2031)
Paulette Walker Smith, Treasurer (608-592-1510)
Chapter Hiking Award Program
Whether you're an avid hiker looking for a new challenge or an occasional trekker looking for inspiration to get out more often, a new hiking program is now available that may be just the thing for you! The Lodi Valley and Baraboo Hills chapters of the Ice Age Trail Alliance have partnered to create the Glacial Drifters hiking award program. This project is funded in part by a Healthy Life Inititiative Grant from the Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital Foundation. Participants in the program will earn an award for hiking all of the approximately 50 miles of the Ice Age Trail within these two chapters' areas, with the hiking to be done on each individual's own timetable. Registered participants will be sent maps and information about each of the various segments along with a hiking log for tracking progress. To receive more information about the Glacial Drifters hiking award program contact Patti Herman (608-592-5666) or Bob Lange (608-356-2427).
Featured Activities
Chapter Hosts Statewide Mobile Skills Crew Event
In October of 2010, the Lodi Valley Chapter hosted an Ice Age Trail Alliance Mobile Skills Crew trail-building event. Volunteers from around the state and beyond gathered in the area from October 14th to 17th to join forces with our chapter to extend the Ice Age Trail's Colsac Segment south toward spectacular Gibraltar Rock. All volunteers received training by certified volunteer crew leaders, free meals and a place to camp near the worksite. Read about the event here.
Check out our events calendar for upcoming events. We look forward to next season!
"Rainbow Bridge" Now Open for Business
Chapter volunteers and Lodi Middle and High School students and staff have finished building the largest human-made structure on the Ice Age Trail, a 150-ft bridge spanning a ravine between the middle and high schools. Based on a 16th Century Chinese Rainbow Bridge, the bridge was designed by US Forest Products Lab forester and chapter member Ron Wolfe. The twin arches, decking and railing are constructed of black locust and demonstrate the economic use of small diameter, invasive species. Many hundreds of volunteer hours of Ice Age Trail Alliance members, students and community members have gone into this amazing project.