The first hike of the season on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Langlade County will be held Saturday, and conditions are expected to be sunny and spring-like.
The special hike organized by the Langlade County Ice Age Trail Chapter is open to the public. Interested persons and groups should meet at 9 a.m. in front of the Langlade County forestry office at the fairgrounds.
Participants are encouraged to wear suitable clothing and bring a lunch. Transportation to the trail head northeast of Antigo will be provided from the fairgrounds.
Outing participants are also eligible for receiving the chapter’s 40th Anniversary Hiker patch during the group’s observance of four decades of trail activity in the county. To earn the patch, persons must make two of the three outings scheduled by the chapter this year. The remaining hike are Sept. 9 and Oct. 7.
The spring hike will be a five mile trek on the east end of the Old Railroad segment which winds through a scenic portion of Veterans Memorial Park. The stretch includes views of a large glacial lake filled in with sediment since the massive ice sheet which covered two-thirds of the state melted away over 10,000 years ago.
The Old Railroad segment is one of four Ice Age Trail stretches in Langlade County designated in 1977 by the U.S. Department of the Interior as part of the National Trails System. Half of the segment will be established this year as an ATV trail so the April hike will be the final chapter outing on a historical portion of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Langlade County.
Additional information on the hike, Ice Age National Scenic Trail and county chapter can be obtained by mail inquiry to 622 First Ave., Antigo or by calling 715-623-2645. Maps and other trail information are also available from the Langlade County University of Wisconsin-Extension Office, 837 Clermont St. Web sources of information are available through the Ice Age Trail Alliance at www.iceagetrail.org and the chapter Facebook page at www.facebook.com/seeuonthetrail.
Ice Age Trail hikers will enjoy an early spring outing on Saturday.