Many Hands Make Light Work

​During the last week of August, twenty-one Northland College first-year students from as far away as Florida and Oregon, studying everything from climate science to sustainable communities to outdoor education, pitched in to improve two Bayfield Area Trails as part of their orientation to Northland and the North Woods. In addition to enjoying the trail work, students said the experience gave them the opportunity to meet new people and build community.

​The Northland students spent their first day working on the Striped Skunk Trail. Located on the Big Ravine’s west side, north of the soccer field, Striped Skunk connects Martin Road with the West Rim Trail. The crew began by clearing vegetation to widen the trail in preparation for the installation of boardwalk. 

Northland students on newly installed boardwalk on Striped Skunk trail.

New trail signs and maps strategically placed throughout the Big Ravine trail system.

They then moved six new sections of boardwalk from the intersection of Striped Skunk and Martin Road, and re-positioned several old sections. The boardwalk was installed on parts of the trail that are wet and muddy during snowmelt and spring. It was intentionally placed along one side of the trail to allow for snowshoeing and skiing off of the boardwalk. Kate Kitchell of Bayfield Area Trails said she was really grateful for Northland’s muscle: “We expect that some of the boardwalk will need to be adjusted during next year’s mud season, but there’s no way we could have gotten this done without the student crew.”

​Additional thanks go to the Town of Bayfield for funding the boardwalk materials, Rich Ryan for assembling and delivering the six new sections of boardwalk, and Bayfield Area Trails volunteers Kris Wegerson and John Ipsen who served as on-site coordinators. 

Over the course of the next two days, two different Northland crews worked on three sections of the Brownstone Trail. Can you say “Gravel?” The crews spread gravel between the southern end of Chequamegon Road and the Waterford condominiums at Pike’s Bay; they spread gravel north of Blue Wing Bay Road; and they cleared vegetation to widen the trail south of Blue Wing Bay Road. Many thanks to Rex Dollinger and the County Health Department grant for funding the gravel costs.

Northland student, Anders Prater of Hinckley MN, at work on the Brownstone.

The Northland students were supported by Bayfield Area Trails volunteers Gene Lemmenes and Bob Wood who served as on-site coordinators, and a Brownstone neighbor, Bob Plucinak, who spread gravel with his tractor on the trail adjoining the Waterford condominiums. On the Brownstone section north of Blue Wing Bay Road, the student crew worked with Rex Dollinger as on-site coordinator and Jim Moeller who made things a little easier by shuttling gravel with his ATV with dump trailer.

Rex Dollinger ready for work on the Peg's Leg trail section.

Special thanks to Rex Dollinger for his financial support, time and energy, which he donated in memory of his wife Peg; they walked the Brownstone Trail together for nearly 20 years. The section of the trail improved with Rex’s help is affectionately known as “Peg’s Leg.”
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What’s next? BATS volunteers can mark their calendars for September 27 - October 1 when Will Krift of Trails Anonymous will lead a crew to reconstruct the Brownstone Trail south of Blue Wing Bay Road including renovating the steps. Also, stay tuned for a call for volunteers to work on the Big Ravine’s East Rim Trail on October 14th and 15th.