MSC Reigns over Plover River Project

Rain was in the forecast but weathermen have been wrong before. They were right this time. The rain fell and fell and fell, eventually overflowing the streams and rivers,but it did not stop the Mobile Skills Crew (MSC) volunteers. The number of volunteers swelled like the rising tides of the rivers, but when the rivers slowly started subsiding, the volunteers stayed because there was work to be done. MSC events are like a river rolling high with water, overpowering what lay in its way. We start powering up mid-week and by the weekend, we are a formidable group of trail builders ready to lay waste to whatever challenges the trail (or Tim) tosses our way. After the flood of volunteers dissipates, the only sign we were ever there is finely crafted Ice Age Trail tread (and maybe some matted grass and hidden brush piles). Eh, what’s a little rain when you’re working in one of the most scenic areas of the state?

People started showing up Tuesday to help get the project off to a great start. A new song was started Tuesday night as we huddled under the shelter with a mist blown by the wind reminding us of the precipitation falling outside. The song had something to do with not opening your eyes when your head is up your ass otherwise it will turn your blue eyes brown. Instant classic! I’ve been listening to Randy play guitar and sing the same songs over and over again for the past six years, but Tuesday night I heard at least 5 songs I had not heard before from him. That was definitely music to my ears (or perhaps the $5 bottle of ginger brandy floating around had something to do with it). Speaking of which, Randy is the Weird Al of MSC. He’ll take a well-known song and bastardize it. I’m not sure if he is copying someone else or coming up with these on his own, but he knows a heck of a lot of them.

Wednesday we got started in the field cutting and prepping the white cedar logs for a native bridge crossing of an unnamed tributary to the Plover River. The walk in was a little wet and muddy, but soon enough it was a lot wet and a lot muddy. We got done what was needed for the crews to get started on Thursday in spite of everything Pete tried to do to derail the work. Dinner on Wednesday was delectable. Randy was in charge of project support and he did an excellent job (If you don’t mind his tardiness with the food and his quick wit when it comes to bad puns). We had Randy’s charcoal chicken (If Randy lives for one thing, it’s grilling charcoal chicken with his flip top grill), which did not disappoint. With rain falling outside, everyone huddled under the tent to stay dry and play an assortment of games. Cribbage, probably Old Maid, Euchre and Scrabble were all brought out. If you want to lose in Scrabble, I would suggest playing Dave J., whereas if you want to win, I would suggest playing Brad. Then again, Gail and I were steamrolled at the Euchre table at the hands of Randy and Mark.

Thursday I begged Brad (Buttercup) to put me on the crew doing the rock crossing of the Plover River and he obliged. Our crew consisted of Cowboy Dave, Me (Dave), Dave J., Chuck and Laurel (If you are not familiar, three Dave’s in a group creates a Dave Tsunami) and our task consisted of enhancing the natural stepping stones across the Plover River by replacing them with larger stones and making them more secure. It rained nearly the entire day and the river was at flood stage, but that didn’t stop us from getting the job done.

It was slow going at first, but with the help of the Crew Leaders In Training to move some massive rocks, things picked up speed in the afternoon and by the end of the day we were finished. Brad brought us our lunches as we were nowhere near a road, but he forgot the hot chocolate….slacker. We were in water up to and over our knees all day, but with hip waders, I think we were the driest ones around. Corridor clearing crews did a great job opening up the trailway and setting the stage for some minor tread work to finish the sections. It was a wet and muddy job, but someone had to do it. The bridge crew putzed along like always under the tutelage of Pete. Thursday night the rain held off for long enough for us to get a fire started, what a treat for everyone who wascold and wet after a long day in the field.

Tim and Old Smokey Lonesome woke up early to promote the trail on Wisconsin Public Radio. They had a whole segment on the Ice Age Trail! Any way we can spread the joy of the IAT is a welcomed endeavour (I know in America we spell it endeavor, but I think the u adds more character to a great word). The weather finally turned for the better Friday with a most welcome appearance by Mr. Blue Sky and his cohort the Sun in the afternoon. Tread crews worked on “the ridge,” popping rocks and making the trail safer and easier to walk. I was more than happy with the work my crew accomplished. Chuck, Evelyn, Bob, Jeannine, Dean, Jane, Dave L, Groovy Struve, Butch Mon and Lisa all did an excellent job. They turned a shark fin in the middle of the trail into a step and tossed in a few mono walls for good measure. I lamented a few years back that my crew and I didn’t get a lot done (not that I ever get a lot, or anything, done myself for that matter) because I had so many new people and had to show them what to do and work with them to make sure it was done right. Randy told me back then that it may be difficult now, but when those volunteers come back, they will already have the basic skills down and will be able to get more accomplished. He was right (That was very hard to say). Nearly everyone on my crew this weekend was an experienced trail builder and only needed a little guidance every now and then. They made my job a lot easier and made some darn good trail. Although I’m not sure it was a good sign that I started with a crew of 11 and ended with only 5 including me. People were leaving during the day for First Aid/CPR training creating an opening for Joelle, one of the Crew Leaders In Training, to get her first taste of crew leading on the Ice Age Trail. Needless to say, she did a better job than I.

Back at camp, people were able to dry out wet clothes from the previous few days. We had burgers and brats for dinner! I always like when Randy is leading project support because the menu appeals to my food sensibilities, namely grilling. We did have conflicting ideas on grilling though; he doesn’t open the first beer until the meat is on the grill while I crack a beer as soon as the charcoal is lit. The night was spent carousing between the fire and the tent. A sing along of “Keep on the Sunny Side” broke out under the tent, which could have been our mantra after a few days filled with liquid sunshine. It was great having Laura and her roving band of minstrels bring their sublime singing voices to elevate the quality of the singing. The quote of the weekend came a few drinks later around the campfire by a certain Crew Leader In Training – “My life has been so enriched by not passing out.” Classic. After taking a ton of pictures of the campfire at the first couple projects, I didn’t think I could find a way to keep the campfire pictures fresh. Apparently I was wrong. Turns out an empty PBR bottle looks pretty sweet through the lens of the camera with the campfire providing backlighting. PBR is the gift that keeps giving.

Saturday awoke with bright blue skies, putting everyone in an eager mood to get back out to the trail. Tim, never satisfied with the status quo, threw out a wildcard Saturday and had a crew head north of Hwy 52 for trail layout and design purposes. It was tough going and more work is needed to figure out how to cross the cedar swamp and traverse as much of the terminal moraine as possible. There was a host of people taking chainsaw training along with crews scattered throughout the project area honing in on the prize. Finished Ice Age Trail. I’m going to assume everything went great and a lot of work was completed because I wasn’t there to toss a wrench into things.

The 2011 Plover River project tested our mettle with rain that didn’t want to stop, but stop it did. We slogged through the showers and mud, never letting the weather slow us down. The determination of the MSC volunteers to keep working through the crummy weather was amazing.

Hope springs eternal at MSC events. The rain has to end, the sun will come out and the work will get done. At my first project, Chippewa River May 2006, we had sleet, freezing rain, high winds and just miserable conditions, but the one thing I took away was at the morning round up someone said that there was a 70% chance of rain that day. Tim chimed in wistfully, “That means there’s a 30% chance of a great day!” It rained, but that optimism stuck with me. Someone is always there at a MSC event to cheer up a soggy trail builder (or at least we have Randy for entertainment). The strength of the Mobile Skills Crew comes from the volunteers and they keep getting stronger. All in all, I guess the only negative of the Plover River project was not being able to jump off the cliffs into the Eau Claire River. Next year!