It’s a mammoth challenge for the Ice Age Trail hikers

By Ginna Young

For the fourth year in a row, Cornell could see hundreds, if not thousands of visitors, as part of the Mammoth Hike Challenge, with outdoor enthusiasts recording 43 miles on segments of the Ice Age Trail that runs through Wisconsin. In fact, Cornell is an Ice Age Trail Community and home to one of the segments, which was recently hiked by Vermont native Mary Anderson.

Now in her 60s, Anderson has hiked the Appalachian Trail twice – once in summer and once in winter – as well as the Pacific Crest Trail. She was the first woman to do the Appalachian Trail in winter, and the first woman to do that and the Pacific trail in the same year.

Anderson has also hiked the Continental Divide Trail and is working on visiting all the national scenic trails.

“That’s what brought me out to the Ice Age Trail,” said Anderson. “Leading up to Cornell, there are some great lakes…it was beautiful area.”

Once Anderson decided to hit the Ice Age Trail, she still had to figure out how to get back to her car on the other side of the state, once her hike was complete. Enter good samaritans, Pat and Julie Kosher.

The Koshers met Anderson through a Facebook page, called Thousand Miler WannaBes, and told her she could leave her car in their garage in Cornell, In fact, they even drove to Door County, picked up the car, drove it home, washed, cleaned and vacuumed it, while waiting for Anderson to reach Cornell.

The couple even helped by dropping Anderson off in the mornings at parts of the nearby trail, and picked her up at end of the day, so she could walk without carrying a 30-pound pack. When Anderson was through this part of the state trail, since the Koshers were on vacation, their son drove from Minnesota, and brought Anderson back to Cornell.

“And I stayed there for a couple of days, and they weren’t even home,” she said.

Right after Anderson left off from the Ice Age Trail, she started the Patomic Heritage Trail, meeting two gentleman from Wisconsin.

“And they didn’t know anything about the Ice Age Trail,” said Anderson. “There I was, telling them about it.”

Even though the 1,200-mile long Ice Age Trail sees so many out-of-state hikers, many Wisconsin residents and locals, have no idea it even exists. To help spread the word, a hike, hosted by the Chippewa Moraine Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance, happens Sunday, Oct. 15, featuring Monty the Mammoth.

Children and adults can visit with Monty, get their photo taken and learn more about the natural wonders of the trail. The Mammoth Hike Challenge is free, and open to all ages and ability levels. An exclusive, limited-edition patch and certificate will be awarded to those who finish the challenge.

To receive the rewards, participants need to register for the Challenge, at IceAgeTrail.org. Anderson, who has probably 18,000 miles of hiking under her belt, encourages everyone to find out more about the trail and says people along the routes are wonderful.

“I would say, in terms of what we call ‘trail angels,’ Wisconsin is tops,” said Anderson.

The Cornell TOPS chapter (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) celebrated the organization’s 75 anniversary, with a walk showing off the members’ t-shirts. Taking part in the stroll, were Cornell TOPS members Shirley Krogman, Mary Jane Hrdlicka, Linda and Vito Sblendorio, Rosalie Winchel, Linda Moser, Pat Schultz, Harold Guyette, Kevin Smith, Dawn Hattamer, Diana Verdegan, Kim Verdegan, Joy Jones, Mae Todd, Dennis Fenimore, Deb McFarlane, Mary Dicus, Linda Kohls, Norm Peters, Dan Hamilton, Sharon DeJongh and Sue Peters.

Submitted Photo