====On a late August day in 2008, I arrived at Gibralter Rock in Wisconsin’s southern Columbia County to start a solo 10.5-mile hike on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. These unfamiliar miles would be added to the hundreds I had already accumulated toward my quest to trek the entire 1,100-mile trail. The reliable Ice Age Trail Alliance’s (IATA’s) – formerly the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation – Companion Guide and Atlas prepared me for the trek but not for the pleasant encounters that awaited me.

I discovered Gibralter Rock to be an imposing embarkation point. This formidable natural bluff was an impressive sight as it majestically lords over the adjoining rural countryside. Periodically, as I hoofed south on paved county roads, I gazed back admiringly at this unique landmark. The sight accompanied me almost until I reached the offroad Groves-Pertzborn Segment of the Ice Age Trail. I continue to favor the quieter ambiance of a forest, so I eagerly ventured onto the path. I was not disappointed.

Although the 1.6-mile section was short, it was thriving with an eclectic mix of trees, ferns and cheerfully chirping birds. I appreciated the well marked and mowed trail as it guided me through the thick woods, with its rain forest feel. At the end, I was deposited on the intriguingly named Bilkey Road and forged on to the small community of Lodi.

Upon reaching a tree-lined path off of the city’s Strangeway Playlot, I was back in a natural setting. Unexpectedly, near the turnaround point behind the high school, I encountered pink coneflowers, goldenrod and Queen Anne’s lace waving colorfully throughout a large field. And, for the first time, I encountered an Ice Age Trail volunteer mowing the trail. I talked to Jan Higgens about this prairie restoration area and thanked him for maintaining the trail, which had added significantly to my enjoyment of the day.

It was then I decided to visit the Ice Age Trail’s (IAT’s) south central field office.

As it happened, I stopped two times on Lodi’s Main Street. The first was for tasty bakery fortification at the not-to-be-missed Weber’s. Munching contentedly on my purchase, I ambled across the street and a few doors down to where I found Ice Age Trail Director of Field Operations Tim Malzhan. We exchanged tales and observations about our common subject, the IAT. He seemed particularly interested in my feedback about section markings and any suggestions I might have for improvement. I appreciated this and told him so.

Soon, it was time for me to leave, as I had more miles to hike. Tim thanked me for stopping, adding “you made my day.”

As I headed toward the hike’s endpoint at the trailhead on State Highway 113, I thought repeatedly about Malzhan’s remark. I concluded it was I who needs to thank him, IATA staff, and chapter volunteers for their commitment to the development and preservation of this remarkable pathway.

Since I hiked this particular segment, the small office in Lodi closed. The personnel there and in Madison, Wisconsin, have relocated to a new building in nearby Cross Plains, Wisconsin. The trail itself remains, of course, for all those who take the time to hike and explore it.

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