Blue Hills Chapter-Ice Age Trail Alliance

06/12/2026

Feature Friday: Country View Motel 🏡🥾

This week’s Feature Friday goes to Country View Motel near Weyerhaeuser! More specifically, to Ken and Linda, the kindhearted people behind it. 💛

If you follow their page, you may have seen photos of Ice Age Trail hikers who have stayed with them over the years. Those posts are a small glimpse into how connected Country View Motel is to the trail community.

Ken and Linda have owned Country View Motel for 26 years. Ken has long been a trail angel helping shuttle hikers, with Linda assisting for many years as well. They have helped injured hikers, picked up people who found themselves stuck in the dark, and taken in hikers during storms. In other words, they are exactly the kind of people you hope to meet when a long trail day does not go according to plan!

Country View Motel is a small, family-run, mom-and-pop motel. Ken and Linda try to make people feel welcome, give them a smile, and if guests are lucky, they may even get to meet their dog!

They love meeting people, hearing trail stories, and finding those “small world” connections with guests from all over. They have welcomed people from all over, including an Ice Age Trail walker from Japan. Linda still remembers the connection. The hiker gifted them a lovely origami, and Linda sent him on his way with a bear hat. 🐻

Country View Motel is less than 4 miles from the Ice Age Trail at Old 14 and about a mile from Weyerhaeuser. Rooms include refrigerators and microwaves, and the setting is quiet, peaceful, and close to nature. 🌳

Thank you, Ken and Linda, for leading with your hearts and being such a welcoming part of the Blue Hills trail community!

Have you stayed at Country View Motel or met Ken and Linda? Share a story in the comments!

06/10/2026

Workday recap from the Blue Hills! 🛠️🌿

At our last workday, volunteers kept the trail moving forward with a mix of saw work and tread work.

Bob LaFevre served as sawyer, with Cory helping as swamper for part of the day. Meanwhile, Mark, Tami, and Randy got to work on tread.
The blazing crew did not make it out this time, so that work is still ahead. There is always something waiting on the trail list!

And apparently Mark may be working his way toward becoming the next Wendell. If there is tread work happening, he is probably already looking around for rock work. 😄

Thank you to everyone who came out and put in the work! These regular workdays make a real difference.

Want to join the next one?
The next Blue Hills Chapter workday is Wednesday, June 24. No trailbuilding experience required! Just a willingness to help, learn, and spend some time outside with the crew.

Details here:
https://www.iceagetrail.org/event/blue-hills-chapter-volunteer-workday-2/

06/06/2026

Happy National Trails Day from the Blue Hills! 🌿🥾

Let’s hear it: what is your favorite kind of trail moment?

A quiet overlook?
A creek crossing?
A muddy workday?
A wildflower you almost missed?
A hike that was harder than expected?
A post-hike snack that tasted way better than it should have?

The Ice Age Trail has a little bit of everything, and the Blue Hills are no exception.

Drop your favorite trail moment in the comments. Bonus points for photos! 📸

06/05/2026

Feature Friday: N’auburn Coffee ☕🍯

Need to caffeinate before your National Trails Day hike? This week’s Feature Friday goes to Nauburn Coffee in New Auburn!

N’auburn Coffee has been a wonderful supporter of the Ice Age Trail community. They have Ice Age Trail maps available, sell IATA merch, and are a welcoming local stop for hikers, volunteers, families, and anyone looking for a good cup of coffee.

They are the only coffee shop in New Auburn. They serve specialty coffee and fresh-baked treats.
And just look at these photos 😍 Cozy vibes and delicious goodies!

If you stop in, mention that you’re with the Ice Age Trail. It’s a small gesture, but it helps show N’auburn Coffee that their support is appreciated and that trail people support the businesses that support the trail!

Thank you, N’auburn Coffee, for being such a friendly supporter of the Ice Age Trail community!👏

Have you stopped at N’auburn Coffee yet? What’s your go-to coffee shop order?

06/04/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Spring Ephemeral guided hike! 🌿🥾

We had beautiful weather, a great turnout, and a fun social afterward. A pretty perfect way to kick off the guided hike season in the Blue Hills!

These hikes are a great reminder that the Ice Age Trail is not just a footpath through the woods. It is also a place to meet people, learn more about the land around us, and spend time outside with good company.

Thank you to our hike leaders, volunteers, and everyone who came out to enjoy the trail with us!

Missed this one? Our next guided hike is the Beaver Dam Challenge on Saturday, June 27. This one will be a more difficult hike, so keep an eye on this page for details about the route, meeting location, what to bring, and what to expect.

📷: Laurie Bachynsky

06/03/2026

Trail workday tomorrow! 🛠️🌿

The Blue Hills Chapter has a workday coming up tomorrow, Wednesday, June 3.

We’ll meet near the Stout Road parking area at 8:30 a.m. All experience levels are welcome. You do not need to be an expert trail builder to help. There are plenty of ways to pitch in, learn, and be part of the crew!

Please bring water, lunch or snacks, sturdy footwear, work gloves if you have them, and bug/tick protection. Long pants are a good idea this time of year.

Workdays are one of the best ways to see what goes into building and maintaining the Ice Age Trail in the Blue Hills. Every hour helps move the trail forward!

View details here:
https://www.iceagetrail.org/event/blue-hills-chapter-volunteer-workday/

Hope to see you there! 😀

Join the Blue Hills Chapter for a volunteer workday on the Ice Age Trail! Help with trail projects and maintenance. No experience needed!

06/02/2026

June is here, and the Blue Hills are calling! 🌿🥾

We have a full month ahead on the Ice Age Trail! There are chances to hike, volunteer, celebrate trails, and see what makes this part of Wisconsin so special.

Mark your calendar:
🛠️ Wednesday, June 3 – Blue Hills workday
🥾 Saturday, June 6 – National Trails Day
🛠️ Wednesday, June 24 – Blue Hills workday
🚶 Saturday, June 27 – Guided hike: Beaver Dam Challenge

Whether you are ready to swing a tool, take on a challenging hike, learn more about the trail, or simply follow along from home, there is a place for you in the Blue Hills community. 💛

Keep an eye on this page for workday reminders, hike details, trail tips, volunteer stories, and photos from the field.

Tell us in the comments which event you plan to join, or tag a friend who should hit the trail with you this June! 🌲🥾

📷: Dave Caliebe

06/01/2026

Nearly two weeks out, we are still feeling grateful for the crew, community, and momentum from the Blue Hills Trailbuilding Event! 💛

So many people had a hand in this week! From the volunteers on the tread to the folks feeding crews, moving people, organizing details, and cheering the project on. That is what makes the Ice Age Trail possible. 🥾

Read the Alliance’s recap below, and if you joined us in the Blue Hills, we would love to hear what part of the week stuck with you!

06/01/2026

Stewardship Sunday: Meet Laurie Bachynsky! 🥾🌲

If you've attended a Blue Hills hike recently, read the Blue Hills View newsletter, or joined a trail crew event, there's a good chance you've crossed paths with Laurie. 😊

After retiring at the beginning of 2025, Laurie wasted no time embracing adventure! Since then, she's taken a 4,000+ mile road trip through the national parks of Utah, completed a Wilderness Land Navigation course, launched a DJ business called *Liquid Lyrics*, and somehow still finds plenty of time for the Ice Age Trail. 🎶🏜️

Laurie first got involved with the Ice Age Trail in 2023 after signing up for a trail crew event. What started as a volunteer opportunity quickly became a passion.

Since then, she's helped with trail crew events, blazing, workdays, shuttling, leading hikes, and writing the chapter newsletter. Last October, she helped guide the Gundy's Canyon hike, which brought 129 people out to experience the trail! 😮

When asked what keeps her coming back, Laurie's answer was simple:
"The people. Every day on the trail or at a crew event is a chance to laugh, learn, and lend a hand."

One of her favorite trail memories was finally backpacking to Lake Eleven after years of trying. As she puts it, "that one hit differently."

For anyone considering volunteering, Laurie offers this advice:
"There are plenty of opportunities to get involved, and not all of them mean wearing work gloves — but the jobs that require work gloves are the ones that leave your indelible fingerprint on the trail."

A few fun facts about Laurie:

🥔 Favorite trail meal: Homemade freeze-dried mashed potatoes
🌞 Favorite hiking season: All of them
🎒 One item always in her pack: An insulated sit pad

Thank you, Laurie, for everything you do for the Blue Hills Chapter and the Ice Age Trail community! ❤️

Have you volunteered, hiked, or worked on a project with Laurie? Send your thanks in the comments!