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Photo: National Park Service
Trip Number: 12083A
Price: $395
Deposit: $50
Capacity: 12
Staff: Tom Borchard
Highlights:
- View woodland bluffs and valleys formed by glacial meltwater
- Learn about the vast Pre-Columbian Mound Building culture
- Work to restore the native ecology
Includes:
- All meals
- Private property campsite
- Park Service guided hikes and workdays; tools provided
The Trip
The group will visit and work part of the project at the Effigy Mounds National
Monument. The earthen mounds that give the park its name were built by American
Indians sometime during the Woodland Period (1000 B.C. to A.D. 1000) for ceremonial,
burial, and other purposes (which remain a mystery to this day). Our trip takes
place in the heart of the so-called "Driftless Region." The region is called
this because glacial drift bypassed and surrounded this area of the Upper Midwest
during the last two major glaciations, the Wisconsinian and The Illinoinan Ice
Ages. Narrow valleys, colloquially called "hollows" or "coulees," and sharp
rocky bluffs are major landforms. Our campsite is not a mile from the Mississippi
River, with beautiful views up and down one such hollow.
The Project
We will clear brush, pick up trash, and maintain or construct trails at Pikes
Peak State Park. The work project at Effigy Mounds has not been decided yet,
but probably will involve some mound work.
Itinerary
Photo: National Park Service
Day 1: All participants need to arrive by late-afternoon.
Tonight we will enjoy a get-acquainted dinner.
Day 2: We'll get oriented at Effigy Mounds, hike to the work
site, and discuss an overview of our restoration site and project. (Our work
detail may change as Park projects are reviewed.)
Day 3: Today we will continue with our work by doing brush-cutting.
Day 4: You may choose to participate in hikes on the farm
overlooking the Mississippi River or simply enjoy a day of relaxation.
Day 5: Today we will pick up trash and do trail maintenance.
Day 6: We'll conclude our work with a short day of ecological
restoration. At the end of the day, we'll discuss our project and enjoy a farewell
camp dinner.
Day 7: After breakfast the trip will conclude and we'll say
our goodbyes.
Getting There
Our campsite is about eight miles from Effigy Mounds National Monument, which
lies in far northeast Iowa and is about 2½ hours south of Minneapolis/St
Paul, Minnesota; 2 hours west of Madison, Wisconsin; and 4½ hours northwest
of Chicago, Illinois. The closest cities are La Crosse, Wisconsin (45 miles
north), and Dubuque, Iowa (60 miles south). Specific directions will be sent
to you by the leader. The group campsite will be at Pikes Peak State Park, which
overlooks the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers.
Accommodations and Food
Photo: National Park Service
You need to bring your own tent for private property car camping. There is
a privy (outhouse) on the property and a solar-heated shower. All meals are
provided with a vegetarian-friendly menu. Vegans can be accommodated.
Trip Difficulty
Our workdays will be short, while our sites are accessed by steep hikes from
the trailhead. We use trails, for the most part, going to and returning from
the work areas. Tools for our work include loppers and bow saws, and we will
need to bend and do some lifting. Because of steep hiking conditions and possibly
strenuous work, this outing can be considered moderately difficult.
Equipment and Clothing
You need to provide your own camping equipment. A detailed packing list will
be sent to you by the leader.
References
Books:
- Madsen, John, Up the River.
- Madsen, John, Where the Sky Began.
Website:
- http://www.nps.gov/efmo/index.htm
Conservation
Ecological restoration is extremely important, as this always helps to maintain
the diversity of ecology in all its niches. The rarer the landform, the rarer
the ecology. Ecological restoration has been called the new hunter-gatherer
activity.
Trip Price
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details
about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.
The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Staff
Leader:
Tom Borchard, a member of the Sierra Club since 1989, serves on the Executive Committee of the Northwest Cook County Group. This is his second year on this trip, but he has led many local trips to in the Midwest, including the very popular annual Shawnee Trash Bash co-sponsored by the US Forest Service, Beautify Southern Illinois, and the Sierra Club. He has attended National Outings Leader Training and wilderness first aid training.
E-mail: tfborchard23@hotmail.com
Assistant Leader:
Julie Koivula has been a Sierra Club member for more than 25 years. She retired from teaching and coaching at the high school level. She also taught swimming and is a first aid/CPR instructor for the American Red Cross. She has her wilderness first aid certificate, and she loves to hike, bike, canoe, kayak, ski and play many other sports. She now leads and assists on a variety of Sierra Club outings, including backpacking, canoeing, service, biking, and archaeological survey trips. Julie is the Co-Chair for the Midwest Outings Subcommittee.
E-mail: julieakoivula@sbcglobal.net
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips