[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 115 (Wednesday, September 14, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S10035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ICE AGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL

 Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today I wish to honor the 25th 
anniversary of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, which will be 
observed later this week but officially occurs on October 3, 2005. This 
anniversary is an appropriate time to celebrate not just the 
breathtaking beauty of our natural surroundings or the accomplishments 
of and opportunities provided by a cherished unit of the National Park 
Service over the past 25 years. It also gives us the chance to mark the 
achievements that are possible when a dedicated group of volunteers 
commit themselves to a long-term vision of improving their environment, 
their communities, their State, and their country.
  Much of North America's landscape was formed by retreating ice sheets 
some 15,000 years ago and the beauty this retreat exposed surrounds 
each of us. However, it is the two-thirds of Wisconsin that were shaped 
during this glacial movement whose majestic beauty is, quite simply, 
unmatched. I know that all Wisconsinites appreciate the special places 
that owe their existence to these glacial changes--from our thousands 
of inland lakes and streams to our meandering eskers and rolling 
moraines, and from the top of Timm's Hill down to the gravelly shores 
of Lake Michigan.
  Wisconsin's geological history communicates a fascinating story and 
the Ice Age National Scenic Trail helps to both preserve that story, by 
protecting the scenic beauty, and to tell that story, by allowing 
people the opportunity to explore it. The trail, which starts in Green 
Bay, follows the path of the Wisconsin Glaciation, stretches for more 
than 1,000 miles across the State, and finally ends at the Interstate 
State Park Ice Age Reserve Unit at the Dalles of the St. Croix River. 
Throughout its meanderings, the trail takes you on a journey like no 
other.
  In addition to learning about the geological history of Wisconsin, a 
visitor to the trail will find a multitude of recreational 
opportunities. These activities can be equally enjoyed by individuals 
seeking solitude and by groups and families who want to increase their 
togetherness. All areas on the Ice Age Trail encourage hiking and 
backpacking, and some portions permit non-motorized sports such as 
bicycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and 
jogging. I cannot think of a better place to engage in these activities 
than along the Ice Age Trail.
  The stories associated with the trail aren't only about the 
geological history of our State. The trail also tells the story of 
individuals working to fulfill a dream. In the 1950s, the late Ray 
Zillmer, of Milwaukee, envisioned a trail spanning across Wisconsin's 
glacial landscape. In 1958, the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation was 
formed by a grassroots movement of Wisconsin citizens interested in 
promoting the creation of a national park that would recognize the 
glacial footprint in Wisconsin. These citizens' efforts were finally 
recognized when, in 1971, the State of Wisconsin cooperated with the 
National Park Service to create the Ice Age National Scientific 
Reserve. Finally, in 1980--over 20 years after Mr. Zillmer's work 
began--Congress recognized the national significance of our landscape 
and the importance of sharing it with the country and designated the 
Ice Age Trail as a National Scenic Trail.
  Our trail is administered jointly by the Wisconsin Department of 
Natural Resources, the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation, and the 
National Park Service, but it is the efforts of volunteers that truly 
make the trail shine. From those as young as 11 to those in their 70s, 
I salute the volunteers who are committed to improving our Ice Age 
National Scenic Trail. Their actions carry on the vision of past 
Wisconsinites to leave their surroundings a bit better off than they 
found them.
  Over the past 25 years, the trail has flourished. It has grown 
tremendously and today there are many segments proposed for inclusion. 
I can't wait to watch as the next 25 years go by. In fact, I look 
forward to participating in the 50th anniversary celebration!
  In closing, I congratulate the Ice Age National Scenic Trail on its 
25th anniversary and commend all those associated with it for their 
efforts to make it one of the most outstanding parts of the National 
Trails System.

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