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About 25 miles north of Chippewa Falls there exists a wilderness. It's arguably one of the best sites devoted to geologic history in Wisconsin and probably is one of the state's most overlooked and unsung recreational destinations.
But this swath of just over 3,000 acres has been dodging budgetary bullets.
Chippewa Moraine Ice Age National Scientific Reserve is one of nine such reserves in the state and is devoted to history and education about the Ice Age. The area hosts hundreds of student groups and tens of thousands of people each year to its hills and valleys, lakes and prairies, for hiking, berry picking, canoeing, fishing, bird watching and, on two nights in midwinter, snowshoeing beneath a sky drenched in moonlight.
This year's January event was perfect. A foot of fresh, powdery snow blanketed the landscape, the wind was barely a whisper and the sky was clear -- except for a huge full moon bright enough to read by and stars that looked only feet away. The only sound was the repetitive "crunch" of a hundred pairs of snowshoes crossing the snow-covered ice of one of the many little lakes.
But while the snowshoers relished the Ice Age past, at present, protection of Chippewa Moraine hangs in the balance. Chippewa Moraine doesn't generate any revenue for the state. And while donations are happily accepted, even snowshoes are available to check out for free.
Funding melting away?
After narrowly escaping the federal chopping block...