The dirt trails have been CLOSED.
It is Spring! We can most definitely expect to have a roller coaster ride of weather. We will post when the trails are reopened. Until then, enjoy the WWT.
Stay safe,
Kathy
Secretary/Editor
ForesterJohn Byrd has CLOSED the Dirty Trails.
Trail Status
3-28-24
Notes from Patrick
Update 3-25-24
This past Thursday, 3/21, volunteers Lisa and Dave McDowell, Bill Mathias and Ike Meek worked with me to remove old fire rings and install new ones in better locations and even relocated a hitching rail! My appreciation to the volunteers who put in a total of 15 hours of work to help get this done. We are almost finished with this Lee County Charitable Fund project. Volunteer Bill Mathias plans to join me this coming Thursday to install the last ring that we have purchased. So no additional help will be needed this Thursday in the campground. Did snap a photo (l to r) of Bill Mathias, Ike Meek and Dave McDowell working on a fire ring.
Progress is being made!
Do you have time to volunteer your time?
Do you like to camp and ride your horses or mules at Shimek Forest? Then will you help with the camping site improvement project in the Lower Campground in the Lick Creek Unit?? Three Thursdays in March beginning at 9:00AM, Patrick Thomas, DNR Technician, will be working on the Campsite Improvement project to upgrade sites for your convenience and safety. The current work is to replace the old fire rings with new ones. The fire rings are provided under a grant from the Lee County Charitable Fund to Friends of Shimek. To install them, volunteers are needed who can help remove the old ones, level the new space for a fire ring, install a new one and spread some gravel around it. No previous experience needed but gloves and a shovel would be handy! So if you can contribute a few hours beginning about 9AM on these Thursdays in March--- March (7, 21, and 28 --or until all are finished!) --your help would be appreciated.
Here is a photo of FOS Board Member Teresa Murray and Dave Forsythe, DNR Summer Staff helping Patrick with installation of some of the new fire rings last fall.
If you have any questions, contact Patrick at cell phone 319-931-7805.
Follow the updates each week on the Friends of Shimek Facebook page or on the Friends of Shimek blog page.
As always, be kind and smile because it looks good on you!
Kathy
Secretary/Editor
The dirt trails have been closed for the time being.
Forester John Byrd just announced that due to over an inch of rain this week that has made the trails wet and predictions of more today, the Dirt Trails in the Lick Creek Unit are closed to riding.
Wet Weather Trails are OPEN.
As always, stay safe!
Kathy
Sec/Editor
All Trails Are Open
Forester John Byrd advised us that all the Lick Creek trails have been 95% cleared of down trees. Plus the dirt trails are dry enough to ride--so ALL OPEN for riding. Thanks much to the DNR Shimek Crew for clearing the trails.
Camping Rate Increase for 2024
You need to know about a change in the camping rates at Shimek Forest campgrounds. The Iowa DNR has set the camping fee for equestrian campgrounds in the Lick Creek Unit, both Upper Campground and Lower Campground, at $14/ night. The fee for the non-equestrian campgrounds at Bitternut and White Oak has been set at $10/ night. These rates will be year round and go into effect February 16, 2024.Gray Foxes
Friends of Shimek 2024
Friends
of Shimek have new officers to start this year off.
Let’s
begin by introducing them.
President: Herman (Sonny) Gipe
Vice President: Neal Hartman
Secretary: Kathy Weber
Treasure: Debbie Miller
Volunteer Hours Coordinator: Lala O’Hara
Grant Officer: Teresa Murry
Member at Large/Trail reporter: Marsha Achenbauch
Member at Large: Jo Watson
Lora Conrad is still working behind the scenes posting
information on our Facebook page as well.
The board has set up three workdays for the summer. Please feel free to come to any or all of these days. Volunteers are never turned away! I am sure we will find something for everyone to do. A lunch break will be taken around noon. You should bring a sack lunch if you plan to attend for the entire day. Water will be provided.
May 16, 2024 –Meet at the lower
campground at 8:30 am
Neal Hartman will be the coordinator.
Projects will be cleaning trails,
installing new signage, cleaning firepits, and campgrounds.
August 15 – Meet at the lower
campground at 8:30 am
Sonny Gipe will be the coordinator.
Projects will be determined after the
1st workday.
September 28 – Statewide All
Volunteer workday. All volunteers are to
meet at the lower campground at 10 am.
Patrick Thomas will be in
charge. No coordinator was assigned at
this time.
DNR Technician Patrick Thomas has been posting the entrance
conditions leading into the Lick Creek unit.
As of today 2-6-24, the road is clear.
The dirt trails remain closed.
However, the Wet Weather trail is open.
Be mindful there could be some downed limbs, trees, soft spots, and ice
and snow in the shaded areas. The
campgrounds are a little soggy with some standing water from the recently melted
snow. Patrick will be posting road and camp conditions periodically on our
Facebook page (Friends of
Shimek State Forest Equestrian Trails, Inc.) to help keep you informed
of troubled areas or the safety of entering the Lick Creek Unit.
If you have any other questions, please contact us at FOShimek@gmail.com
As always- be safe, be kind, and smile because it looks good
on you!
Kathy
Secretary/Editor
Follow us on our blog:
friendsofshimek.blogspot.com
or
Facebook page - Friends of Shimek State Forest Equestrian
Trails,Inc.
