Leaf Stomp 2024

Ice Age National Scenic Trail
Kettle Moraine State Forest Northern Unit

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Join us for a beautiful fall, non-competitive hike along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail through the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit. Pick a route. A shuttle will take you from the Mauthe Lake Recreation Area to the starting spot for your route. Then you will hike back to Mauthe Lake. Snacks and drinks will be available every 5 to 7 miles along with other services along the trail. The Ice Age Trail is a rugged trail with many hills and uneven trail tread.

For the 22-mile and 15-mile routes, we recommend that hikers be over the age of 16 years old. Hikers under the age of 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

NO dogs are allowed at the Leaf Stomp.
The event will happen sun, wind, or rain.

Registration Information

 Routes, Times, and Fees

22-mile route starts at County Road P parking lot near Glenbeulah
15-mile route starts at the Greenbush Group Camp
Check In: 6:00-6:45 am Shuttle Leaves: 7:00 am
Cost: $40/person (includes lunch) register by September 13
Recommended minimum Age: 16 years old

10-mile route begins at Sandy Ridge Road south of Kewaskum
Check In: 7:00-8:15 am Shuttle Leaves: 8:30 am
Cost: $35/person register by September 13

5-mile route begins at East Moraine Road parking lot
Check In: 8:15-9:15 am Shuttle Leaves: 9:30 am
Cost: $35/person register by September 13

Fees increase by $5/person from September 14-October 4.
Registration is closed October 5-12.

To register go to: https://raceroster.com/events/2024

Your registration includes:

  • Entrance fee & parking
  • Event T-shirt
  • Refreshment stations: fresh fruit, granola/trail bars, popcorn, water, sports drinks and more
  • Lunch for 22-mile and 15-mile hikers
  • Finisher medallion
  • Personalized certificate (even if you don’t finish the whole distance)
  • Medical support & restrooms
  • Completely marked route and map
  • Photographers along the trail
  • Opportunities to push and achieve your personal goals
  • A chance to make memories of a lifetime

Your registration supports:

The Friends of the Kettle Moraine, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the conservation, recreation, and education efforts within the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit. This includes:

  • Financial support of the Northern Unit’s educational programs which are offered throughout the year
  • Volunteer assistance with the Earth Week Cleanup, invasive species eradication, and native planting events
  • Volunteer and financial assistance with community events such as the Candlelight Ski/Hike
  • Grant writing and fundraising to help pay for special projects to improve the recreational and educational facilities, and the Forest’s ecological health
  • Volunteer staffing at the Ice Age Visitor Center to welcome and orientate visitors and sell Friends’ merchandise

Scan our QR to Register Today!

About The Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit Ice Age National Scenic Trail

Kettle Moraine North In The Fall. Public Domain Image.

The Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit covers nearly 30,000 acres in three different counties and is 30 miles long by two to five miles wide. More than 150 miles of trails traverse the Forest including about 30 miles of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail for folks to hike, wander, horseback, cross-country ski, snowmobile, or bicycle. The twelve lakes within or bordering the Forest beckon visitors to go fishing, boating, paddling, or swimming. The Long Lake and Mauthe Lake Recreation Areas offer beautiful picnic spots, boat launches, sandy beaches, accessible fishing piers, and quiet campgrounds. The Greenbush Group Camp includes campsites that can accommodate up to 30 people each. The New Prospect Horse Riders Camp provides campsites for equestrians and their steeds. Hunters can stalk their quarry on 90 percent of the Forest.

The Henry S. Reuss Ice Age Visitor Center offers opportunities to learn about the area’s world-famous glacial landscape. Travelers can take a roadtrip to discover fascinating glacial landforms

including kames, eskers, kettles, outwash plains, and moraines. Adventurers can climb the Parnell

Tower, which offers a bird’s eye view of the forest and surrounding farmland. No matter what the season, the Northern Unit offers adventures for people of all backgrounds and abilities.

For more information and maps of the Northern Unit go to https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/kmn.

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail meanders about 1200 miles throughout the state of Wisconsin following the farthest extent of the last Ice Age’s glaciers. One terminus is at Potawatomi State Park in Door County. The trail travels south through the Kettle Moraine State Forest before heading back north through the center of the state. North of Wausau it makes a left turn and eventually ends at Interstate Park on the St. Croix River. The Northern Unit’s 30 miles of trail is the genesis of the Ice Age Trail which received its National Scenic Trail designation in 1980 and became an official National Park in 2023.

For more information about the Ice Age National Scenic Trail go to https://www.nps.gov/iatr/index.htm.

FAQs

Who can take part?

Even though the longer routes may test you both mentally and physically, you don’t already need to be an avid hiker (or even marathon runner). If you are in good health and mentally strong, you’re halfway there. 

Hikers on Kettle Moraine North. Wisconsin.

What is the minimum age to register?

The recommended minimum age required to take part in the 22-mile and 15-mile routes is 16 years old.

Can I bring my dog?

No dogs are allowed at this event.

Directions – how do I know where to go?

All routes are clearly marked. There will be a hike leader for each route along with a sweep to make sure no one is left behind.

Is there a minimum/maximum speed? Can I run the course?

Leaf Stomp is a hike, not a running event. We recommend walking at a pace between 2-4 mph, with our refreshment stations along the route set up based on this average speed. You won’t be suspended from the Leaf Stomp if you’re too fast or run parts of it, just bear in mind that the refreshment stations might not be ready for you.

We do have sweepers walking close behind the last group of participants. They make sure everyone makes it safely to the next rest stop or ultimately the finish line. However, we will strongly encourage you to take the shuttle back to Mauthe Lake in case you risk finishing after 6:00 pm. Hikers who reach the Butler Lake refreshment station after 3:30 pm will be shuttled back to Mauthe Lake.

What service can I expect along the route?

You don’t need to bring anything but your refillable water bottle as we take care of you! However, if you have any food allergies or can’t hike without your “go to” snack, we recommend packing a few of those items as well as water for the first couple of miles.

​There are refreshments stations about 5-7 miles that will provide:

  • Water and other drinks, e.g. electrolytes, energy drinks
  • Fruits and snacks, e.g. bananas, apples, cereal bars, protein bars, popcorn
  • First aid services

Vault and portable toilets along the route with hand sanitizer.

How to prepare for the Leaf Stomp?

We’ve got three quick tips to help you prepare for the Leaf Stomp. 

1. Train, but don’t push too hard

You don’t need to force yourself to hike throughout the night while rain is pouring down. However, Leaf Stomp’s 22-mile and 15-mile routes may be too difficult if you don’t prepare yourself at all. As soon as you’ve decided on a longer route, start by walking longer distances. Grab some snacks, something to drink and go for a 6 mile walk on a weekend morning. Listen to your body and especially your feet and muscles. Try pushing through your pain barrier one step at a time.

2. Choose your equipment wisely

Please find more about what to bring for the Leaf Stomp below. Ensuring you have the correctly sized and broken-in shoes and socks is obviously the most important part of your preparation and something you can only figure out for yourself. People that hike very long distances feel comfortable and safe in different types of shoes such as light running, trail running, trekking shoes, or hiking boots. Finding the right socks is just as important. They should fit perfectly, be well ventilated and not have any stitching on their soles or along the toe area.

​3. Find your own rhythm

We will not track times, we only want you to reach the finish line. Always hike at a pace you’re comfortable with as this isn’t a competition. 

Northern Kettle Moraine, Wisconsin.

​Do I need to finish the whole hike?

No. Your health and safety is our first priority. We will provide medical service along the route to assist with any physical issues you might experience. We also provide an emergency number should you require assistance – other than “911” in case of a severe emergency.

If you cannot finish, you can drop out at designated drop-out spots (usually all our refreshment stations). We offer a shuttle to make sure everyone gets back to Mauthe Lake safely if not being able to finish the whole distance.

You will be strongly encouraged take the shuttle back to Mauthe Lake in case you risk finishing after 6:00 pm. Hikers who reach the Butler Lake refreshment station after 3:30 pm will be shuttled back to Mauthe Lake.

We’ll take care of you; all we ask is that you do the same and listen to your body!

​What to wear?

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution here. No single participant will feel comfortable in the same clothes. However, most participants wear multiple layers, allowing them to easily adapt to changing weather conditions. Plan for changing weather conditions such as rain, wind, and warm sunshine.

Do you offer refunds?

Upon registration, our ticket provider offers to protect your ticket purchase against a variety of unforeseeable events when registering. They will issue a refund in case you’re eligible (e.g. injuries, flight cancellations, etc.). Please find all the particulars upon registration. Please note that Friends of the Kettle Moraine is in no way involved in this third-party option, but we think it’s worth mentioning as injuries, flight cancellations, etc. could affect your plans.

If you haven’t protected your ticket, you can still transfer your registration to another person free of charge up until the day before the event. 

How can I transfer my ticket?

You can transfer your ticket to another person up to the day before the event – free of charge. To do that​, log into your Raceroster account and click on “Transfer.” Follow the quick steps to transfer your entry to a new person. This new person has to claim the ticket, pay the transfer fee imposed by our ticket provider and is all set. It will be up to the original ticket holder to sell the ticket to the new ticket holder. This payment process will not take place on Raceroster but at the buyer’s/seller’s discretion. If you’re looking for a ticket, e.g. for a sold-out event, please never pay anyone before checking in with us if the ticket holder is legit. You will also never receive a ticket from a seller – you always have to claim it through Raceroster and an email you receive, initiated by the seller.

What to bring?

Here are some mandatory items to bring:

  • Your ID
  • Your ticket (either printed out or stored on your cell), stating your starting time
  • Drinking bottle/water bladder for refills at the refreshment stations (in our effort to reduce waste, we do not offer bottled water, but the option to fill and refill your own bottles at start, our aid stations as well as after crossing the finish line)
  • Cell phone (fully charged) and maybe a power bank to recharge during the hike. 

We also recommend you consider packing the following items. However, you should use this as a framework and make changes based on your individual needs.

  • Backpack (think the size of a smaller school-sized backpack)
  • Raincover for your backpack
  • Raingear for yourself
  • Trekking/hiking pants (e.g. with zip-off legs)
  • Functional base layer
  • Sun protection (headgear, sunglasses, sunscreen)
  • First-aid kit
  • Hiking/trail shoes
  • Extra socks
  • Blister pads
  • Handkerchiefs
  • Vitamins & minerals (e.g. magnesium)
  • Wallet/neck pouch

If applicable:

  • Hiking poles
  • Hand sanitizer/disinfectant
  • Money for breakfast snacks and drinks from the Mauthe Lake Concession Stand

​What does the route look like?

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail originated in the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit. It traverses the length of the Northern Unit from north to south through some of the most beautiful areas of the Northern Unit. The 22-mile and 15-mile routes start at the north end of the Forest and hikers will hike back to Mauthe Lake. The 10-mile and 5-mile routes start at the south end of the Forest and hikers make their way north to Mauthe Lake. The well-marked trail has an uneven surface and makes its way up and down many hills. 

Will the miles hikes with the Leaf Stomp count for the Ice Age Trail Alliance Mammoth Challenge?

Yes, the miles you hike will count toward the Mammoth Challenge. For more information about this year’s Mammoth Challenge go to https://www.iceagetrail.org/mammoth-hike-challenge.

More Questions?

Send us an email at friendsofthekettlemoraine.com and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

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