Existing Ice Age Trail (2008)

Disclaimer: The Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation and National Park Service shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. These data and related graphics (i.e. GIF or JPG format files) are not legal documents and are not intended to be used as such. The information contained in these data is dynamic and may change over time. The data are not better than the original sources from which they were derived. It is the responsibility of the data user to use the data appropriately and consistent within the limitations of geospatial data in general and these data in particular. The related graphics are intended to aid the data user in acquiring relevant data; it is not appropriate to use the related graphics as data. The Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation and National Park Service give no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data. It is strongly recommended that these data are directly acquired from an IAPTF or NPS server and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. No warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the utility of the data on other systems for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data.

Abstract: This data set represents the existing Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin. It was developed cooperatively by the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation (IAPTF) and the National Park Service Madison Trails Office. Efforts to create a 1,000-mile-long foot trail through the glacially-sculpted landscape of Wisconsin began in the late 1950's. The development of the Trail is accomplished through a partnership between the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation, Inc. (IAPTF), the National Park Service, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The Ice Age Trail was designated a National Scenic Trail by Congress in 1980, and a State Scenic Trail by the State of Wisconsin in 1987. Much of the Trail is built and maintained by volunteers and many sections cross private property. Please respect the rights and generosity of private landowners by staying on the Trail

Purpose Description: This data set was developed to generate both digital and hardcopy public use maps of the Trail, assist with management of existing Trail, and plan for completing the Trail.

Access Constraints: None

Use Constraints: Data should not be used beyond 1:24,000-scale. Acknowledgement of the Originator when using the data set as a source.

Currentness Reference: Publication date of source data

Geographic Extent: Statewide

Native Data Environment: ArcInfo Coverage

Maintenance Update Frequency: As needed

Progress Type: In work

Beginning Date: 1998

Ending Date: August 2008

Process Step Description: USGS 7.5 topographic quadrangle maps were sent to local volunteers who were instructed on how they should depict the location of the Trail. Volunteers were chosen based on their knowledge of the Trail. After these maps were returned to the GIS Coordinator, they were digitized and assigned basic attributes using Arcedit. Attributes were assigned by the GIS Coordinator using National Park Service and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources official documents. Field checks were performed by Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation staff and volunteers.

As time permits, more accurate Trail information is being gathered and incorporated. Measurements of Trail locations are taken in the field using a Trimble Pathfinder Pro Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. Maximum position of dissolution (PDOP) is 6.0 and differential correction is performed. Edgematching and manual corrections based on field notes and cartographic necessities are performed later in Arcedit. These arcs have a LOC_METH value of 30.