Dirt Trails are closed

 Welcome to Winter

Rain, snow and mud have arrived!

Due to the recent rainfall and snow, the dirt trails are now CLOSED.

The Wet Weather Trails will remain open at the present time.

We will advise you when the dirt trails reopens.  

As always, stay safe!

Kathy

Editor

Shotgun Deer Season Opens 12-2-23

 

It's that time of year again.

Shotgun Deer Season Opens 

From DNR: "... more than 100,000 blaze orange clad hunters will be walking, posting, sitting and standing in Iowa’s timber and field edges hoping to tag an Iowa deer. The first deer gun season is Dec. 2-6; the second deer gun season is Dec. 9-17."

That is a lot of people standing there with guns at the ready! Please don't take the chance of you or your horse or your dog being mistaken for a deer or your horse being spooked by unexpected people/objects in the woods!

Please use extreme caution if you are a hunter or hiker during this hunting season. Ensure you are wearing your bright orange reflective clothing. 

Be safe out in the forest.

Kathy

Pres/Editor

Mounting Block for all to use.

 Mounting Blocks

This is one of the best announcements we have made in a very long time!

I don't know about you, but I am excited to be able to dismount and mount safely along the trail. 

Sonny Gipe shoveling gravel into the mounting block form.

                                 

Finished product!

 

Announcing: Trail Side Mounting Blocks Installed!!! Forester John Byrd, DNR Forest staff member Ben Hassman and Sonny Gipe, FOS Board member got it done today!! Many thanks from all of us riders to this group. Sonny purchased the material, with donations from FOS members, and constructed the three wooden mounting blocks in his home shop. They are the same type as were constructed by FOS Past-President Ringo Covert for the campgrounds earlier. Today, using DNR equipment, the blocks (and gravel) were transported to their final locations and filled with gravel. So they are there now for your convenience in getting on and off your horse while riding. As Forester John Byrd said in announcing this: " Mounting blocks are installed at trail markers 3, 11, and 13. Come ride and try them out!"

Photos (courtesy of John Byrd) and a map are attached here. Many thanks for this convenience to everyone who helped. Now from FOS --we expect riders to keep this area clean--it is not a trash place nor is it realistic to have any trash containers out there--so please be sure you leave no trash there but as always, bring anything back you carry in and dispose of it or recycle properly in the campground.

Thank you (Sonny) for taking the time to construct the forms and help finish the project for all to enjoy. Also Thank you to the DNR staff that brought the rock and tools to complete this task.

As our riding season gets shorter, always remember to be kind, be courteous, and smile because it looks good on you! You never know who's day you will make with that simple gesture.

May your troubles be less, your blessing more, and may nothing but happiness come through your door.

Kathy

President/Editor

Volunteer Work Day September 23, 2023

Volunteer Work Day

The Iowa DNR held a Volunteer Work Day to upgrade a few of the camping sites and install some much-needed fire rings.

  

Sep. 23, 2023 was Iowa Volunteer Day. DNR Technician Patrick Thomas, Friends of Shimek Board Member Teresa Murray, and Dave Forsythe, DNR Summer Staff met at the Lower Campground to begin the installation of some new fire rings as part of the project to upgrade camping sites in the Lick Creek Lower Campground. Funding for the fire rings was provided by the Lee County Charitable Fund. They completed the installation of three new fire rings as shown in the photos. There are ten more to be installed to complete the project. Patrick thanked Teresa and Dave for their participation today.

I huge Thank You to those that could attend to assist with this project.

Kathy

President/Editor

Photos courtesy of Patrick Thomas.

Volunteer Work Day Saturday September 23, 2023

 

Volunteers Needed!

Come help if you can!

Make a Difference at Shimek State Forest on statewide Volunteer Day, Saturday Sept. 23

Shimek State Forest invites volunteers to help care for the campgrounds at a special event on Saturday, Sept. 23. Several state parks and forests across Iowa are hosting events for the annual Volunteer Day in Iowa state parks and forests.

“Iowa state parks and forests are important places many people enjoy for their natural beauty and outdoor fun,” said Patrick Thomas, Natural Resource Technician at Shimek State Forest. “We know a lot of people want to help care for them, and this is a great opportunity to lend a hand.”

The volunteer event at Shimek State Forest will start at 10AM in the Lick Creek Unit Lower Campground. Volunteers will help with camp pad improvements and campground beautification. Please wear work clothes and bring drinking water, a rake (that will rake gravel), a shovel, and gloves.

Friends of Shimek is a co-sponsor of this event and asks you to join us on Sep. 23rd. Those camping and riding over the weekend are urged to help out for an hour or two that morning in the campground as we upgrade several of the parking spaces to better accommodate bigger trailers and update fire rings.

Volunteer projects are planned around the state with more details available on those at www.iowadnr.gov/volunteer.

For questions contact: Patrick Thomas at 319-931-7805

Thanks everyone!

Kathy

President/Editor

All Trails are OPEN today 8-16-23

 All Trails are OPEN for use

as of today 8-16-23

Go enjoy the nice weather while it lasts!

The weather is to get very hot again on the weekend.  Be very mindful of your animal's and your hydration.

Kathy's Tid Bits:

Each one of us leaves camp with the intention of having an uneventful ride.  It includes pleasant conversation with a riding buddy or just a quick ride through the forest.

Are you prepared for an unexpected event?

What is the one item you always have while riding? 

I am going to guess that most everyone feels their cell phone is the best tool in the box.  It sure would be handy to make that 911 call if needed.  

But what if you are bleeding?  What if you come off your animal and break an arm, leg, ankle, -you get the picture. Let's just say your cell phone isn't working for whatever reason.  Now what?

No, it is not easy to pack a first aid kit, because, let's face it, nothing is going to happen. Right??

What about a simple roll of Vet Wrap?  Try to make a mental note of all the uses just vet wrap can fix.  A quick wrap for a cut, a way to secure a couple branches for a simple splint, it could even attach a broken rein if you get creative.  I am sure you can come up with other helpful ways to use a roll of vet wrap.  It can easily be attached to your saddle to have handy for any unexpected event.

Friends, let's be safe out there and be helpful to someone else that may need assistance.

Have a safe ride, enjoy your time spent with your animal, and be mindful of fellow riders.

Smile because it looks good on you!!!

Kathy

President/Editor

Dirt Trails are CLOSED - Wet Weather Trails are OPEN 8-11-23

 

Due to more rainfall----

We will let you know when the dirt trails are open for use.

Stay safe and stay dry!

Kathy

President/Editor

Trail Work Day for Wednesday, August 9, 2023 is CANCELLED

 FOS WORK DAY 8/9/23 CANCELLED

Due to recent amounts of rainfall combined with the very high probability of more rain tomorrow morning, the FOS Workday is cancelled. However, progress on the three trail side mounting blocks for the trails continues. Materials have been purchased and Board Member Sonny Gipe will have them constructed soon. They can then be put out when the trails are in better shape for equipment to move on them without damage since they will need to be transported and the rock to fill them will also need to be transported to the three sites.

Friends who can pick up trash and cans along the trails are much encouraged to do so at their convenience. If bags are filled, please let DNR personnel know where any full bags have been left for pickup. Leave a message at 319-878-3811.

Thanks to all who planned to come. Hope to see you later on the trails or at a work day.

Kathy

President/Editor

Trail Work Day Wednesday August 9, 2023

 

Are you able to lend a helping hand?

The next FOS Group Work Day will be held on Wednesday August 9, 2023 and will be a day especially for work on the trails. Volunteers should meet with Forester John Byrd at 8:30 AM in the Lick Creek Lower Campground. Forester Byrd will give assignments for the day. There are three major priorities for the day. First of all, volunteers will be constructing three trail side mounting blocks. Board member Sonny Gipe will lead the construction of the mounting blocks, using the same design as now installed in the campgrounds. The Shimek crew and volunteers will place the mounting blocks at suitable locations along the wet weather trail for riders to dismount and give their horses a break. The Shimek crew and volunteers will fill them with rock. If you can help with this, please bring a battery operated drill or driver for installing screws as well as a saw for cutting the wood, if you have these. Bring a shovel for off-loading and smoothing out rock. A generator will be provided to charge cordless tools. All materials will be provided by FOS.

The second priority will be clearing trails where downed trees are. John Byrd will assign areas to those doing this. (Bring ATV's, chain saws, and safety gear. Note: ATV's are not allowed on the trails except on Shimek Forester approved work days such as this.)

Lastly, trash pickup along the trails, especially the Wet Weather Trails is very much needed. If you can help with this, trash bags will be provided. You can hike, ride horseback or use an ATV in order to pick up the cans and bottles and any other trash beside the trails. Trash bags will be provided. Please bring gloves to do this.

After a morning of work, all will return to the Lower Campground at noon to report back on progress, discuss upcoming activities, then rest a while with friends. Bring a sack lunch (if you like), water provided. Don't forget your blaze orange Friends of Shimek work vest if you have one. There will be some loaners available to identify all of us as volunteers. Remember—no previous volunteer experience necessary.

We will post on Facebook and the FOS blog if rained out or postponed due to heat. NOTE: If you let us know you are coming by an e-mail to FOShimek@gmail.com, we will call (if phone number is given) or e-mail you if changed.

We are looking forward to seeing you on the trail.

Thanks in advance for any and all help with this project.

May the trails you ride be filled with laughter and joy.

As always, be kind, be courteous, be patient, and be happy.

Kathy

President/Editor

Trails are Open 7-19-23

 The dirt trails are now open for use.

Please be mindful of any wet soggy areas

 and avoid them if possible.

Kathy's Tid Bits:

The ticks are very plentiful this year.  Please use extra caution to protect your animal and yourself. 

Poison ivy is also very thick in the forest.  Good rule of thumb " Leaves of three, leave it be."

The weather is going to get very hot and humid next week.  You need to ensure you are properly hydrated as well as your animal.  You should avoid riding in the hottest parts of the day.  If you must be out in the extreme heat, take several breaks in a shaded area and drink plenty of fluids.  Your animal will need to have access to plenty of fresh water and shade to rest also.

Be safe and be careful in these temperatures.

Smile, because it looks good on you!

Kathy

President/Editor

Dirt Trails Are CLOSED

 We have been blessed with rain.  Seven - yes- Seven inches to be exact.  We are thankful for the rain to restore the much-needed moisture for the trees, pastures, and crops.

The unofficial rain gauge showing what 7" of rain looks like.

However, this has caused the dirt trails to be closed until it dries up enough to safely use them again.

DNR Shimek Technician has reported the following:

Hello everyone, hope you all are doing well over this Fourth of July holiday!

We have had 7" of rain the last four days and it is still raining here. The rain is very welcome, however. The dirt trails have been CLOSED today for equestrian use, the WWT (Wet Weather Trail) is OPEN. Please obey this as the dirt trails are soft and tracks in them will collect water and take longer to dry out and have the staff work on any problem areas which equates to you the rider not being able to ride on them sooner.

Have a safe holiday and I'll see you out there!

The campgrounds faired pretty well.

 There is some standing water in the tree line.

Standing water at these camp spots. 

What did 7 inches of rainfall do to the Lower Campground at Shimek Lick Creek this week? We all know its on low ground and has been swamped before. But our hard-working DNR staff have been embarked on a project to upgrade the parking area and improve the quality of the sites this past year. Has it worked? Sure has!! Then two photos showing that there is only a small amount of standing water and no really soggy spots. Thanks for all the improvements!

 We will post when the dirt trails will be open again.  Until then, please use the Wet Weather Trail for your riding enjoyment.

May your troubles be less your blessing more and may nothing but happiness come through your door.

Kathy

President/Editor

Photos (and a lot of work) --thanks to Patrick Thomas

Successful workday completed on 5-16-23

 Friends of Shimek held a very successful workday.

FOS held their first Workday of 2023 on 5/16. Pictured is part of the crew of 12 FOS Volunteers and 4 DNR crew - Lala O'Hara, Dan and Martha Andrews, Bob and Marsha Achenbach, Sonny and Tammy Gipe, Jo Watson, Ann Bennett, Nancy Graves, Neal Hartman, Teresa Murray, Heath Fraise, Eric Martin, Ben Hassman, Patrick Thomas, and John Byrd worked on trails, hitching rail rocking, campground cleanup, and can sorting for recycling.

       

FOS Volunteers cleaned all the firepits at the Lick Creek campgrounds on the work day. Here volunteers Dan and Martha are shown shoveling the ashes and trash left into the bucket of the skidsteer. Campers-PLEASE Do NOT put cans and bottles into the firepit. We have recyling bins at both campgrounds for cans and bottles. There are also garbage bins at each campground to place garbage such as diapers and twine in. Only put in the firepits what will burn without creating a lot of smelly smoke and leaving plastic or wire etc behind! The firepits are now clean and ready for the holiday.

This hard working crew sorted and bagged several months of accumulated cans and bottles from the campgrounds. This helps keep the grounds clean and provides a little money for FOS by returning all that are eligible for the Iowa refund which means Iowa refundable bottles and cans that are not squashed and then taking all others to state recycling centers. Please help out by placing empty cans and bottles in the wire bins for that purpose that the DNR Crew places in the campgrounds. Shown are Marsha and Jo (seated) and Nancy and Ann (standing). Thanks very much for that mountain of sorting and thanks to Ann for transporting a horse trailer full of cans to the refund center.

DNR Technician Patrick Thomas unloads the lie chips at the hitching posts while others work leveling the lime chips.

Most every FOS Workday includes clearing brush and fallen trees back from the trails. The DNR Crew regularly remove all downed trees that are blocking passage on the trails but this time of year with windy weather and fast growth, there is always more trail cleanup needed. Both Volunteers and DNR Crew took ATV's, chainsaws and loppers out to clear back trees and brush. Shown here are DNR crew Eric and Heath removing a tree from the trail and FOS Volunteer Neal trimming back some trail side briars and brush. Several other crews were out on the trails as well.

The morning's work was rewarded by sweet treats provided

by the Gipe's and baked at Sprinkles on 5th.

                       

The campground and trails are now ready for the upcoming holiday---Thank you everyone for you very hard work!

Camping, hiking, and riding season is here. It's time to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather and see friends along the trails.

As you ride or hike along, be courteous to each other as you meet on the trail or in the campground. If you come across something that needs to be addressed (a downed tree, a crossing that needs attention, troublesome briers hanging over the trail, etc.) by the DNR crew, please make contact with the forester's office.

We have been blessed with a beautiful forest to enjoy. Let's keep it that way!

Smile because it looks good on you!

May your troubles be less, your blessings more, and may nothing but happiness come through your door. (BG)

Have a wonderful summer!

Kathy

President/Editor

John Byrd Forester -

John Byrd, Area Forester, Shimek State Forest, 33653 Route J56,

Farmington, IA 52626 John.Byrd@dnr.iowa.gov 319-878-3811 (office)

Work Day Scheduded 5-16-23

 

Can you help at the Friends of Shimek Workday?

The next FOS Group Work Day will be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 and coordinated by FOS Board Member Sonny Gipe. Meet with Sonny and Forester John Byrd and Technician Patrick Thomas at 8:30 AM in the Lick Creek Lower Campground. Forester Byrd will give assignments for the day. Priorities will include clearing trails (ATV's and chain saws needed) and lots of campground work. Campground work needed includes cleanup camp sites and horse stalls prior to Memorial Day plus collect and sort recycle items.

A major project needed is to spread lime chips around hitching rails and in the horse stalls, provided the soil is dry enough. For this we need people who can rake lime chips. Please bring rakes, shovels and wheelbarrows to do this. These lime chips help greatly to keep campers and horses out of the mud and must be done every few years.

After a morning of work, all will return to the Lower Campground at noon to report back on progress, discuss upcoming activities, then rest a while with friends. Bring a sack lunch (if you like), water provided. Don't forget your blaze orange Friends of Shimek work vest if you have one. There will be some loaners available to identify all of us as volunteers. Remember—no previous volunteer experience necessary.
We will post on Facebook and the FOS blog if rained out. NOTE: If you let us know you are coming by an e-mail to FOShimek@gmail.com, we will call or e-mail you if we are rained out. 
Kathy's Tid Bits:
The wood ticks are out very thick again this year.  It would be advised to use some type of good tick repellant. Sunscreen would be advisable if you are working in the hot sun also.
A good pair of gloves would be beneficial also.
Hand pruners (if you are going out on the trails) would be helpful to trim back the pesky multiflora rose bushes that are hanging out in the trails. 
Thank you to all that can make it out to assist on this workday.
Kathy
President/EditorFOShimek@gmail.com

Trails are open 4-26-23

 

Forester John Byrd just announced: All Shimek Trails Open!!!

As a reminder, watch for ticks. They are very plentiful again this year.

Riding season is here. You need to be prepared for any emergency situation with you and your animal.

Kathy's Tidbits:

How well do you know your horse, mule, or donkey?

What do you have readily available for First Aid in case of an emergency?

Do you know your animal's normal temperature? Their normal pulse, breathing rate?

Do you know your Vet's number or the closest Vet to the vicinity that you are currently riding in?

Take a minute and know what you need to have available before you are confronted in an emergency.

Be safe and enjoy the ride!

As always, smile because it looks good on you!

Kathy

President/Editor

Time to stop pruning oak trees

Information on pruning oak trees.

 Shimek Forest is over 9,000 acres here in Van Buren and Lee Counties with many many oak trees of different species---the beauty of the forest is dependent upon them as well as its future. Shimek Forester John Byrd shared this message from DNR. Please do your part and stop any trimming of oaks by mid-March to slow the spread of Oak Wilt.

Time to stop pruning oak trees

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) suggests finishing pruning oak trees by the end of the second week in March to prevent the spread of oak wilt.

“The best way to prevent the spread of oak wilt is to prune oak trees from November until mid-March,” said Tivon Feeley, forest health program leader with the Iowa DNR. “However, the warm weather conditions indicate that spring might be a bit early this year and for that reason, we recommend finishing your oak pruning by the end of the second week in March.”

Oak wilt, caused by a fungus, has been present in Iowa for many years. Iowa’s red, black, and pin oak are more susceptible to oak wilt, but it can also infect white and bur oak. Black, pin, or red oak usually die within the same summer they are infected. White oak and bur oak can often take a number of years before they succumb to this disease.

Oak wilt can spread from infected trees to healthy trees in two ways: a small beetle that carries spores of the fungus from a diseased tree to a healthy tree with an open wound during the growing season, and through root grafts connecting nearby oaks. For example, if a red oak is infected and there is another red oak within 50 to 100 feet, there is a good chance that the roots of these trees are grafted and the fungus can move from the diseased tree to the healthy tree.

Feeley says symptoms to look for on infected trees usually include leaves turning a bronzed brown along the outer margins of the leaves. These leaves can often still have some green on them as they fall from the tree. The defoliation tends to start at the top of the tree.

The best way to prevent the spread of oak wilt is to prevent any wounding to oak trees during the growing season. If a tree is wounded from storm damage or pruning is required during the growing season, treat the wounds immediately with a wound dressing such as acrylic paint. Do not purchase pruning paints/sealants. Those products slow the tree’s ability to seal over the wound.

Learn more about oak wilt prevention and control at http://www.iowadnr.gov/.../Forestry/Forest-Health/Oak-Wilt.

Information provided by Forester John Byrd