GLENBEULAH, Wis. — The Ice Age Trail is a more than 1,000-mile footpath that crosses Wisconsin.

More than two million people use the trail each year and it takes a lot of effort to maintain.

Cheryl Gorsuch is the Lakeshore Chapter coordinator for the Ice Age Trail Alliance. She spends a lot of time on the trail, whether it’s for enjoyment or for work.

“You become passionate and committed about the trail,” Gorsuch said. “You remember the section of trail that you worked on. I like to point that out to my grandchildren.”

Gorsuch was one of about 70 volunteers on Saturday who came out to a section of the trail known as Greenbush. That’s near the Village of Glenbeulah in Sheboygan County.

The crew worked on rerouting about a mile of that section of trail to make it safer and more accessible for hikers.

“There was a trail, but it didn’t match up with the new underpass on Highway 23,” Gorsuch said. “So we’re connecting it, so the trail now goes under the underpass from both directions.”

It’s an all-hands-on-deck effort. It involves clearing brush, digging the path and refreshing signage.

It’s hard work, but many of the volunteers said they love it.

Scott Peschke has been hiking and maintaining the Greenbush section for more than 20 years.

“These trails will be here long after I have passed, and it’s a good opportunity for exercise,” Peschke said. “It’s a good opportunity to stay healthy not only building trails but hiking the trails as well.”

The goal is to make the trail more sustainable for decades to come. Gorsuch said she hopes the work helps people appreciate the beauty of Wisconsin’s natural areas.

“I think that there’s an awareness of how we need to protect and preserve our natural resources,” she said.