As he through-hikes the Ice Age Trail, West Bend native Michael Maziarka is joined by family members this week who spent a day trekking with Maziarka and hiking buddy Miles Vining of Indiana. Both Maziarka and Vining are Afghanistan War veterans; Maziarka having served in the US Army and Vining in the Marines.
Maziarka hit the trail on Wednesday with his dad, Jim, who resides in Baraboo, and sister
, Kristen, from California who joined them in support of the effort. “Props to them for coming out and enjoying a beautiful section of trail in the Mecan River segment of the ‪Ice Age Trail,” said Maziarka. “Beautiful fields of wildflowers and raspberry bushes in the early stages of ripening.”
Jim Maziarka said, “It was a great day for a hike. I felt privileged to join and support them in this effort.”
Maziarka and Vining have surpassed the 500-mile mark with another 600+ to go. They are currently nearing the Portage, Wisconsin area on the trail.
Maziarka said most of the people he and Vining have come across while journeying the trail are unaware that the Ice Age Trail is over 1,000 miles long.  He said they “wonder where the trail could possibly go” throughout Wisconsin. He  and Vining spend time educating about the trail and what a “through hike” means; essentially, hiking a long-distance trail from beginning to end.
The men will pass through West Bend in late July.