Washington County Insider caught up with Army veteran Michael Maziarka on the Ice Age Trail today as he was arriving in Antigo. Maziarka, a West Bend native, is on the Warrior Hike that encompasses the entire trail in a time frame of three consecutive months. He has been traveling with Marine vet, Miles Vining, from Indiana, who had to leave the trail earlier this week to attend the funeral of his grandmother who passed away late last week. He will return to the trail on Friday.
Tonight Maziarka is having dinner with and spending the night at the home of Joe and Peg Jopek in Antigo. The Jopek’s are what is known as “Trail Angels” – self-appointed volunteers that assist long-distance hikers on the Ice Age Trail. Joe Jopek, who is the Ice Age Trail Langlade County Chapter Commander, got involved with the Ice Age Trail over 40 years ago. You can listen to him recount the earlier days of the Ice Age Trail by clicking HERE. Well aware of Joe Jopek’s well-established ties to the Ice Age Trail, Maziarka said he was, “really looking forward to meeting him.”
The Jopek’s also have a special place in their hearts for veterans as they lost a grandson, Sgt. Ryan Jopek (photo, left), at the age of 20 in the Iraq war as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in August of 2006. Sgt. Ryan Jopek was killed in August of 2006 when an IED (improvised explosive device) was detonated near his convoy.
Maziarka said he was privileged to meet Sgt. Jopek’s mother, Tracy, earlier this week who told him that they had just completed their inaugural Sgt. Ryan Jopek 5K Ruck – Run – Remember on May 28th which provides scholarships for local high school students.
Both Maziarka and Vining served tours in the Afghanistan war.