On a gray March morning, I parked at the UW Waukesha Field Station and stepped from my car to hear sandhill cranes for the first time this year. As I stepped from the car to hike the Waterville Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT), I noticed the signs. Unauthorized parking from sunset to sunrise is not permitted at the field station. Shortly after I began to hike, the sun slid over the horizon. Problem resolved. With the Glacial Drumlin trail and IAT meeting at the field station, the area at the field station tends to be very busy with dog walkers. I felt happy to head South to the IAT for a quieter walk.
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| Along Waterville Road |
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| Waterville Road |
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| Along Waterville Road |
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| Along Waterville Road |
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| Along Waterville Road |
From the field station I followed the trail briefly through a wooded area, then walked along Waterville Road for over a mile. Waterville Road is quiet and contains farms and country homes. From Waterville Road I followed the IAT through the wooded backyards of some quiet estates, crossed Tallgrass Court, then continued through wooded backyards. A dog from one of the homes followed me down the trail while raising a ruckus. Eventually the dog got bored with me and wandered back home, and the trail passed through some wetland and wooded areas from which private homes were no longer seen. The segment ended at County Road D, where I turned around and backtracked to the car.
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| Along the Waterville Segment of the IAT |
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| Segment Selfie |
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| Waterville Segment of the IAT |
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| Along the Waterville Segment of the IAT |
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| Milkweed. |
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| Waterville Segment of the IAT. |
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| Bridge |
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| From the boardwalk. |
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| Along the Waterville Segment of the IAT |
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| Turkeys along Waterville Road. |
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| Prairie at UW Field Station |
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| At the UW Waukesha Field Station |
That's all for now. Let's get outdoors and keep our wild places wild.
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| Map of today's hike |
Total Distance Covered - 7.6 miles (12.2 km) total, the Waterville Segment is 3.8 miles (6.1 km) one way.
Difficulty - Easy with moderate hills in the wooded area between Waterville Road and County Road D.
Trail Conditions - Blazed and well traveled trails, looks as if will be very wet and muddy when warmer, 32°F (0°C).
Highlights - Enjoying a number of benches through the wooded portion of the trail.
Total Ice Age Trail Miles to Date - Total official trail distance completed 268 miles (428 km).
Amenities - Oak savanna and praire restoration area at the UW Waukesha Field Station and the Glacial Drumlin Trail.
Location - Parked at the UW Waukesha Field Station in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
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