Wedde Creek Segment of the Ice Age Trail and Connecting Route to the Mecan River Segment

The Wedde Creek Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) is one of the trail's shortest segments, but paired with the connecting route to the Mecan River Segment it makes for a nice little winter's walk. On a cold December day I parked at the DNR parking area on Czech Avenue in Waushara County and began my hike.

Chaffee Creek Segment of the Ice Age Trail and Connecting Route to the Wedde Creek Segment

Nothing satisfies quite like a fresh expanse of unbroken powder, except for, perhaps, the satisfying crunch of snow underfoot. On a cold, gray December day I set off to hike the Chaffee Creek Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) in Waushara County, Wisconsin. This trail can be approached from the Rest Stop 81 along Interstate Highway 39 or from a spur trail at the Upper Fox Headwaters State Natural Area.

A Campy Halloween - 2018

Despite the cold and wet weather, thousands of Leaf Peepers and Trick-or-Treaters flocked to High Cliff State Park for the 2018 Halloween Walk. Our family arrived on Saturday morning. We set up camp and enjoyed a nice campfire to take the chill off while we waited for extended family to arrive. 

Hiking the Ice Age Trail through Marquette County

A trail lover at heart, I took a deep breath, sucked it up, and began my road-walk through Marquette County. Thirty plus miles of road-walking had me avoiding this county for some time. As I walked down country roads as the sun rose, and I watched golden leaves twirl in the wind I got to thinking. Thanks to crisp, sunny autumn weather, this walk I had been avoiding wound up providing more beauty and solitude than I could ever have imagined.

Hiking the Connecting Route from the John Muir Segment to the Chaffee Creek Segment of the Ice Age Trail

When autumn rolls around, road-walking the connecting routes along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) offers an alternative to hiking on trails hunters like to frequent. This fall I walked from the John Muir Memorial County Park (John Muir Segment of the IAT) to the Chaffee Creek Segment of the IAT, breaking the route into several fall walks. I deviated from the suggested connecting route shown on the Ice Age Trail Alliance's website, shaving off about 10 miles (16 km) of road-walking.

Boundary Waters 2018: Moose River Entry Point 16 to Campsites on Nina Moose Lake, Lac La Croix, Iron Lake, and Oyster Lake

Kicking off our 2018 trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA), our family entered the BWCA at Entry Point #16, Moose/Portage River. We spent 9 nights camped on Nina Moose, Lac La Croix, Iron and Oyster Lakes before exiting on day 10. We got rained on, paddled against gusty winds, sunned on slabs of rock and swam. We started awkwardly, careful with each move, then fell into a rhythm with our packing, portaging, paddling and camp-setting that made us feel like part of this place. Just as we began to feel like we truly belonged, our time in this quiet wilderness, like the summer of 2018, began to draw to a close.

Food for a Ten Day / Three Person Backcountry Trip: BWCA 2018

I still love everything about canoe tripping, even the preparations. Finding lightweight foods safe to carry without refrigeration that fit the blue barrel and satisfy the divergent palates of the entire family poses a fun challenge. This year I've planned meals for three people for our family's 10 day canoe trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). 

Camping Family Reunion 2018

Imagine you're getting ready to attend your family reunion. Feeling any stress? You agonize over clothing and potluck choices. Now, imagine getting ready to go to a family reunion at which you swim, paddle, hike, and stare wistfully into the flames of a campfire. Imagine doing this with your family if you're feeling friendly, or hiding at your own campsite and relaxing in peaceful solitude if your inner cranky-pants gets the best of you.

A Romantic Weekend for Two in the Turtle Flambeau

Ams went off to Girl Scout Camp. With a weekend to do anything our hearts desired, my husband and I took our first ever canoe trip in the Turtle Flambeau Flowage. As the day drew near, the weather forecast worsened. With two days of thunderstorms in the forecast, we headed up to the Turtle Flambeau Flowage not entirely sure what might happen.

4 Day Canoe Trip: Sylvania Wilderness 2018

As Northerners do, our family dreams of the distant springtime through the icy season. When it finally arrives, we begin our spring rituals. Spring cleaning, garden planning, keeping an eye out for the first robin. My favorite of our family's spring rituals, my husband's lowering of the canoe from it's resting place among the spiders that hang among the garage rafters, marks the true beginning of summer fun for our family.

Three Spring Weekends

Spring's arrival sets our family off in celebration with a flurry of outdoor activities. Springtime in Wisconsin brings surprises. Blizzards bring deep snow, the sun warms the air from below freezing to beach-warm, sometimes within a 24 hour period. Don't like the weather? Wait 5 minutes!

Steak Jerky

Dehydrating steak jerky on a wet, sloppy day is a great way to fight the bad weather blues. I made steak jerky from top round in our food dehydrator. 

Dehydrating Meats, Veggies, and Easy Entrees for Outdoor Adventures

Want to cut back on weight in your pack while increasing the nutrition and protein in your trail meals over that of store bought freeze dried foods? Dehydrating your own foods at home can be the solution you are looking for. In this post I'll provide you a list of tips for success and three videos on how to dehydrate meats, veggies, sauces and entrees for the trail. Once you understand the system, you can put together many of your own great meals for outdoor adventures!

Milwaukee River Segment of the Ice Age Trail Part 2 - Fond du Lac County

Hiking in January's bitter cold without a trace of snow on the ground feels a bit like walking down a sandless beach. Your feet long for what's missing. In place of the satisfying crunch of snow underfoot, frozen grass and leaves crackle. Occasionally thin ice snaps. As I hiked the Milwaukee Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) in Fond du Lac County, the clouds drifted in and the day turned gray. Snow on the hike would have been beautiful. The sky had other ideas, saving the snow for the drive home.

Hiking the Ice Age Trail through Washington County

On a recommendation from a friend, I started section hiking the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) through Washington County, Wisconsin in October during peak leaf colors. The beauty of the kames decorated with gold maples and red oaks against blue skies wowed me. I returned when the snow came to enjoy winter hiking through the Sunburst Ski Area in Kewaskum. The seasons did not disappoint. If you want to hike through some glacial terrain near city amenities with gorgeous colors at leaf change time, check out the IAT through Washington County. 

Milwaukee River Segment of the Ice Age Trail - Part 1, Washington County

On a stiff January morning at the end of a week of below zero temperatures, I hiked the Milwaukee River Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) in Washington County, Wisconsin. The cloudy morning parted and gave way to sun and blue skies, and the thermometer crept above zero long enough to show me the difference between -3˚F (-19˚C) F and +5˚F (-15˚C)  which are, surprisingly, worlds apart. 

Hiking the Ice Age Trail through Sauk and Columbia Counties - Eastern Bifurcation

If you've been hiking in the state of Wisconsin, you've most likely set foot on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT), and may not even realize you have.  And if you have unwittingly set foot on the IAT, there's a good probability you've done it in Sauk County. Devil's Lake State Park in Sauk County is the busiest park in the State of Wisconsin and recently USA Today ranked Devil's Lake the 5th best state park in the US.  If you've hiked at Devil's Lake or even if you've had a picnic along its lakeshore, chances are you've stepped onto the 10.9 mile Devil's Lake Segment of the IAT in Sauk County.