Hiking the Southern Kewaskum Segment, Connecting Route, and Kewaskum Segment of the Ice Age Trail

There is nothing like a hike in the snow to make it feel like Christmas. With a holiday bounce in my step, I hiked the Southern Kewaskum and Kewaskum Segments of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) along with the connecting route between them. As I hiked, light snow began to fall. Snow was not in the forecast, an unexpected joy.

Hiking the Connecting Route from the Portage Canal to the John Muir Park Segment of the Ice Age Trail

 Since Thanksgiving weekend occurs at the height of gun hunting season, and with the new law that children as young as 5 years old can hunt, I decided to knock out a few road-walk miles over the holiday weekend. I hiked the connecting route from the Portage Canal Segment to the John Muir Park Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT). 

Hiking the West Bend Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail

I put on my favorite hiking shoes and a pair of gaiters, grinning like a hiker will for the first snowy hike of the year. Each year, my appreciation for the beauty and solitude of the snow season keeps me hiking the trail through winter despite the cold. I woke up to 2017's first appreciable snowfall and instantly changed my plans from heading to the gym to heading to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT). The driving conditions were poor due to the weather and it took double the normal drive time to reach the trailhead. But I didn't care. I was going hiking in the seasons first appreciable snow!

Hiking the Ice Age Trail through Dane County

Have you ever returned to the same hiking trail again and again and experienced vastly different hikes? I am forever amazed by the uniqueness of each moment. I've returned to the same bit of trail again and again and found myself immersed into vastly different experiences. I've hiked the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) through Dane county in all seasons. Early one autumn day I hiked the IAT at Indian Lake and watched the mist dissipate from the lake, while I had previously hiked Indian Lake in early spring with my family and witnessed a devastating fish kill. I love the way each season offers unique sights and sounds, each precious in it's own way.

Connecting Route from the Cedar Lakes Segment to the West Bend Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail

Crisp, sunny autumn days provide the best hiking conditions. Not too hot, not too cold, not too humid, not too buggy. At dawn on a fine autumn morning, I set out to hike the connecting route (CR) from the Cedar Lakes Segment to the West Bend Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT).  This connecting route stretches 5.5 miles (8.9 km) along the back roads and county highways of Washington County, Wisconsin. While I don't much care for the road-walking experience that makes up nearly half of the IAT, the scenic beauty along this route by far made up for the off-trail hike.

Hiking the Ice Age Trail through Green County

Hiking along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) through Green County in autumn and winter, the hiker will find icy old railroad beds that have been converted into the multi-use Badger State Trail and Sugar River Trail. Through Green County, the IAT also takes that hiker  through wildlife areas, and down country roads along connecting routes. Views of the Sugar River and plentiful wildlife sightings greet the hiker, with the stretch through the Albany wildlife area providing an opportunity for a particularly large variety of bird sightings.

Hiking the Ice Age Trail Through Waukesha County

Along the IAT through Waukesha County, I crunched through prairies and forests over ice and snow. I found the promise of warmer days in the scent of soil thawing. I thrilled at spring's first Dutchman's Breeches. Rustic wooden bridges carried me over the scenic Bark and Oconomowoc Rivers as the leaves turned to gold. The IAT through Waukesha county presented its magesty in all seasons.