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.