Arbor Ridge and Devil's Staircase Segments of the Ice Age Trail

Hikers often say the worst part of hiking the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IAT) is the road walk between the Albany Segment and Janesville. Using the unexpected layer of ice that accumulated on the back roads overnight as an excuse, I delayed getting started on this dreaded road march, and did a bit of trail hiking instead. After parking at the trail-head near the Janesville Schools Outdoor Laboratory, I hiked the Arbor Ridge  and Devil's Staircase Segments of the IAT. The day started out cold with trees and trails laced with snow that melted as the day wore on.

John Muir Segment of the Ice Age Trail

The John Muir Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a short, easy loop trail around Ennis Lake in Marquette County, Wisconsin. If you hike with small children, this 1.7 mile (2.7 km) loop is perfect. This segment is located in the John Muir Memorial County Park near the boyhood home of John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club.

Albany Segment of the Ice Age Trail

Upon my return to the Albany Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, unexpected snow and colder temperatures greeted me. I expected quiet, but the sounds of numerous birds, particularly through the Albany Wildlife Segment greeted me. Owls, turkey, geese, sandhill cranes, red-winged blackbirds, and numerous songbirds continuously filled the air with song. A mink crawled up from a swampy area behind a home near bridge 13, took one look at me, and scrambled off the trail.

Preparing Dehydrated Foods for Next Summer's Wilderness Adventures

Cold winds howl. The urge to hunker down at home and keep warm strikes. What do you do? Enjoy a nice warm pot of of chili, spaghetti, beef stew, or beef stroganoff and dehydrate the left-overs for your next wilderness adventure. Lightweight, well-preserved, home cooked foods for your back-country adventures prove far more satisfying, contain more protein, and taste far less salty than the prepacked options.

Albany Segment of the Ice Age Trail

Spring is most certainly on its way on the Albany Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. After a number of silent winter hikes, the cacophony made by geese, sandhill cranes, and various songbirds, made for an unexpected but welcomed surprise. I parked at the Old Train Depot on Pratt Road in Monticello, WI and headed east.  The Albany Segment of the IAT follows the Sugar River Trail from Monticello to Albany, WI. It is an easy hike, along an easy to follow, well-maintained, flat multi-use trail.

Monticello Segment of the Ice Age Trail

To hike the Monticello Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, I parked at the Old Train Depot on Pratt Road in Monticello, WI. The parking lot is large with restrooms and refurbished buildings, all currently closed for the season. The Ice Age Trail (IAT) is not yellow-blazed on this segment, but the multi-use trails it follows are easy to find and follow. Heading north, I crossed County Highway C, and transitioned from the Sugar River Trail to the Badger State Trail. Not switching to the Badger State trail would have resulted in a walk to New Glarus rather than a walk through the Stewart Tunnel.

Connecting Route from the Brooklyn Wildlife Segment to the Monticello Segment of the Ice Age Trail

On a gorgeous February Sunday, I parked in the Hughes Road parking lot at the Brooklyn Wildlife Area trail head. I began walking west on Hughes Road, south on County Highway D, then west on Wisconsin 92 / County Highway W to the Monticello Segment of the Ice Age Trail. After completing the connecting route between the Brooklyn Wildlife and Monticello Segments of the Ice Age Trail, I headed south on the Monticello Segment to Tunnel Road, before back-tracking back the to car.