Cool weather good for hiking in the Kettle Moraine
Photo at left: Click for recent photos from the the Ice Age Trail.
Cool wet weather greeted us this week but we only had a little mist for our Tuesday walk and none on Wednesday. The cool weather actually was very good for hiking and we saw a variety of spring wildflowers along the trails.
The Tuesday walk took us from our meeting place to Highway P and back on the Ice Age Trail, a total of five and a half miles.
On Wednesday Bonnie Nommensen had invited our walkers over for a wonderful lunch and chair massage after our walks. The short walk, led by Meg arrived there around 12:30 p.m. and were just leaving when my longer walk group came at about 1:45. Thank you Bonnie, Dave, and Erin!
Meg took her group of twelve to the Nordic Trails for a walk of about three miles while my group carpooled leaving all but two cars at the Bald Bluff parking lot. Then two cars took the ten of us to Horseriders Park to hike back leisurely on a five and a half mile route on a combination of the Ice Age Trail and horse trails.
Along the way we stopped at the Stone Elephant, a very large rock left by the Wisconsin Glacier more than ten thousand years ago.
At the last horse trail crossing we turned left and took that trail south. At the intersection south of Young Rd we turned right. After walking over a large hill we took another right turn on the Ice Age Trail. We crossed Young Rd again where the trail took us along the west side of Balk Bluff to the connector trail which we took to the parking lot.
One lone morel mushroom was found along the trail along with a nice variety of wildflowers.
At the first crossing of Young Rd we came upon a proud turkey hunter who was putting a nice gobbler that he just shot in the trunk of his car. We congratulated him on his successful hunt and he let us take a picture of the beautiful bird in the trunk of his car and then showed us long spurs on the big old birds legs.
Happy trekking, Russ
Activities
Tuesday, May 18, 7 p.m. Regular monthly meeting of the Walworth/Jefferson Co Chapter, Ice Age Trail Alliance: Meet at US Bank, Elkhorn. Contact Liz DeBraal (262) 723-2625.
Saturday, May 22, 9 a.m. Trail work: Meet at the Highway 12 trail crossing to assist with trail maintenance while enjoying the great outdoors. Contact Gary Klatt (262) 473-4973.
Sunday, May 23, 9 a.m. Hike at the Nature Conservancy Crooked Creek Preserve: Meet at the preserve intrance on Bluff Rd north of Troy Center. Parking may be limited so call for details of where to meet for carpooling. Contact Gary Klatt (262) 473-4973.
Saturday, June 5, 8 a.m.. National Trails Day Hike: Meet at the Rice Lake shelter parking lot. Shuttles will be available to take hikers to the start and return when finished with hikes of 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 26 miles available. Official kick-off of the "Kettle Trekker" program for hiking all 26 miles of Ice Age National Scenic Trail through Walworth and Jefferson Counties (does not have to be done in one day and participation is not required to hike). Bring water and food for the hike. Contact Russ Helwig (262) 47.-219-87.
Tuesday, June 15, 7 p.m.. Regular monthly meeting of the Walworth/Jefferson Co Chapter, Ice Age Trail Alliance: Meet at US Bank, Elkhorn. Contact Liz DeBraal (262) 723-2625.
Wednesday - Sunday, June 16-20. Mobile Skills Crew training and trail building. Join the activities at the plover River State Fisheries Area, Marathon County. Contact Gary Klatt (262) 473-4973.
Sunday, June 20, 9 a.m.. Trail work: Meet at the Highway 12 trail crossing to assist with trail maintenance while enjoying the great outdoors. Contact Jerome Converse (262) 473-7304.
Saturday, June 26, 10 a.m.. Paddle on Turtle Creek. Meet at the parking lot of the Countryside Restaurant on Highway 11 1.5 miles west of Highway 14 (at Highway C.) Come at 9>00am for breakfast if you like. If you need a boat, contact Peter. Contact Peter Packer (262) 215-8277.
Weekly Walks
We meet at 4 p.m. Tuesdays and 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays at the Highway 12 Ice Age National Scenic Trail crossing located about four miles east of Whitewater.
We include two or more walks of different distances on Wednesdays, and also do this on Tuesdays when desired.
All ages are welcome.
Note that a state park pass is required to park a car at the Highway 12 meeting place.
A daily or yearly pass may be purchased at the meeting place provided correct change is available.
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