• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Planning a hike for National Trails Day

Photo at left: Click for recent photos from the the Ice Age Trail.

Share

WHITEWATER — On National Trails Day which occurs June 5 there will be hikes of 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 26 miles on Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Walworth and Jefferson counties.

I expect that about half of the hikers to shoot for 20 miles with most of the remaining settling for one of the shorter options.

Two of my regular Tuesday walkers may try hiking all 26 miles of the Ice Age Trail through Walworth and Jefferson counties.

On May 18, eight of us hiked the Ice Age Trail in the wildlife area and returned to Island Road for a short hike while the long-distance hikers continued on 4.9 miles of road walking back to their transportation for a total of 6.5 miles.

I took the short hike in order to attend an Ice Age Trail meeting that evening while the others measured the time for their walk. Those who plan to do the 26-mile walk on Trails Day then can judge the time they need to start out at County Line Road to meet the rest of the walkers who will be carpooled to the starting point at Clover Valley Road.

The next day, 24 of us split up into three groups. My group of 15 adventurers carpooled to the Emma Carlin trailhead on County Highway Z east of Palmyra to hike the Ice Age Trail, and from there on to Horseriders Park for a hike of about seven miles in length.

We plan to hike a bit longer each week now so we are in shape for most or all of the 20 mile option on National Trails Day.

Daisy fleabane was plentiful along the Ice Age Trail as well as shooting star, starry false Solomon seal, false Solomon seal, wild geranium, sweet cicely, violet and kitten tail.

The bike trails had an abundance of Jack-in-the pulpit along it.

I pulled Japanese hedge parsley, an exotic invasive species, between the Ice Age Trail and the bike path, and recorded the positions of two large patches on my GPS. I then reported it to the state forest headquarters.

Absent-minded, I left a full water bottle in the car and did not discover it missing until we were about a mile into the walk.

It was a hot day, and for these longer walks one should not be without liquids. Barb Senft came to the rescue by sharing her water, and at Horseriders Park we drank lots of fresh water and filled the water bottle for the return trip. Thanks, Barb!

Happy trekking, Russ

Activities

Activities:

• On June 3, Piper Spring Band will be playing at Randy’s Restaurant and Funhunters Brewery, 841 E. Milwaukee St., Whitewater from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. as a benefit for improving the Ice Age Trail. Admission is free. Bring your friends to support the trail as you listen and dance to great bluegrass music and partake in Randy’s fine food and beverages.

• June 5, National Trails Day Hike: Meet at the Rice Lake shelter parking lot at 8 a.m. 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) 472-19-87.

• June 15, Regular monthly meeting of the Walworth/Jefferson County Chapter, Ice Age Trail Alliance at 7 p.m. at U.S. Bank, Elkhorn. Contact Liz DeBraal, (262) 723-2625.

• Sunday, June 20, Trail work: Meet at the U.S. Highway 12 trail crossing at 9 a.m. to assist with trail maintenance while enjoying the great outdoors. Contact Jerome Converse, (262) 473-7304.

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.