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Shorter hikes called for in the extreme heat this month

I decided that it was too hot on Tuesday for me to hike as the temperature went over the 100-degree mark before our walk. However, seven showed up at the U.S. Highway 12 trailhead and five still wanted to walk. They walked between three and four miles of trail south of our meeting place and reported having a good hike. In the meantime, I chatted with the other nonhiker for a brief time and went home to get ready for the monthly meeting of our Ice Age Trail chapter held in Elkhorn that evening.

The next day was cooler and 26 people showed up to hike. I went with the longer walk, which was a good 5-1/2 miles through the Scuppernong Prairie on the Ice Age Trail. There were 14 of us on this hike. It was a bit hot for hiking in the sun with a high of 88 F, but a stiff breeze did help. Along the way we took a break at a creek to cool off. Many beautiful prairie wildflowers were either in bloom or in bud stage. It really was a nice hike.

Afterward we stopped at Coyote Canyon in Eagle for a tasty lunch before departing.

The others split up with Rita Fox and three others hiking across the road from our meeting place while the rest drove to the Nordic Trails for shorter walks. Jake Gerlach reported that there were eight walkers, including a person who was walking with us for the first time, taking the 2-1/2 mile orange Nordic loop.

All had a good time with Ellen Davis and Garlach as leaders.

Happy trekking, Russ

Events

-- Weekly walks: The Walworth/Jefferson County Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance meets at 4 p.m. each Tuesday and at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the U.S. Highway 12 Ice Age National Scenic Trail crossing located about four miles east of Whitewater and about a quarter-mile east of the intersection of U.S. Highway 12 and Sweno Road. The parking lot is at the west end of Sherwood Forest Road, which is a short road that intersects U.S. Highway 12 at each end. All ages are welcome. Contact Russ Helwig, (262) 473-2187.