The snow was nearly all melted when I departed the comforts of Rice Lake. After the Uber driver dropped me off at the start of Tuscobia Trail, a wide, flat rail-to-trail, I entered another snowy but easy 11-mile hike to the Bluegill capitol of Wisconsin, Birchwood. Along the way a enjoyed a can of Hamms with my lunch in a bar. The friendly nature of the people I meet is make the short town stops a pleasure. Necessary, too, because sometimes bars are the best places to refill my water bottles! It is also reassuring to know that Bigfoot is alive and well in Wisconsin! With a forecast calling for more snow overnight, I stayed in a motel again.
On April 2, I ventured back to the IAT with 1 to 2 inches of new snow. There are many kinds of snow. For the next two days, I walked in a fresh, slightly wet.snow that lit up the hummocky forest dotted with ponds built by beavers that engineered dams several feet high and solid enough to walk on. At least one such dam crossing was the official IAT trail.
The camp was cold, obviously! I hunkered in my tent and heated up dinner with an alcohol stove, which works very well in cold conditions. I knew such weather would happen along the IAT this time of year. My choices for cold weather gear have worked flawlessly…so far. On April 3, I continued my snowy, up and down hike along the snowy hummocks, stopping briefly to listen to the waterfowl sound their alarms when they sensed my presence. It was the Canada Geese that made the loudest disruptions in the otherwise silence forest.
In mid afternoon, I descended to slightly lower elevation, from 1600 feet to 1200, and suddenly the snow was gone. The fully frozen North Lake was a reminder that cold weather will remain throughout April up here. Before arriving in the tiny town of Weyerhauser (it really is where the famous timber products company got started) I crossed the first railroad tracks of the hike. And I do take a photo at every crossing!
On April 4. I walked on an 18-mile-long IAT connector segment. Essentially, it is a roadwalk between two official IAT segments of real trail. Private land ownership has prevented building trail for 500 miles. This one is the longest so far. I saw old farms, newer farms, colorful yard art in a lakeside community dotted with summer cabins, and engaged in a race with a muskrat that was swimming the water-filled ditch to my left. I did stop at the Backwwods Resort Bar for a healthy lunch (no beer) and a refill of water. I think it is common for Wisconsin bars to pin dollar bills on the ceiling. How else could I learn of that?
The next two days, I hiked through several beautiful segments of the IAT. My campsite on North Shattuck Lake in the Chippewa Moraine State Natural Area was one of my all-time favorites. It was a natural oasis after walking 18 miles of roads. My tent faced the amber glow of sunset while I was serenaded by Geese, owls and numerous other birds, and I believe the howls of a nearby wolf. The population of wolves here is very robust.
The remainder of my hike to Cornell, where I picked up my supplies, was sunny and brisk, and perfect weather and light to get some nice photos of the lakes. The night camped near Firth Lake was another reminder of how cold it can get in the early evening and night. For the second time my water bottles were icy in the morning! I do know that warmer weather is coming!
My progress: 14 days, 186.4 miles hiked. The IAT is 1200 miles long. Greg in Wild hikes on!
Garmin MapShare: location and tracks.
Description of the Ice Age Trail
Roger Carpenter
Making great progress Roger! Looks pretty cold but of course you’ve prepared well for all of that. Love the pix. Reminds me of growing up in Iowa.
Sounds like a great hike this far! May it continue!
I looked at this quickly before heading out on a hike in Escondido. I’ll reread it later. Thanks for taking me along