Casco, WI - Ice Age Trail Connecting Route - 2/27/10

Caso, WI trailhead

Had some trouble crossing this drift!

Overcast day

A friendly Husky in Casco

A good hike today, lots of exercise due to the high stepping to get through all of the drifts. There was about 3-4 inches of new snow, but in places the drifts were several feet deep so it was interesting. Went northeast from Casco to the bridge at Rio Creek and turned around. I was glad I found my hood to my jacket because it was very windy. Had to put on gaiters, but the old blue ones need some rigging to get them to stay pulled down, they still helped some.

Details & Weather: Left house 6:22, arrived Casco 7:26, started hiking 7:33, finished hike 12:33 p.m. - 5 hours total. It was cold, windy and overcast, High of 37, low 28.
Wildlife: A Husky; Black Lab; flock of cardinals; cows; crows; chickadees; doves; pigeons; pileated woodpecker; rabbit; and a huge muskrat waddling across the trail in front of me.
Dangers: Stepping through a snow drift, hitting very deep snow, and falling down (2x!)
Deliverance Moment: The group of 6-7 hunters in Rio Creek around the barn, shooting .22's or shotguns, hunting rabbits maybe?

Algoma Section - Saturday 2/20/10

Algoma, WI lighthouse

Rio Creek - lunch & turnaround point

Right at home comfy llamas

Algoma intersection

Details and Weather: Left house at 6:30, arrived trailhead northside of Algoma at 7:45, started hiking 7:53 a.m. Finished hike at 1:05 - 5.1 hours total. Upper 30's, no wind, partly sunny, very nice. High of 36, low 19.
Wildlife: Crows; Chickadees; Red Tailed Hawk; a flock of cardinals; pair of doves; geese; heard ducks; 2 jays; several pileated woodpeckers; pigeons; a squirrel; llamas; 2 Black Labs; a Border Collie; horses.
Dangers: I have mastered the art of walking on snow and ice, and snow covered ice, so it is no longer a danger to me.
Interesting: The big windmill farm northeast of Casco - eyesore, or purposeful? Both... ; the llama ranch.

Forestville - Feb 14, 2010

Forestville Dam in February

Turn around at the Ahnapee Trail Campground

A friendly "Walker" dog out hunting coyotes

Deep woods, reminds me of Germany

Ahnapee River looking north

Went for a hike today (Sunday). The weather was perfect, not too cold this time. Met a lot of people on the trail, lots of snowmobilers out & the coyote hunter group with the dogs. Next stop - Alogoma & Lake Michigan.

Details & Weather: Left house 7:10, started hiking 9:00 a.m. Finished hiking at 2:00 p.m. 5 hours total. Temperature: High of 27, low 19.
Wildlife: Little Red Squirrel; Chickadees; Red Tailed Hawk, Crows, Some sort of Jay (2); Heard a woodpecker; Ducks-type TBD; Geese; A crisp white & black husky; a border collie; a "Walker" dog hunting coyotes (see picture); horses.

Dangers: None, there was a new coat of snow over the trail so the ice was buried.

Deliverance Moment: Walking up on the group of coyote hunters. I could have been in south Georgia if it weren't for the snowmobile suits half of them were wearing. They were friendly, said it was a good day for a walk, and it was!

Ice Age Trail - Maplewood and South

Break time

Chilly horses again

Starting out, heading north from Maplewood

Did some more hiking this morning, it was by far the coldest morning even though you wouldn't know if from just looking at the temperature. The wind was bad, making it very cold the entire hike. Did the bit from Maplewood north, turned around at the chilly horses and headed back through town. Headed south, turned around at Cherry Lane, only did about 4 hours today. Next stop - Forestville.

Details & Weather: Left house at 8:10 a.m., arrive Maplewood 9:37 a.m. started hiking at 9:36, finished at 1:30 p.m. Temperature - windy and very cold! High of 25, low 14.

Wildlife: 1 huge barking husky; 2 dogs (an old Chocolate lab and a bordercollie'ish) on the trail; 3 pileated woodpeckers; chickadees (I've always heard them during other hikes but this time I actually saw some up close); crows (immer); a well fed squirrel; chilly horses.
Dangers: Slipping on ice on the trail; getting annoyed from being barked at; getting the stink-eye from an old chocolate lab.