Ice Age Trail, Kettle-Moraine Parnell Tower Area, Friday June 24, 2011

 

 

Details & Weather:  Started hiking at 7:30 a.m., finished at 12:15 p.m., but that includes about .5 hour for drying out feet & some brunch.  Weather was 58 degrees when started, up to high 60's or low 70's when finished.  Very overcast day, some drizzling throughout the morning.  Very wet hike due to walking through tall grass, completely soaked through pants, got into my Gortex boots and socks.  I need to find out what's wrong with my boots.  They are one of the top 5 pairs of boots for fit that I've ever owned, so want to keep them going for as long as possible...  Hiked for 5.5 miles from Greenbush Group Campsite parking lot to the trail intersection at Scenic Drive.

Wildlife:  Blackbirds, Red wing Black Birds, Tweety birds, Swallows, Robins, Doves, pair of Sandhill Cranes, heard a Blue Jay - reminds me of my backyard in Paris, TX whenever I hear one in the morning like that, Yellow Birds (name TBD still), Red Squirrels, Chipmunks, a Doe by the power lines, and then a Doe (or 2?) with 2 fawns in the pine forest - they were close enough I could see the spots on the fawns - neat.

Dangers & other notes: Slipping because it was so wet - did a big slip once but came down in slow motion sort of, makes you think especially when you're out there by yourself, Poison Ivy - lots of it, Mosquito's trying to suck the life out of you, a couple of horseflies but my Mosquito net hat blocked them, trench foot.  Note to self not to ever spray bug spray on the Mosquito net hat - don't like inhaling it & tasting it when it gets on the mesh, Ravioli is delicious, don't slip anymore, bring a dry pair of shoes, keep bringing extra socks for sure (that saved me today), keep the map dry, bring a long sleeve shirt - the jacket is working fine but sooner or later it will get too hot for it.

It was a very nice hike, had the whole trail again to myself again. Saw 2 other cars in the parking lots and some people biking, but there was not another person out on the trail - very peaceful.