Lapham Peak

63.5 miles done ~ 2216.5 miles to go. 

Lapham Peak-County Road C. (4.0 miles)

A second stretch of the Lapham Peak area. 

I had two hours to hike on my way home after visiting family. The weather was cool and cloudy; perfect hiking weather. And a breeze kept the mosquitoes away.

I started off from the evergreen parking area. I love the huge oak trees. After traversing the three boardwalks completed during an MSC project in 2015, I crossed over the ski trail into a wonderful stretch of trail. It was magical among the tall oaks with little understory. And the new trail was well worn and an easy walk uphill to the tower.





Then the other side of the hike. It was filled with opposites. Steep downhills that

made my knees ache. I wonder how one reaches a certain age and all joints seem to stop working properly. I was hoping going back up would be less painful. I was grateful for my walking stick. Then as I approached the end of the first hour I neared Hwy 83. The traffic noise was deafening and then I heard helicopters and airplanes. It seemed so harsh after the relative quite of the woods.




So I turned around to escape the noise and couldn't. It was always a gentle hum in the distance. But then slowly approaching me down the trail was a buck. It was in no hurry and I

was able to take a few pictures. It stopped, but then kept coming down the trail straight toward me. Then at about 10 feet he decided to go into the woods. It seemed like I could have gone up and touched him.

The uphill back to the tower wasn't as hard as going down. I decided to save my knees and not go up the tower. With the overcast skies I didn't think the view would be great.

So I continued down the hill through the huge oaks at a much more gradual slope. There were a lot of people out on the trail, which is so nice to see. Most of the time you hardly see a soul.

I made it back within two hours and was on my way.

Gandy Dancer Trail Part 2

59.5 miles done ~ 2220.5 miles to go. 

Gandy Dancer State Trail. (7.5 miles)

A second stretch of the Gandy Dancer State Trail - the straight and not so narrow. 

I parked in Milltown and did 4 miles to 200th Ave and back. It went pretty quickly. Was able to jog a bit. However, it was colder than I thought and my joints were not very happy. 

Not much to see today; so I'll mention many of the sounds. I heard dogs barking right off the bat. Then the creak of trees in the wind. Hopefully they will make it through the winter. Scared up a bird, and some chipmunks.

As I said, it was colder than I thought, so note to self, Camelback tubes freeze in the cold. So I could hear the slosh of water for a while. Then the crunch of the tube as it froze.

I stopped back at my car to get some water and change my camera battery; I think the cold drained it. Took some extra ibuprofen for the joints and went north, to do another 3.5 miles. A dog came out on the trail as I was eating my Clif bar; I threw a chunk at it since it was barking at me. It didn't notice it, but  luckily it was a friendly dog.

I wish the sun would have come out to warm me up a bit and make the day last a little longer. It started to get dark as I headed back to the car.

Stats for the trip: Roundtrip miles to get to trail: 148

Costs: $8.42 for gas

St. Croix Falls

52 miles done ~ 2228 miles to go. 

Mindy Creek and along the river. (5 miles)

I left this small section to do along the St. Croix River and through the Wert Family Nature Preserve, due to snow on Easter Sunday. However, it ended  up being three segments because of deep and fast flowing creeks.

My friend joined me for the short hike that started on River Road and headed south along the St. Croix river. There were quite a few wet spots that could use stepping stones or boardwalk. This fall has had a lot of rain. But the weather wasn't too cold so it was quite pleasant until we hit one creek that was not going to be easy crossing. But since we were going out and back we decided to go back and then approach it from the other direction. No problem.

So we drove to the Lion's Park and ate our sandwiches looking out over the river. After the short break we decided to go across Hwy 87 and walk the part of the Mindy Creek segment I didn't finish. It was not as wet and very little understory, so you could see the woods quite well. But a bit hillier. I enjoyed the oak leaf patterns underfoot. Each one is beautifully shaped, but layer the thin red oak leaves on the rounded white oak leaves and it is quite visually stunning.

A few slippery spots, but the crossing of Mindy Creek was well done by the Mobile Skills Crew in 2005. Some nice overlooks from up top.

After we reached the point I had stopped on Easter we headed back to the park and then went north along the river. There is a wide crushed stone path for much of the trail. It made for fast, dry walking. Then after the picnic area it  goes back to narrow trail, with some hills. Again we reached another deep swift flowing creek difficult to cross. We believe there was just one hill in between to complete the section. There were nice wooden crossings on the wide flat trail, so these are needed further along.

It was a great walk.

From picnic spot.

Stats for the trip: Miles to get to trail: 152

Costs: $10.57 for gas.

Wayward Beaver Section

47 miles done ~ 2233 miles to go. 

Wayward Beaver Trail. (3.5 miles)

I was helping register hikers for the Chippewa Moraine Chapters Parade of Fall Colors hike in the morning at the Ice Age Center. (10/6/18) It was a bit chilly and cloudy, but 35 folks went out on the trail.

When registration was done, my friend returned from her 5 mile walk and we headed west to the end of the trail and back.

Fall colors were beginning. We commented on how the lime greens in fall were quite different from the lime green of the new leaves in spring. As are the reds and oranges.

We sat near a lake to eat our lunches and admire the reflections. However, the chill sets in quickly.

I related a poem I heard the week before by Japanese Buddhist monk/poet Ryokan.

Maple leaf

Falling down

Showing front

Showing back

So simple, yet it depicts fall and that one moment quite beautifully.

There were beautiful red mushrooms all along the trail. Along with many others, hidden in holes and hanging on tree bark.

It was a lovely walk and as we left for home the sun finally peeked out from behind the clouds.

Workday-Hike

43.5 miles done ~ 2236.5 miles to go. 

Deerfly Trail. (1.5 miles)

The Chippewa Moraine Chapter had a workday today and I thought we'd cover more of the trail. However, we cleared more logging road in order for a truck to bring in the lumber for the new bridge.

So it was only about a mile and a half out and back on actual trail. We did get to walk on part of the new trail. It was a pleasant day, since the temperature dropped, but the ticks are out. 

Happy Mother's Day

42 miles done ~ 2238 miles to go. 

Road Connect. (4 miles)

I was already visiting in Merrill so I headed a short distance north to do a short section of road walk near the Underdown section. 

The colors of new leaves were intense - lime green, red, orange, olive. The fiddle heads were coming up and starting to unfurl. Birds were singing and I got to enjoy a view of a quiet lake. 

I wish all days could be so pleasant.

Stats for the trip: Extra miles to get to trail: 34.3

Costs: $2.84 for gas, $7.80 for lunch.

Gandy Dancer Trail

38 miles done ~ 2242 miles to go. 

Gandy Dancer State Trail. (9 miles)

The Gandy Dancer State Trail is an old railroad bed, thus it is fairly flat. Not much to see today; not even people. Just one loan figure in the distance ahead of me. 

Without the threat of dogs, I could jog a little more than last week on the country roads.

Near the end of the way out there were a couple of ponds where the spring peepers, chorus frogs and birds were all singing at once, quite a din

Maybe you can hear it too in this short video clip. 

Stats for the trip: Roundtrip miles to get to trail: 143


Costs: $8.82 for gas