Originally written April 24, 2016
I had a plan. Hike the Blue Springs Lake segment today. A shade over seven miles, easily done in a beautiful, 70 degree plus afternoon. That was my plan as Jane and I made our way to the trail head on Young Road.
Today was going to be a bit different than previous hikes. First, we were going to try out some Motorola two-way radios we recently purchased. We hoped this would be our “Plan B” when we found ourselves in cell phone hell. Second, I wanted to use my walking sticks for an entire hike. I had used them in some very hilly, icy country on my very first hike, but not since then. I could never get in a rhythm with them. Yet people I knew swore by them, saying that they really saved their legs. Maybe I was selling them short? We’ll see.
That was what was rolling through my head as we rolled to the trail head and saw signs advising of a controlled burn by the DNR. But, that didn’t make sense to either Jane or me. First, we saw no signs of that burn. Second, why would the DNR do this kind of work on a Sunday afternoon? Wouldn’t it be more cost conscious to that kind of work during the work week? I’ll bet that work is going start on Monday. With that, I threw on my pack and got started.
The first 1/2 – 3/4 mile was gorgeous. Right off the bat I snaked up a large hill to the top of the Bald Bluff Scenic Overlook. This bill towers 1,050 feet above sea level and a good 200 feet above the surrounding area. After enjoying the view and testing our phones – they worked – I continued my hike.
Pretty soon I saw blue haze and ankle-high flames off to my side. While it didn’t make sense to me to do a controlled burn on a Sunday afternoon, it made sense to the DNR. But, this burn seemed to be in a pretty limited area. I could see big chunks of land in front of me that were untouched. Maybe that was the end of it. Using more hope than good sense, I trudged on. It looked to me that I would be home free, as long as I finished before that overcast in the distance stayed there. Yes, rain was in the forecast, but not until late in the afternoon or early evening.
Pretty soon I realized that wasn’t overcast; it was more smoke. A DNR employee drove toward me on an all-terrain vehicle. He explained that the burn would pretty much take place throughout the segment, and I would have to leave for my safety. He directed me to a horse trail that cut the Blue Springs Lake segment. Taking that would eventually lead back to Young Road, and I could then walk a short distance to the original trail head and meet Jane. Soon, Jane contacted me, and I told her what was up. Before too long, I met her at the trail head. I was not a happy camper. As far as I was concerned, I just wasted an afternoon.
But, Jane had a suggestion. Wasn’t there a relatively short trail segment ahead? Yes, there was. The Stony Ridge segment, 3.1 miles of it, was the following segment on my trip. I could hike that chunk today, then do Blue Spring Lake/Take 2 next week. We quickly found the end point of that segment. Normally, Jane would mark that on her GPS, and we’d drive to the starting point so I could begin. To save time, since Jane already knew the starting point, I suggested I start here and hike southwest to the starting point. This was a bit of a departure. All along, I had been working my way north and east on the various segments. But whether you walk west and south or east and north, it’s the same trail. So off I went.
The Stony Ridge segment is cut through country that basically parallels Wisconsin Highway 59 between County Z near the Emma Carlin trail head and County S. The McMiller Sports Center and cross country ski trails are to the southeast. About midway through the trail is the headquarters for the Southern Unit Kettle Moraine State Forest. The Stony Ridge segment is the first one I’ve hiked that actually is on private property briefly. All the property owners request is that hikers stay on the trail and that they leave the area as they found it.
In terms of geography, the trail is a microcosm of what I had been hiking the past 2-3 occasions. At first, I was walking through relatively flat, wooded country. About a mile in I began to ascend into the hilly country I long have associated with the South Kettle Moraine. The woods were beautiful, but I was unable to enjoy much peace and quiet because of what had to be a nearby firing range. Frankly, it sounded like a fire fight out there. In this area, I took a side trip to one of the three outdoor shelters in the South Kettle Moraine that hikers can use for overnight camping. It was pretty rustic. Imagine a log cabin with one of the side walls missing and you have it. A fire pit is immediately in front of that opening. Nearby is an outhouse. No running water is available, so hikers must pack their own.
Not too long after this, the country flattens out again. The ground seemed more soggy to me than previously, but nowhere near as bad as the Clover Valley Segment I had hiked a week ago. I had the sense I was skirting a large, swampy area. Later, I learned that I was hiking along the bed of Glacial Lake Scuppernong. Pretty soon I was back at the Emma Carlin parking lot, where Jane was waiting for me.
As badly as the afternoon started, I could not help but be pleased with the results. As usual, I learned some new things. The walking sticks DID help. And the two-way radios came in very handy. Next week I’ll tackle the Blue Springs Lake Segment, hopefully.
NOTE: With this hike, I have passed somewhat of a milestone. I have now walked 52 miles on the Ice Age Trail. Only 948 miles to go!
My Days on the Ice Age Trail 