Originally published May 2, 2016
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of Sunday’s hike. On Saturday, we were treated to a nearly all-day rain, so I was concerned about wet grass, cool temps (mid 50s at the start of the hike), and muddy trails making for a damp, unpleasant day in the woods. Two hours and 50 minutes later, I was celebrating a challenging, enjoyable hike through some of the most beautiful country I’ve encountered so far.
One thing I knew at the start was that this hike would be different because, for the first time, I had a companion. Michelle Hiebert, a soprano in the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, was joining me. She is planning an REI trip to Norway with her family this summer, including some hikes in the mountains and hills with her dad. I’m not sure that the hills of the Southern Kettle Moraine match Norway, but some hill work is better than none. Welcome, Michelle.
Jane dropped us off at the southern trail head along Young Road, and Michelle and I got started with a steep ascent to the top of Bald Bluff. Immediately, we saw much more evidence of the DPI controlled burn than I saw the previous week. Heck, if I had seen this last week, I would never have made that first attempt on the trail. Even though it was only a week since the burn, I could see green shoots starting to pushed through the black ashes of leaves. At any rate, I was glad to start the hike with this hill, one of the highest points in Jefferson County. After a lot of switchbacks, we reached the top and were rewarded with a beautiful view of the farmland stretched out to the west. This climb might be worth repeating later this month, when wild flowers have bloomed. According to the Ice Age Trail Guide, Bald Bluff is the, “Largest and most diverse of the area’s dry native prairie openings”, with lots of prairie flowers and grasses. After snapping some pictures for a couple who was up there with us, we continued our hike.
The country we hiked continued to be hilly, with a lot of oak trees giving us cover from the breezes. About a mile and a half later, we arrived at a large, rocky mass about 5 feet high by 8 feet long which was named the Stone Elephant by early settlers. I didn’t quite see the resemblance, but I’ll take their word for it. The guide stated that this site was visited often by Potawatomi Indians. In the 1920s it was a popular destination for day outings. I could not help but be impressed by the power of the glacier that carried this huge rock and deposited it here.
Michelle and I continued our hike through the oak forest. A little more than a mile past the Stone Elephant, we crossed Tamarack Road; about a half mile after that we crossed Little Prairie Road. Immediately we climbed a huge hill to a very narrow ridge with deep, deep kettles on either side of us. This led to the gorgeous overlook shown in the picture above. Shortly afterwards, we came to the Horseriders’ Camp site. This is a very spacious site with lodges for events, running water, and excellent rest rooms.
After we left the Horserider’s Camp, the country flattened a bit, as we walked through pine forests. We passed a number of small ponds and commented that we were glad to see them now instead of a month from now after the mosquito hatch. With about a mile left in the trail, things got extremely hilly again – very cruel. We made short work of them, and soon we were at the trail’s end at the Emma Carlin Trail parking lot, where Jane was waiting for us with chicken, hummus and celery sticks ( I do love that lady!).
For not having the greatest of expectations at the beginning of the hike, I was extremely pleased after I was done. The country was both challenging and beautiful. With the possible exception of the Whitewater Lake segment, this was the most beautiful country I’ve hiked since I started. Wet grass and muddy trails turned out to be non-issues. Once we worked up some body heat, the mild temps actually became a blessing. And, the conversation with Michelle helped me power through periods where I might have otherwise tired.
I’m looking forward to my next hike. The weather is supposed to be sunny and in the mid to high 60s by Friday. Maybe 11.2 miles?
My Days on the Ice Age Trail 