Originally printed January 20, 2019.
How I came to hike in the Wausau area last weekend is an interesting story in itself.
For the most part, I tend to do my segment hiking in order. After a fashion, I guess I’m trying to be a purist. I think there have been, maybe, three exceptions. But, some discussion in the Facebook Group 1000 Mile Wannabees about a segment called Thornapple Creek caught my eye. Because this segment tends to be extremely wet and muddy, the group’s consensus was that hiking in deep winter when the ground is frozen solid is a good idea. My most recent hikes have been in the Waupaca area, more than 47 miles south of the Wausau area. If I continued segment hiking in order, I likely wouldn’t be in the Wausau area until March, when this trail would be a sloppy mess. In checking the weather, last weekend shaped up to be ideal – good and cold. Originally, I planned on hiking Thornapple Creek (4 miles) on Friday and Ringle (8.4 miles) on Saturday. But, the weather for Saturday looked considerably worse than Friday. There was no sense in spending more time in Saturday’s ice box than needed. So, I flipped the hike. Ringle would be Friday, and Thornapple Creek would be on Saturday. I arranged shuttles with Gail, the Marathon County Chapter Coordinator, and arranged for a room at the local La Quinta. On Thursday, I drove to Wausau and scouted the projected pickup points for both days hikes, so I knew where I was meeting Gail and how long it would take to get to each point from the hotel. I went to bed early and slept like a rock. Ringle awaited.
I was up at 6:00. After dressing and having breakfast, I drove to the library in the village of Hartley, where Gail was waiting. Before we drove to the starting point for the hike, I donned my new equipment this hike, some microspikes. They are a system of chains with studs for my feet that hang from an oblong rubber sheath. You slip them on your footwear and pull the rubber sheath so it fits your shoe or boot, much like you would with galoshes. Kind of like tire chains for the feet, they really helped me avoid slipping and sliding on icy surfaces. The only gotcha I could see was that I had to be very very form conscious about lifting my feet and stepping forward. Otherwise, my foot would catch and I would lurch forward clumsily. Gail and I made the trip to the starting point in no time at all. We said our goodbyes, and I got started just after 8:00. It was 7 above.
I found the Ringle Segment to be beautiful and challenging. The bulk of the trail were footpaths and logging roads that wound through forested areas. Particularly in the early morning hours of the hike,I loved how the sunlight hit the trees from the side instead of from above – a very beautiful effect. While I saw only one animal on the hike, a deer, there was plenty of evidence of animals, courtesy of the many tracks in the snow that crossed my path. The tracks were of all kinds and sizes. I got a particular kick out of the tracks of the field mice that barely made an impression in the snow. Geographically, the highlight of the hike was the Klaver Kame, named after an early settler. To quote from the IATA Guide, a kame is a “conical hill composed primarily of water-rounded sand and cobbles that were deposited by streams that flowed downward through shafts in the glacial ice.” From a distance they look like an upside down ice cream cone. It was quite a climb getting to the top. No switchbacks this time – just a straight shot up.
For the last nearly two miles, the trail runs concurrent with the Mountain-Bay State Trail. This wide, multi-use trail traverses over 83 miles on the former Chicago and Northwestern Railroad right-of-way between Wausau and Green Bay. Coming at the end of the hike, this final, short section was a good way to bring the hike to a close.
The most surprising excitement I had on Friday’s hike was something I would just as soon have avoided. Early on, I got lost for a bit. I still can’t figure out how it happened. I was rolling along the trail, which at that point was a footpath running through the woods. I came to a familiar yellow-blaze sign with an arrow at the bottom, indicating a sharp left turn. I turned, walked roughly 50 yards, stopped and looked for the next yellow-blaze marker. Nothing. Not only was there no sign, but there wasn’t much in the way of footprints from other hikers. What to do? I carry my own Garmin GPS with me. It works in concert with an app on my phone called Earthmate. According to the app,the trail was running at a right angle right in front of me. At this time, I was an a ridge above a logging road. Even though I could see no traveled footpath, I couldn’t ignore the trial showing on my app. So, I ambled down to the hill to the logging road , stopped and looked around. Nothing. Then I thought I saw what appeared to be a stake tipped with the familiar yellow blaze. I started in that direction, although it looked to be like I was breaking trail instead of traveling a worn path. Then, I stopped when I realized that what I was seeing was the first in a series of boundary stakes.
This was crazy.
I consulted my electronics again. It appeared that the trail was back up that ridge. I was not sure how to retrace my steps. But, I know I was close. I started in the general direction of where the trail was per the app, stopping after 15-20 steps to slowly sweep the scene for signs of the familiar yellow blaze. Nothing. Try another 15 or 20 steps. Bingo!
I wasn’t scared as such. But, I was getting a trifle concerned. Let’s hope that is the last time I go through something like that.
My Days on the Ice Age Trail 