Originally printed May 27, 2019.
A three day hiking opportunity opened for me last week, and I welcomed the chance to take full advantage of it. On tap was a 24 mile plus connecting route between the Plover River and Kettlebowl Segments.
Taking full advantage meant working in a 6.7 mile afternoon hike on last Thursday, day#1. Normally, I devote the first day of my trips to traveling to the area, finding the start and end points of my scheduled hikes, checking in at the motel or camp site where I am staying and generally getting acclimated to the area. But, rain, and possible thunderstorms were in the forecast, especially for Friday. Rain was also a possibility for Thursday, but the odds during the day were relatively low. It made perfect sense to get in a hike, and my trail angel, Joe was willing to meet me at midday. So, I made the three hour trip Thursday morning. Along the way, I was impressed by the effects of all the rain we’ve been having. All the lakes and streams were very high. The Wolf River, in particular, had overflowed its banks in several places.
Right on schedule, I pulled into the lot at the Faith Center Church in Antigo, where Joe, the chapter coordinator for the county Ice Age Trail Association and my trail angel, was waiting for me. I would guess he is in his early to mid 80s. We chatted while he drove me on the route for Thursday’s hike. I was particularly impressed with his safety consciousness. He confirmed with me that I was using the IATA-suggested route for that afternoon’s hike, and that I had informed the Langlade County Sheriff that I would be in the area that day. Last, he requested that I contact him to let him know when I had completed that day’s hike. That was the first time any trail angel had requested that of me, and I have to admit that I was impressed. It follows logically with the whole idea of filing a plan. I am going to make that post hike call part of my routine.
Soon we were at the starting point at County HH, and it was time to get started. It was then that I realized that I didn’t have my favorite hiking hat with me. Must have left it in my car. Fortunately, I had packed a spare baseball cap, so I was good to go. It was nearly 12:30. It was cloudy and in the mid 50s with a very slight breeze. While I realize that the temperature was on the cool side, I was grateful for the cool and for the cloud cover. Had it been 75 and sunny, I would have really fried from walking on asphalt.
For a good chunk of my hike, I walked on a two lane road that was flanked on both sides by very tall trees – pine trees on one side and leaf-bearing on the other. Outside of all kinds of songbirds, I didn’t see any critters. What I did see, in addition to the trees, were all kinds of flowers. The trillium shown above is a beautiful example. I often told people that, on the trail, I am often slack-jawed in amazement or smiling a lot because of the beauty. There was a lot of both on Thursday’s hike.
A little more than two hours later, I was done. As often is the case when I road walk, I made really good time for me, averaging nearly three miles an hour. Oh yeah, about that hat of mine. It wasn’t in my car. My hope was that I had left it in the men’s room at the church before Joe and I departed for my hike’s starting point. Just then, the groundskeeper I had seen earlier pulled into the lot. I told him of my plight, and he graciously opened the buiding so I could quickly take a look. There it was, hanging on the hook where I left it. Sweet!
My Days on the Ice Age Trail 