Author Archives: jbanello

My hike on Wednesday, October 14th, began when I rolled out of bed at 5:30. On tap was a 13 mile road hike from just north of Cornell, WI, through Cornell itself, and south and east on County roads to my home base at the ShadyNook Resort. I received two unpleasant bits of news whenContinue reading “Day 105 on the Ice Age Trail”

When I began hiking the IAT, I planned my hikes like a purist, knocking off each portion of the trail in order. Later, I learned that there were perfectly good reasons for hiking sections out of order, or in a direction counter to the one I was generally traveling. One trick I have learned isContinue reading “Day 104 on the Ice Age Trail”

For a couple of weeks before my most recent hiking trip, I was focused on completing a 40 mile plus connecting route that started in Taylor County and ended in Chippewa County. I had knocked off a portion of it last winter before the pandemic hit. About 28 miles remained, and I had figured outContinue reading “Day 103 on the Ice Age Trail”

Originally printed September 2, 2020. To hike or not to hike. That was the question I needed to answer last Friday, August 28th. On tap for the day was the southern “half” of the Lake Eleven Segment – roughly 6.7 miles. Originally, the weather forecast was for morning showers. Fine. I was up for aContinue reading “Day 102 on the Ice Age Trail”

Originally printed September 1, 2020. I had another pair of wonderful walks when I returned last week to hike the Lake Eleven Segment, the final segment left for me to hike in Taylor county. My plan was to divide the 15.6 mile trail into two hikes. On Thursday, August 27th, I was going to hikeContinue reading “Day 101 on the Ice Age Trail”

Originally printed August 17, 2020. I was extremely grateful for another chance to hike the Ice Age Trail in Taylor County last week. My plan was to hike the northern 8.6 miles of the Jerry Lake Segment on Thursday, August 13th, followed by the southern 6.6 miles of the segment on Friday, the 14th. AsContinue reading “Day 99 on the Ice Age Trail”

Originally printed August 18, 2020. Friday, August 14th, was my 100th day on the Ice Age Trail, and the last day of that week’s trip to Taylor County to do some biking and hiking. On tap was a morning hike on the southern 6.6 miles of the Jerry Lake Segment. With no storms in theContinue reading “Day 100 on the Ice Age Trail”

Originally printed August 5, 2020. The Mondeaux Esker Segment. The Ice Age Trail Alliance Guide states, “This segment has two, very rugged forested sections split by a trek through the popular Mondeaux Dam Recreational Area.” In describing the eastern part of the segment, it states that it “can be exceptionally challenging even for experienced hikers.Continue reading “Day 98 on the Ice Age Trail”

Originally printed July 9, 2020. Tuesday was my last day hiking this week in Taylor County. After a bit of a shaky start, it turned out to be a pretty nice day in the woods. Rain was again in the forecast for the afternoon, so I was up early to get the hike done inContinue reading “Day 97 on the Ice Age Trail”

Originally printed July 8, 2020. With some medical procedures on the horizon, I’m taking advantage of any chance to hike new segments of the Ice Age Trail. So, last Sunday, July 5th, I returned to Taylor County to get in some more hiking. I scouted the routes I was going to bike in order toContinue reading “Day 96 on the Ice Age Trail”