Author Archives: jbanello

Originally printed May 30, 2019. On Saturday, March 25th, I completed my three days of hiking over the Memorial Day weekend with a five mile walk. This completed the connecting route between the Plover River and Kettlebowl Segments in Langlade County. I awoke Saturday morning to a thick blanket of fog. Road walking in thickContinue reading “Day 75 on the Ice Age Trail”

Originally printed May 29, 2019. Friday, May 24th, looked to be a tough day. 12.6 miles were on tap. Rain was in the forecast – 60% odds of showers during the day, with thunderstorms, some severe, forecast for the afternoon and evening. When I went to bed Thursday evening, I was hopeful that I couldContinue reading “Day 74 on the Ice Age Trail”

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 lastContinue reading “Day 73 on the Ice Age Trail”

Originally printed May 5, 2019 Finally, the spring weather for which I have been yearning arrived last Friday, giving me a great day to hike in the woods. I had been working my way north for several months. Generally, I like to hike “the next segment up”, but the wet weather over the past twoContinue reading “Day 72 on the Ice Age Trail”

Originally printed May 4, 2019. The Dells of the Eau Claire and the Plover River Segments. 11.9 miles. Two walks along rivers. Two entirely different experiences. What made the Dells of Eau Claire so unique, I learned, was its geology. For those readers who are out of earshot of the incessant Wisconsin Dells commercials, hereContinue reading “Day 71 on the Ice Age Trail”

Originally printed April 8, 2019. The theme for today was “picking them up and laying them down.” After a wonderful Saturday night dinner in Waupaca at T-Dubs (prom night at Waupaca HS = great people watching), Jane and I were up bright and early on Sunday as we drove to the starting point for today’sContinue reading “Day 70 on the Ice Age Trail”

Originally printed April 7, 2019. Not one of my better days on the trail. A combination of lousy weather plus several instances of me shooting myself in the foot made for one of my more forgettable days on the Ice Age Trail. My goal was to hike a 9 mile (remember that number) chunk ofContinue reading “Day 69 on the Ice Age Trail”

Originally printed March 23, 2019. Plan B turned out to be the best option after all. When I first locked in a hike for yesterday, I had in mind a south to north, 10.2 mile hike with nearly equal parts of trail and road walking. But, the deep snow we’ve had followed by heavy rainsContinue reading “Day 68 on the Ice Age Trail”

Originally printed February 3, 2019. Thanks to the Return of the Polar Vortex, my hike went through a few changes before I set off last Friday morning. As recently as a week ago, I was looking at two days’ hiking – a 5 miler on Thursday with the balance on Friday. Then I got aContinue reading “Day 67 on the Ice Age Trail”

Originally printed January 21, 2019. “Note: This rough and rugged stretch is often wet and may be difficult to pass. Hikers may bypass this area – and must bypass it from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31 for hunting seasons – by continuing south on Thornapple Creek Road and then heading east on Partridge Road.” -FromContinue reading “Day 66 on the Ice Age Trail”