AJ Page
The historic Ice Age National Trail runs an amazing 1,000 miles, from the Potawatomi State Park in Sturgeon Bay, Door County to the Minnesota border, exclusively through Wisconsin. It was established in 1950 by Milwaukean Ray Zillmer, and remains a nostalgic favorite of many a hiker today. There are several legs that you can pick up, but one note: you will most likely hike as far as you can and come back the way you came. There are no loops on this trail.
One of the nicer jaunts is just off scenic Kettle Moraine Drive in West Bend. There is a shelter up during the colder months where you can do just that – the bench-like seating areas inside are wide enough to unroll a sleeping bag on for a snooze. There is also a small grill available for grub and a one unit pit toilet nearby. Speaking of glutes, you can most certainly get a glute-worthy workout on this hilly terrain. It is woodsy and secluded – a true naturalist's delight.
On the Blue Spring Lake Segment in Palmyra, there are several cardio-challenging hills to climb. Take a gander at the scenic overlook atop Bald Bluff (shortest jaunt) over the Jefferson County countryside. Continue on for about two more miles to inspect the local legend dubbed, the "Stone Elephant," by settlers in the 1930s. (Actually, it much more resembles a whale's head emerging from the ground.) Prairies and pleasant sections of pine forests lead the way to enjoy on your trek.
Another jaunt we have enjoyed in the past is on the Loew Lake Segment. This provides miles of peaceful sight-seeing with the perfect mix of forest and prairie land to enjoy as well.
Still another section of the trail worth perusing near Milwaukee intersects with the trails at the Pike Lake Kettle Moraine unit. This park also contains some truly lovely, newly added backpack sites. A mere 1/4 mile from the parking lot, they are definitely worth the privacy derived once walking in. Pack light and tote in yourselves, or bring your own wagon/wheelbarrow.
With the just passed executioner-style budget cuts to our state park's system – courtesy of our current governor – the Ice Age Trail is at risk. You can become a member in support of the trail for $35 a year. This also provides you with benefits such as a invitations to special social events and a subscription to "Mammoth Tales." Wisconsin has an amazing array of well-maintained and beautiful state parks. They are indeed worth the money to protect and worth the caring staff who work to maintain them. Do not be fooled. These cuts are severe: more than $4.5 million is will be taken away from them. According to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau in an article by Shawn Johnson on Wisconsin Public Radio, "there are no other state park systems that are entirely self-sufficient."
I am personally baffled why the only hikes Republicans such as Senator Tom Tiffany seem interested in are hikes on the once always reasonable fees to use these parks. By the way Mr. Tiffany, the majority of us who do like to camp in our state regularly, are indeed hard-working Wisconsin taxpayers who are not necessarily in a higher income bracket, such as yourself. That's why we like to use them. We couldn't afford expensive luxury RVs even if we wanted to. We like to spend time in the wilderness to escape urban blight and overcrowding. We don't want our natural state parks to be turned into carny-run amusement parks.
If we don't have the money to maintain our parks and trails, people will not be able to hike and camp and enjoy them anymore. It is a very simple equation. Honestly, what do some really have against trees and exercising outside? Perhaps the only green they can really connect with is the paper bill. The other half of us who share a different opinion shouldn't be punished because of that.
Don't ever want to visit a park renamed after Time Warner Cable – (doesn't have the same ring, does it?) contact your State Representatives. The senators for my district are Nikiya Harris Dodd and Evan Goyke. Both responded personally to my written concerns, and it's a heck of a lot better than sitting back and letting the relentless bulldozer of industry do away with all that is pristine, and was. Blog, speak out, get involved! Volunteer to help tend to the parks and the Ice Age Trail so that they do not fall into disrepair. The latter is funded in part by the state, but also with the help of a non-for-profit alliance. It is one of three National trails found wholly in one state.
- For a wonderful account of a serious hiker who braved the entire Ice Age Trail and spells out the legitimate concerns for its continued existence, go to the WPR podcast from the Joy Cardin show: http://www.wpr.org/ice-age-trail-provides-value-state-advocate-says
- To learn more about what the Ice Age Trail has to offer and to plan a hike visit http://www.iceagetrail.org/ice-age-trail/
All photos courtesy AJ Page.
