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As fall approaches winter, days become shorter

Photo at left: Click for recent photos from the the Ice Age Trail.

We carpooled to Natureland County Park at the south end of Whitewater Lake for our first walk this week. The temperature dropped as the sun set, and the moon came up before twilight ended. We all had a great time walking the trails in this beautiful park.

The next day, Jim led eight hikers, including one new walker on the beautiful trail around Lake LaGrange while the remaining sixteen of us carpooled to the Emma Carlin Trailhead south of Wisconsin Highway 59 on County Highway Z.

From there we walked south on Z about a half mile to the horse trails, which we took westward.

We walked the very pretty south loop of the horse trail and then took a left on the horse/snowmobile trail which crosses Z south of the intersection of Z and Little Prairie Rd.

Some of us call that intersection 'peacock corner' because there always are peafowl there when we drive past.

Then, on the east side of Zm we walked northward on the horse/snowmobile trails to the intersection with the outer loop of the McMiller Ski Trails.

Then we continued north on the ski trail past some beautiful kettles seen at the bottom of steep hillsides below where we walked.

The trail passes the Stute Homestead where we split up. Norwin led those who wanted to hike farther on the Stute Springs Nature Trail and I led the other group to the parking lot.

My hike was about four and a half miles and Norwin's group added a couple more miles to that distance.

A stop at The LaGrange Country Store for soup and sandwich ended our adventure for the day.

Happy trekking, Russ

Activities

Sunday, Nov. 8, 11 a.m.: Hike, potluck, calendar planning for 2010 for Walworth/Jefferson County Chapter, Ice Age Trail Alliance. Meet at Wildermuth home. Contact Judy Wildermuth (262) 473-2415.

Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m.: Trail volunteer workday. Meet at the U.S. Highway 12 trail crossing. Contact Gary Klatt (262) 473-4973.

Sunday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m.: Regional Ice Age Trail Alliance meeting at Cravath Lake Pavilion, Whitewater. Contact Brad Crary, brad@iceagetrail.org.

Tuesday, Nov. 17, 7 p.m.: Meeting of the Walworth/Jefferson Coounty Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance. Meet at US Bank, Elkhorn. Contact Russ Helwig (262) 473-2187.

Sunday, Dec. 8, 9 a.m.: Visit to the Milwaukee Art Museum. Carpool from the Elkhorn Park and Ride at 9 a.m., or meet us at the East Troy Park and Ride at 9:30 a.m. Contact Gary Klatt at (262) 473-4973.

Tuesday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m.: Holiday potluck and meeting of the Walworth/Jefferson Coounty Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance. Meet at US Bank, Elkhorn. Contact Russ Helwig (262) 473-2187.

Weekly Walks

We meet at 4 p.m. Tuesdays and 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays at the Highway 12 Ice Age National Scenic Trail crossing located about four miles east of Whitewater.

We include two or more walks of different distances on Wednesdays, and also do this on Tuesdays when desired.

All ages are welcome.

Note that a state park pass is required to park a car at the Highway 12 meeting place.

A daily or yearly pass may be purchased at the meeting place provided correct change is available.

Note on gun deer hunting season.

This year the season runs from Nov. 21 through Dec. 13.

During those three weeks the Ice Age Trail in the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest is closed to hiking.

We will still meet at the regular meeting place for the weekly walks, but then will carpool to walk at areas closed to hunting.

The Wednesday walks will likely carpool to Lapham Peak, but one of the weeks we may go to Janesville to walk the "Devils Staircase" section of the Ice Age Trail and other pretty sections of the trail.