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Hiking around beautiful Lake LaGrange

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

For me, this week's walks were both around beautiful Lake LaGrange. I needed a short walk on Tuesday before my monthly Ice Age Trail meeting and the next day a short walk on the Ice Age Trail was desired by one of the participants. Since the distance around the lake is two and seven tenths miles it was a perfect choice for each walk.

The Tuesday evening walk was in dry but cool weather and rain coming from the southeast was predicted in a couple hours. There was clear sky overhead but the southeast sky was dark gray with clouds.

We walked fast, stopping only to inspect the flooded Kangaroo Walk at its west end while waiting for a person who was coming a couple minutes late.

At the white blazed trail, everyone except me in our group of nine continued for another mile or so before cutting over to the horse trail to return to the meeting place. I took the white trail back to complete my walk around the lake and ended the hike just before twilight ended in time to go home to get ready for my meeting.

The next day found 15 of us meeting during a steady light rain. Ten led by Norwin carpooled to the Nordic Trails to hike there while Jim Christianson and I took the others around the lake.

With Jim and me there was one other regular weekly walker and two new ones, including the youngest person to accompany me on a walk. Two-month-old Dayne Kruz was accompanied by his proud grandmother who carried him in a fully protected frontal child carrying pack. Dayne appeared very comfortable and apparently enjoyed the entire walk.

This was a leisurely walk compared to the one the evening before. We stopped to enjoy the sights at various spots along the trail.

The rain gradually diminished while we walked to only an occasional mist. This was Jim's last walk with us for this year as he is going to Florida for the winter where others in his family live. I will have the honor of leading most of the shorter walks until he returns in April.

Afterwards the Lake LaGrange walkers regrouped at Randy's in Whitewater for a very tasty lunch as Jim's guest. Thanks Jim!! And enjoy the warm weather in Florida while we play in the snow.

Happy trekking, Russ

Activities

Sunday, Dec. 6, 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 (262) 473-4973.

Tuesday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m.: Holiday potluck and meeting of the Walworth/Jefferson Co 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 - Dec. 13. During those three weeks the Ice Age Trail in the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest is open for hunting and one should only be on the trails if wearing blaze orange

We will still meet at the regular meeting place for the weekly walks, but then will carpool to walk at areas closed to hunting. It is also a good idea to wear bright clothing and no brown or white during the deer season when walking in a non-hunting area.

On Nov. 25 we will walk the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Janesville. The walk will be the IAT along the Rock River in Riverside Park. If no ice or snow and not too wet we will continue on the beautiful Devil's Staircase segment.

We will carpool from our meeting place and arrive at the parking area along the road near the gate at Riverside Park by approximately 11:30am.

If meeting us there, take Highway14 west past Highway 26 and after crossing the Rock River Turn left on Highway E.

Go a ways past the golf course on left, and turn left at the corner with a bar and restaurant on the left.

The road goes under the railroad and continues to the park where it will end at a gate. There should be a.m.ple parking on the side of the road.

On Dec. 2 and 9 we will commute to Lapham Peak arriving at the Evergreen Shelter at about 11:15 a.m.