I don't have pictures of the Black Hawk trail. It was one of those hot days of the summer of 2012 (there were many hot ones!). I didn't know where I was going for this one. This was new territory for me. The trail is a total of 9.5 miles and I decided on this day that I would just do a scouting mission - see where the trail was located, what it was like and what sort of planning I should do for a possibly 4+ hour hike in the future.
This was one of those hikes where I was very much alone. I did not see a car parked in the lot and not a soul on the trail. It was very much me and nature. When I am isolated on a hike, I make sure a friend knows where I am and when I plan to be done. I set my alarm on my phone which I carry with me and make sure to let her know when I am safely on my way home.
The heat and lack of breeze often made the trail feel like it was closing in on me. Because the trail is named after a massacred tribe of Sauk and their leader Black Hawk, I sometimes felt the sadness of the place and the history of our government's treatment of the native people of this land. I visited the mounds and the memorial stone along the highway. It was good to think of and be aware of, yet again, the aspects of our history we should not repeat.
The trail was challenging and on this particular day after some strong winds, there were trees down in a handful of places. At one point, I was forced to walk some ways off the trail and found myself in a field of cacti! Not the tall desert cacti of the south, but small, low to the ground plants, I had to tip toe through, as if in a mine field!
The trail is near the Wisconsin River and I would have loved to dip my toes in and cool off on this hot day, but I did not see or hear water. However, after 2 hours, I looped my way back to the car. This is a trail that will have a future repeat, so I can get all 9.5 miles in and hopefully see the river!
Directions: The trail head I used is on WI 78. There is a marker for Wachter Rd. there and this is where you begin - hiking up an old, blocked off road- which is all up hill!
Thursday, August 30, 2012
The Black Hawk Unit - 2nd hike
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
First hike- Pheasant Branch Conservancy and Frederick's Knoll
On July 14th (yes, I need to catch up) a friend and I headed out with her kid in the stroller, knowing the small gravel of the loop side of the trail would be accommodating to the stroller wheels. However, I also knew we would have to part at Frederick's Knoll. The trail up the hill is cut prairie grass and is often very lumpy. But the view, is so worth it! This is where you truly understand you are walking around the Pheasant Branch Creek.
I enjoy this hike because I love the knoll so much. It is a nice challenge and it is prairie all the way up. The top of the knoll is covered with oak trees - which I love! One down side is that on occasion, the nearby CAFO or cattle factory in Waunakee sends it's stench along with the wind. I find that there are always positives and negatives to each hike. Ease, parking, gravel might be positives but they also mean traffic noise, factory smells, and other civilization related negatives. Some days I want more of a natural experience and some days this is the perfect place. We are lucky to have it so near - 15-20 min. for most Madison residents and closer for Middleton residents.
Prairie Grass |
Seed pods from a prairie plant (someone please tell me what this is, because I love it!) |
The winding branches of the oak trees on top of Frederich's Knoll |
The farm fields can be seen beyond the branches of this oak tree |
Queen Anne's Lace seemed to love this dry summer weather |
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Beginning
Some years ago I started a "bucket list" which didn't exist back then, because the movie hadn't come out. My list was actually a "25 things to do before you die" list. I had recently read A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson as recommended by my dear uncle. We both loved walks in the woods, nature, adventure and the hilarity of Bryson's adventure/ordeal. I am not the first one to be inspired thus. However, there's more inspiration to the story.
My uncle has since died, and my life has moved in all sorts of directions, not getting any nearer to the Appalachian Mountains. I recently read another book, this a self-help type book called The 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss. I haven't finished this one as is usually the case with self-help books and me (I need time to implement!). I am taking time now to implement some of the ideas recommended by Ferriss. First was a list: 5 things you want to do, 5 things you want to be, and 5 things you want to have. They are not in that order, but I like this order better. My list ofthings to have is sad - a new roof, a new garage... I am not much for more stuff. However, on my list of things to be and to do: a hiker who has hiked the Appalachian Trail! Ferriss then helps his readers work through how to do, be and have all you want.
I realized that financially, hiking the AT is currently not possible (Ferriss claims otherwise, but I haven't read that far yet). I could have just given up there. But, because I'd begun to catch on to Ferriss' motivational style, I thought "even if I had the money I needed to set off for months and months hiking, I wasn't in any way in shape for such an adventure, nor am I prepared!"
This is where book number 3 comes in (anyone who knows me well knows that I am usually reading 7-8 books at a time- very much frowned upon by the author of The 4 Hour Work Week). My third inspiration is 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Madison by Kevin Revolinsky (also known as Kev Rev, which is cool!). I live in Madison and I have walked and hiked many places, but 60?! Who knew?! I decided I could very easily start right here and hike my way to the Appalachian Trail!
And so my journey begins. This blog idea came late and I have hiked a few trails already, so I will need to spend some time back-tracking......
My uncle has since died, and my life has moved in all sorts of directions, not getting any nearer to the Appalachian Mountains. I recently read another book, this a self-help type book called The 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss. I haven't finished this one as is usually the case with self-help books and me (I need time to implement!). I am taking time now to implement some of the ideas recommended by Ferriss. First was a list: 5 things you want to do, 5 things you want to be, and 5 things you want to have. They are not in that order, but I like this order better. My list ofthings to have is sad - a new roof, a new garage... I am not much for more stuff. However, on my list of things to be and to do: a hiker who has hiked the Appalachian Trail! Ferriss then helps his readers work through how to do, be and have all you want.
I realized that financially, hiking the AT is currently not possible (Ferriss claims otherwise, but I haven't read that far yet). I could have just given up there. But, because I'd begun to catch on to Ferriss' motivational style, I thought "even if I had the money I needed to set off for months and months hiking, I wasn't in any way in shape for such an adventure, nor am I prepared!"
This is where book number 3 comes in (anyone who knows me well knows that I am usually reading 7-8 books at a time- very much frowned upon by the author of The 4 Hour Work Week). My third inspiration is 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Madison by Kevin Revolinsky (also known as Kev Rev, which is cool!). I live in Madison and I have walked and hiked many places, but 60?! Who knew?! I decided I could very easily start right here and hike my way to the Appalachian Trail!
And so my journey begins. This blog idea came late and I have hiked a few trails already, so I will need to spend some time back-tracking......
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