Main Menu | Books | Tips | Distributors | Wilderness Areas
The forest is magnificent, and though most is comprised of hardwoods, many sections were obviously replanted in pines many years ago and now provide quiet, majestic, sweet-smelling, pine-needled tread for enjoyable and scenic hiking. I will warn you, however, that our June backpack found the woods rife with mosquitoes, and though our 95% DEET bug dope kept us free of bites, they still swarmed and hovered around us constantly as we hiked. We each carried a kerchief which we kept waving over our shoulders to keep the bugs at bay. Shelter #2 was bug free for us thanks to the breeze which predominated there, and we welcomed our forays into the meadows (old glacial lake beds) which regularly break up the forest hiking and provide a much-appreciated respite from the bugs.
The three shelters on the Ice Age Trail through Kettle Moraine South are well constructed and large enough for 2 or 3 tents to be set up inside. The shelters are the only place where backpackers are allowed to camp overnight (either inside or within 100 feet of the shelter.) The shelters must be reserved (1-888-947-2757) and 2 nights for 3 people cost us $18 in June of 2000. There is a picnic table, a fire ring, and a very nice, bug-free outhouse at each shelter. Shelter #2 (above) also provided an elevated panoramic view to the meadows below and the forest in the distance. Be aware, however, that water is NOT available at the shelters. The Forest Headquarters building is a 10 minute walk from shelter #2 and has water indoors and a spigot outdoors for after-hours. Shelter #3 was a 2+ mile walk from the parking lot of the Muir Biking/Hiking Trailhead where there is water, but there are no signs directing you to that area and the looping biking trails can easily send you off on a long detour.
Unfortunately, the one missing element of the Ice Age Trail was the lack of lakes along the trail. Lake LaGrange (above) was the sole lake along the trail, and a short side trail makes it accessible to a public road (so the lake is not a "wilderness" lake.) It should be noted that the Ice Age Trail is maintained by volunteers who obviously take their job seriously. The trail is in excellent condition, there were very few trees across the trail, and the trail had few mud areas despite a very wet spring. The fact that bike riders and equestrians have separate trails also helps trail conditions.
Main
Menu | Books | Tips | Distributors | Wilderness
Areas
E-mail
Chuck at CMorHiker@aol.com