We are back from Mexico!  See the travel blog HERE, Since I kept the technology to a minimum in Mexico, I had no laptop or way to blog while there.

Also the entire photo Album with Google or a few more as included with my Flickr page as well

A little Mothers Day on Saturday Or Ice Age Trail Hike V

I sent out an email earlier in the week to Mom and Jenny asking if they wanted to go for a hike on the southern end of the Ice Age trail in Washington county.  I planned on a 6 mile segment. Selfishly I did not want to do less because I want to finish the trail in the county in 2 more segments. Anything less than 6 miles would put that in jeopardy.

I heard back from Mom that she couldn't.  Then Jenny mentioned she had a 5K the next day, and that it might take her legs out and I wholeheartedly agreed.  Based on that I planned on going alone.

Friday, Mom was back on. If I could make it shorter.  She did not think she could go farther.  Well She knocked out the last 3 miles we did so well, I talked her into this 6 miles.  It had less elevation change than the last hike and still met my goals.

We hit the trail about 1:00 that afternoon.  I was already a bit tired, I had hit the gym at 8 and the workout of the day was particularly gruelling. I may have been a bit worried in the back of my head....for me not Mom.

Look at Heidi Hiker JA!

This section of the trail is called the Loew Lake segment. Starting at the county line and ending where Mom and I started our last section.  The weather was nice, not too hot, not super sunny and it made for pleasant conditions.  

Like the last few times there is still little growth on the trees yet and you can really see some things you might not see with all the leaves.  

This section took us through a pine plantation, lots of prairie or fields, the bank of the Oconomowoc river, some hard wood forest and a lake view.  Quite varied.  

Even  a little trail obstruction to climb over.

More benches by the WGHC.

The last mile of this hike was a bit of a let down.  It was all on pavement.  Which always seems to be more work than it should be.  On the trail you sort of lose the fact you're walking up or down because it's part of the adventure.  In the woods, through trees around logs, over creeks.  It's not the same on pavement.  

We finished in about 3 hours, with more than a half hour of breaks for pictures, snacks, and taking in the scenery.

Next segment will take Us (me?) from halfway through the Holy Hill segment all the way through Pike Lake state park and into downtown slinger. 

Until then here is a little map of what we did the last two combined (blue this trip, green last trip).  Also is a chart of the elevation and my heart rate.  I forgot to put it on for the first 2 miles - not that I was flatlined for the first 2.

As Always Google Pics HERE and Flickr pics HERE