Snow, we finally got some snow yesterday. I never thought it would happen anymore this year. Seriously, its because of those snowshoes I bought.

All day I watched it fall and when work was over I headed outside to clear the driveway. This was wet heavy snow, snowball snow. Snowman snow. Neither Joel and Mackenzie were home at this time so when work was done, time to play.

I made two, over six foot tall snowmen. The neighbors snowblowing must think I was crazy. Maybe, its doesn't feel like it to me. 

Another Hike

Today is MLK day and I get the day off as do a lot of people. Usually I will make a pilgrimage to Cascade Mountain for a day of snowboarding. I had Joel to go with me. I even bought a pair of wrist guards. But the weather of sleet, freezing rain, rain and more freezing rain made me decide to shelf that idea. Too far to drive in bad weather to be outdoors in bad wet weather and be miserable. It was going to be bad enough I was snowboarding.

So to keep active on Sunday before the Packer game I decided to go on a hike. I had a route planned for my winter snow/camp attempt (if that ever happens) and I decided to scout it out and see if it was too much to do.

I started at Butler Lake. This is a little known recreation area in the Northern Kettle Moraine. Lake access, well water and a few picnic tables.  I was through here on a previous hike in 2015. 

Its actually a little farther than I wanted to hike but they have a nice parking lot here, it's a no brainer.

I head out on the trail at exactly 10 AM. About 22 degrees and full sun. I was amazed at how much snow that was still on the ground. Around my house it's pretty garbage. The last hike I was on was garbage. Icy, rutted, messy. Here it was solid snow. Trails were solid snow. This made me a bit happier as I would not be fighting the ruts and twisting knees and ankles.

Right out of the parking lot there are are stairs. Makes for a nice lake overlook. My goal was to get to Parnell Tower Shelter area about 4.4 miles away and then come back for about 9 miles total.

It was sunny and while not warm, it was not windy and I was plenty warm. The trail was easy to navigate.

Finally I got to shelter #4. This is where I would camp out for the night when and if I do a winter trip.

Not much to look at but it is a designated campsite in the area. i suppose nothing would stop me from going off trail to do my own thing either (other than being illegal), but there is an outhouse about 100 yards away if you need that.

This was where I was supposed to turn around and head back. I did scope out the Parnell Tower loop prior to coming up so I headed north about 100 ft and took the purple trail loop for Parnell. This trail had not seen half the traffic the Ice Age trail sees and it showed. I could have used my snow shoes for this one. Deeper snow and not packed down much at all.

Much less travelled for sure. They were also doing some forest thinning and logging here so the trail was a bit wild at times. I was wearing my trail runner boots and they state they are waterproof, but after getting into the snow for a while I could feel my feet getting wet. That's never good. 

The Parnell loop is about  and extra 3.2 miles. I finally reach the tower at around 12:40. Take a walk up the 80 or 100 stairs to the top of the tower. Looks really different with no leave on any trees, You can really see the kames now.

I am also stupid hungry and eat the few things I brought. A snickers bar, and a some bit o honey's. I finish the loop and get back on the Ice Age Trail heading back south.

I make pretty good time and am back at the car by 2:30. My three hour under 9 mile trek turned into a four plus hour 12 mile hike. Home in time to shower and watch the Packer game!   2 weeks into the new year and I have 17 miles in. Pretty good start.

ALL PICTURES HERE

Year in Review

Well here it is 2017.  2016 was interesting to say the least.

Mackenzie turned 16 and started driving. I did a ton of work to the civic to get her a car that will make it two years. She's not thrilled with it, but it beats the bus and,  hey, she now knows how to drive stick shift.  She also had her other hip operated on. Thus effectively killing her 3rd high school basketball season in a row.  Disappointing for sure.

Joel graduated from college in May. I still have a hard time with this one. Makes me feel really old and often stupid and lazy, but good for him. Unfortunately, the job market for him has been tight and it's been very difficult for him to find work in his field. He has more interviews coming up so we keep our fingers crossed.

My bro Jim and I took as many kids as we could for a fantastic day at Great America er I mean Six Flags.

No doubt I have kept active. I did a few larger longer backpacking trips this year. One in Arizona and one in Minnesota. Did an overnight river trip with Kiki on the Wisconsin River and a weekend overnight river trip with Joel on the Namekagon river. Both firsts for both of them. They said they enjoyed it and are willing to do more. This doesn't include the day trips, hikes and single overnight trips I did as well.

Finally, we finished up the year with a family trip to New York City in December. That was really nice and makes me wonder how many more of these full family vacations we will have.

As for this blog, well it was a bit neglected. Only 25 posts in 2016. lowest of the 8 plus years I have been doing this. However, the content of a lot of those posts, was much greater.  We will see what happens this year.

In my little side bars I track a lot of things. I figured I flew for work and vacation over 17,000 miles. Southwest sent me an email last week that said I did over 32,000.  Not sure about that.

I did hike 128 miles and paddled almost 60. A bit short of a personal goal of 300 total.  I think I will try for 300 or 325 again this year. I have already started researching places to go. I get an extra 5 days of vacation this year, but realize that some of that will be used if Mackenzie want's to tour out of state schools this summer.

I only read 10 books this year, a bit less than I like to, but I would go in streaks.

How about grilling? over 100 pounds of meat went through my grill this year and 8 square feet of pizza as well. That is a lot.

Whats in store for 2017? Only time will tell.

Thanks for reading.
-Jeff

Cabin Fever

Well here it is 2017. The weather is typical.  Snow, melted snow, ice, and rain.  As if it weren't grey enough.

The dogs were getting feisty with each other and I had a touch of cabin fever. Sunday I grabbed one of them and we did the Culver's out and back hike here in West Bend. Thats starting at Hwy D, traversing the Ice Age trail for about 2 and half miles where it pops out on Hwy 33 behind Culvers. Its ok if you want Culver's and with hunting season going on for another few days, this section hunting is prohibited, so that is a plus.

Where are we going!?!

Trail crossing at Beaver Dam road

This time though because I had a furry companion, there would be no Culver's,  We just stopped had some water shared a few pretzels and headed back.  Although I am sure Beamer would have loved a burger or 3.

Frozen marsh

Where does he get the energy?

Obligatory selfie.

Being out in the sort of snow made me want for a snow storm. I think it would be perfect to snowshoe this trail after a good snow. Also since I bought Tracy snowshoes and poles for Christmas, (Am I an awesome husband or what?) As is sat, it was half melted, then frozen with foot prints and icy ruts. I did not take my trekking poles and wish I did. I didn't fall but it may have helped my balance. With snowshoes and more snow pack it would have been fun. Then I thought about an overnight in a snowstorm.... Now I am planning one night in the Kettle Moraine when snow is forecast. probably needs to be perfect timing,  but snowshoe/backpack in, camp the night and hike out the next morning. Just think of the quietness of the forest while snowing. Yea I am a weirdo.

New Years Eve

Happy New Year!
We were doing a whole lot of nothing on New Year's Eve, until my sister texted me and said that they were headed up to Sunburst for some tubing.

I tossed it out to Tracy and Joel. They were in. Mackenzie already had plans for the evening.

No one but me is set up for full on winter activity so after we got everyone some boots and snow pants (basically finding stuff that would work, including digging out some very old very small snow pants for Tracy) we were ready to go.

Hit the hill at 5 met Jenny and her crew along with her friend Shelly (and family). Tubed for 2 hours straight.

Starting with Tracy being petrified the first few runs and swearing at me like a sailor.

Eventually she got over it and we had a great time.

After tubing we went home and did some grilling for dinner, watched a movie and eventually staying up playing beer pong until 2 am.  Good to have a college grad ready to help us with all the rules and options when playing.

Can't tell you the last time we stayed up that late on New Years or had as much fun.