I have the day off today and usually the last few MLK days I have spent outside. More specifically snowboarding. Unfortunately, I am having issues with my neck and will not be doing that this year.
We did just get a few inches of snow, just enough to cover the grass again, but not enough to bother with cross country skiing or even snowshoeing.
Since I have been somewhat homebound, I have been on a real cleaning and 'simplification' binge the last week or so. Both physical and digital. Took a large box of stuff to best buy for recycling I have a box for goodwill and a full garbage can.
I was going through some of my files and found a document where I listed outdoor trips for 2017. Larger ones that require travel. It was a short list:
1. Havasua Falls. Check!
2. Porcupine Mountains. Check!
3. Finish what you start Arizona Trail (re-attempting 2016 hike). Nope.
As Meatloaf sang - 2 out of 3 ain't bad.
Being cooped up and having the day off I decided to think and publish options for this year (body willing). This list started getting large so maybe it should be a living adventure list that gets added to and checked off with trips completed and trips re run.
First I want to start off with a few on the water. Long boat trips are different than backpacking because of the stuff you can carry and while difficult are not as taxing.
Here is a simple local one that could be done in a few weekends. The Milwaukee river. Thiensville dam to lake Michigan. I have done Barton to Thiensville. The rest is more an urban paddle and I have wanted to do this for the last few years. I would also need to do about 5 miles between Kewaskum and Barton. I would then have paddled the whole river (the navigable parts).
The Namekagon River. This National Scenic Waterway is so nice. The river section in Wisconsin is about 90 miles. Jim, Joel and I have done 2/3 of it. One more weekend and we could say we did the whole thing.
Similarly, the Bois Brule river has always been one I have been interested in. Gliding past the lodge used by several presidents for trout fishing, some exciting rapid runs and finally the emptying into Lake Superior.
Apostle Islands. Tracy and I bought a book at the canoe show on this. Make base camp on an island and day trip all round the others. Relaxing and adventuresome all in the same.
Door county. Of course. Again, I have a book on day trips for Door county. A long weekend to see shipwrecks, beaches and things you don't see from land.
Finally, a trip for a week and more people the merrier kind of thing. The BWCA in Minnesota. Boundary Waters Canoe Area. I have done this 2 times but so long ago. A group of folks, a few canoes, 5 days to get lost and relax. I just looked up full outfitting rates and its reasonable $400-500 per person for 7 days. This includes everything, even food. Even cheaper with larger groups. Hmmm really need to think about that one more.
On to the trail.
Easily one of my favorites, the Superior Hiking Trail. I have about 55 miles of the 250+ miles completed and before I even found that document and started writing this I had already scoped out a next section. 47 miles. 3 nights and 4 days. A long weekend perhaps
Then there are a few northern Wisconsin ones as well. The Ice Age Trail and the North Country Scenic trails both have long sections that are easily accessible for long weekends or more.
The Arizona trail that keeps mocking me? Probably not this year. Although with Mackenzie attending school in Tucson, this is going to get done one way or another.
I would go back and do the Porcupines again. It's a nice trail and can be easily done as a loop.
The Smokey Mountains are also intriguing. Getting a taste of them again on our southern school road trip last summer, lots of options to do sections of the Appalachian Trail.
Eventually, not this year and not sure when, the John Muir Trail in the Sierras of California is another bucket list trip. That requires a lot of planning. Nearly a month off work to travel and hike it, it's not something to take lightly.
Thats all I have for now. Any suggestions or comments leave them below.
