Happy Halloween! 🎃

This week has been spooky fun! On Sunday we moved our base camp to my mom’s. Monday I bifurcated (def not the correct usage of the word), hiked 25 miles in a day, and then upped it on Wednesday to 30.67. Yesterday I de-bifurcated (let me have it), and today I slowed my pace to thoroughly enjoy Devil’s Lake and the surrounding segments. I also left the trail early to take Vivi trick-or-treating. No more rest days though, I HAVE to finish by 11/16.

Halloween decor on the connecting routes does not disappoint.

I’ve been rushing to make up time but was reminded by mom to pause and enjoy the journey, so I sat awhile on a bench overlooking this view. I grew up near Devil’s Lake and it’s wild to be passing through it on the Ice Age Trail.

swoon

Peak fall colors 🍂

swoon

Please someone paint this for me.

Easiest part of the trail: crossing the Wisconsin River via the Merrimac Ferry! That’s Eric in our truck. His timing for pick up has consistently been prefect, but today was especially great. He pulled up to the ferry with only seconds to spare and we hung out on deck during the crossing. Once on shore I officially tapped out of the trail and hopped into the truck.

One of the reasons I chose the Eastern Bifurcation over the Western. Located on the Portage Canal Segment this bench is a memorial to my brother’s best friend who died when they were in high school. We grew up ~10mins from here (country speak for the next town over).