Out of the Northwoods!

I made it out of the Northwoods! FINALLY. I’ve been pretty discouraged the last few weeks, feeling the pressure of time and being so far behind, worried that I’ll never finish before we need to return to Seattle. My mood is lifting now that I’ve turned south. Along with my speed and mileage. Good news is that I never saw a bear, though I did hear one very, VERY close. Too close. Pretty sure it was behind me to my right, but a glance back didn’t reveal a looming figure in what I could see through the dense trees. Based on its vocalization I’m 99% sure it was a bear but part of me wants to believe it was a moose. Wisconsin has a population of ~40 moose centered in a different county than the one I was in, but county borders are only social constructs. I’m also not ruling out Bigfoot.

I love crossing footbridges. Especially those that have seen better days.

I also love walking through leaves even if they obscure tree roots, stumps, and stones.

The highlight of each day: pick-up & family.

Trail humor? (psst, the swamp is still there)

Wisconsin is mostly flat and this hike is nothing close to the heights you find in the PNW, but it has been hilly. This is from the top of the Mondeaux Esker.

Skeleton breaking out of a tree.

So many impressive beaver dams.

This one, same as above, is multi-level!

My spirits greatly improved once I made it to my first crossing of the Wisconsin River at Grandfather Falls. The river courses near the town I grew up in and was also the location where Eric and I married three years ago.

Could have spent the whole day here.

A snippet of why I move slowly. Better to be behind than have to quit with a broken ankle.

The Grandfather Falls Segment includes an out-and-back portion, 1.7 miles each way. I thought there would be a geologically significant feature at the end but it was just this sign.

On a long connecting route when I was feeling particularly discourage, I glanced up to find this beauty and laughed out loud. It truly startled me because I was too busy looking at the farm houses and my feet.

My heart.

So much beauty.

I knew I would have to ford this creek.

And I did.

Fall is in full swing and the colors are gorgeous.

Starting to find these signs normal. But if you need a sign, then something happened?

Surprise! The snakes STILL aren’t hibernating. I thought for sure with a week of morning frost, temperatures dipping into the low 40s, and plain wishful thinking would have them slumbering. Alas, turns out that’s a misnomer and they can be roused by a warm day to bask in the sun.