09/24/06

IAT Thru Hike

John Bauer and Bill Rhodes - 2006 Ice Age Trail Thru Hike Journal

2006-06-27 / Tuesday

10:00 AM Status - We are starting a supply relay for John

Hi IAT Friends, 

Well, I’m recovering from this weekend’s two days of hiking with John out on the Ice Age Trail.   This weekend was a real test, we hiked about 35 miles, most of it was road walking.   Yeah it was hot, humid and hard, there were almost no cars and the scenery was totally stunning, the green and different shades of it, the blueness of the sky, the white and black fluffiness of the patches of clouds and the singing of the birds took our minds off of the difficult task at hand.   I was really looking forward to the weekend; it was a test to see if I am really up for my own IAT Thru hike in 2008.   Two days with a fully loaded backpack on my back is a far cry from a day hike with a loaded daypack or reading about somebody else’s thru hike.   I must admit I was a little nervous the way John was talking about ditching some of his gear.   As it turns out the night after John told me he was going to depart with his gear it got pretty darn cold out for June and his Eureka sleeping bag with some really cool features saved the day (that is night).   His Eureka sleeping bag is definitely an essential item and he will not leave it behind ever.   I learned to love Moleskin, it definitely saved the day for me, and I will never leave home without it.   We did a foolish but fun thing in Milton, WI, we stopped for lemonade, burger and fries at Liberty Station (a really cool place that has a caboose as part of the actual restaurant).  After we finished it started to rain buckets, a real deluge, we put our rain jackets on (thanks to “Cliff) and John looks at me and says, “Should we go for it?” an I looked back at him and said “Let’s do it!” so we were out the door and within five minutes we were drenched.  What a blast!   Just like a couple of little kids, what fun.   Anyway we had about six miles to hike and we had no dry socks.  We paid for that fun with a couple of blisters, barely made it to Janesville where Cliff picked us up.  Man I wouldn’t have traded those two days for all the tea in China.   Now back to reality. 

John took off Monday and went to Waupaca, WI for a day of rest and re-supply.   He returned the same day to Janesville, WI and stayed at Cliff’s girlfriend Sara’s place for the night.  Thank you Sara!  He left Janesville, WI this morning (Map 29e) at about 8:00 am and is walking a long section of road to Magnolia Bluff Park.   As of this e-mail he is 4 miles outside of Janesville, WI on County Highway K (Between Map 29e and Map 33e).   Mike Guisleman the Rock County Parks Director has rolled out the red carpet for John and has offered him the use of the park.  He has notified the Sheriff.  John has scheduled to arrive at the park around 7:00 pm.  Thanks Mike for all of your help.  Mike is planning his own IAT thru hike for 2010.  Good luck Mike! 

Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 28^th, John will be heading towards the Brooklyn State Wildlife Area. 

We need your help.   Cliff and I have started a supply relay.  I left all off John’s supplies with Cliff.  Cliff would like to pass them to somebody in Green or Dane County who could connect up with John for a re-supply and then as John heads north pass the supplies to somebody in the county that John is passing thru.  It’s real simple, easy to do, fun and a big help.  Just let me know so I can notify John.   Also, if you can help out in any other way that would be great.  John need’s places to camp on his journey.  So if you know of any contacts send them my way. 

Happy Trails!