09/24/06

IAT Thru Hike

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

2006-07-13 / Thursday

10:00 AM Status – Bummer! Technical difficulties!

Hi Friends of the IAT; 

John was really burning up the trail yesterday – he finished the day with 30 miles.  He hiked until about 9:30-10:00 PM.  He hiked so late because he couldn’t find a safe spot to pitch his tent.   He was up at 3:00 AM today.  At the time of the status call today he was on Thornapple Creek Road (Map 70e) and his destination for the day is the far side of the Dells of the Eau Claire County Park in Marathon County (Map 71e). 

Now for some bad news, I didn’t write yesterday because John had no cell phone service.  In fact John called me this morning at 8:30 AM from some wood workers shop landline telephone.  John is running out of minutes on his personal cell phone plus his phone is roaming which is making it very expensive to call.

 We are trying to figure something out, when I hear some news I will pass it on to you all.  

 I have a favor to ask of you, next weekend I plan on back packing with John.  Would anyone be willing be willing to let me park my car at their place and then drive me to the trailhead on Saturday and then pick me up Sunday dropping me off at my car? 

I’ll be able to write at the earliest on Monday, July 17^th.  This weekend is a trail building project on the Holy Hill Segment of the IAT and I will be helping out. 

Happy Trails,