09/24/06

IAT Thru Hike

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

2006-07-19 / Wednesday

10:00 AM Status – No walk in the park

Hi Friends of the IAT,

John called me yesterday (7/18) to work out the details of our hike this coming weekend (7/21 – 7/23).  The plan is for me to meet up with him at New Wood County Park on Hwy 107 (Map 83e) Friday evening and starting there early Saturday morning hiking to where the IAT crosses Hwy 102 at the end of the Wood Lake Segment (Map 86e).   This hike will be a lot different than the one where we hiked the IAT from the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest to Janesville, WI.  That one involved mostly road walking.  This weekend’s hike involves mostly trail walking with several stream crossings.   John stated that it would be “no walk in the park” like when we hiked thru the city park in downtown Milton, WI.   I figure we will be hiking 45.9 miles in two days.   Yeah, I’m both excited and a bit nervous, nervous about whether or not I’ll be able to keep up with John who is in trail shape and less than half my age.   I think I will just hike my own hike and if necessary catch up with him at the end of the day.  We shall see.

I was not able to get a cell phone connection with John today so I have nothing current to report on him.  I will try calling everyday at 10:00 AM and if I get a connection I will let you all know.   Expect on Monday or Tuesday tons of pictures and log entries from John.

A special thank you to Mark Berglund, Buzz, Steve, Gene, and company for helping John out and for offering to shuttle my van from the start of the hike to the finish.  

Happy Trails,