yellow blazes: intro to the Ice age trail
We have one of the greatest natural resources in America in Wisconsin, yet few people know about its true breath and lushness. The Ice Age Trail is now a nationally recognized National Scenic Trail, and snakes through 1,000 miles of fine Wisconsin land.
This trip is intented to show you just how accessible the Trail is, and that an incredible natural adventure is always only about an hour away from you.
DAY ONE: Meet at Parnell Tower in Sheboygan County. Leave some cars, and carpool the about 20 miles to Backpacking Shelter One Parking at Highway H. Hike eight miles to Backpacking Shelter Two.
NIGHT ONE: camp at Backpacking Shelter Two, a private, backpackers-only shelter hidden in the friendly forests of the Kettle Moraine North.
DAY TWO: Solobackpack to Shelter Five, sixteen miles through beautiful meadows, forests, and hearty Wisconsin land wholly shaped by ancient glaciers.
NIGHT TWO: camp at Backpacking Shelter Five, another backpackers-only shelter tucked in a forest.
DAY THREE: Double back on the IAT to Parnell Tower, three miles. We will celebrate the land and our proudbodies atop the Parnell Tower with a simple breakfast and champagne.
Group number: 3-5 , miles hiked: twenty-seven (27)
This stretch of the IAT is ancient: the glaciers that once lived here carved the land with wild knives. That means there are many small hills that will challenge your legs but not beat them down. If you are concerned about topography, you are welcome to ask me anything. But know that your body CAN do this, your spirit craves adventure, and if your spirit craves it hard enough, your body will do the work, and do it well.
I do not do group hikes. I am only interested in solo backpacking, so that means you can go at your own pace, and have complete freedom being alone in Nature. You will never feel that you have to keep up with anyone, and the Ice Age Trail is so beautifully marked that you will also never feel alone.
The Gear
I have assembled the primary pieces of backpacking gear for you to rent. (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack) You may have some equipment already: great! Bring it, and rent what you don’t have.
When I began backpacking, the REI Backpacking Checklist was valuable to me. It is linked below, but I promise you, you don’t need everything written here. Backpacking gear is extremely expensive when new, so I hope I’ve taken some pressure off by investing in gear so that you’re not burdened by expenses for an activity you don’t even know if you’re going to like.
You will be responsible for bringing your clothes, toiletries, and your own food and if you choose to use heat when cooking , your own backpacking stove. (Note: you don’t need one.)
I believe in rewarding your solitude when you’ve made camp, so I recommend bringing a book and certainly a journal. Journaling is one of the ways we map our inner landscapes. My pa has built adventure journals for this very purpose, and if you’re interested in one for yourself, let me know!
You are welcome to email me about any gear questions you have.
the value
The base price for the trek is $227.00. Included in this price is state backcountry reservations, taxes/fees, and our champagne breakfast.
Each piece of gear is $50.00 to rent. If you need just one piece of gear, add $50. If you need all four, add $200. We will be in touch about your needs, and I’ll send you a Paypal invoice for the gear rental you need.
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I hope to show you two doors: the one out in Nature that is always open to you, and the one inside yourself that ought never be shut. Backpacking is a challenging, meaningful, beautiful path into the heart of living fiercely.