Well, you accomplished what you said you didn't want to do. That sounds like an awesome trip, but a bit far for anyone on the other side of the big stinky pond (lk michigan.) I don't know if we are ever going to get a consensus, but we are getting a lot of great ideas. Maybe we need to start compiling a list, and thinking about dates as well. I like fall better than summer - too many things going on in summer. Less of all the bad things (crowds, heat, bugs, etc), more of the good (scenery, quiet, etc.)Originally Posted by canoebie
If we postpone the Midwest hang until Fall, compile some locations and start a poll of where, and when, all of these options should be available again. Kurt, that's a great place you pointed out! I've done some camping up in that neck of the woods, and it is beautiful country. I grew up with the Chequamegon National Forest in my backyard and the Apostle Islands in my front yard, and spent a lot of time in the Nicolet and the Chequamegon growing up and while in college.Errr, since Lake Delton was just wiped off the map maybe the whole Baraboo thing isn't such a good idea...
SW Wisconsin: The Sparta area is pretty nice, and has the advantage that we could combine camping/hiking with some of the best bicycling in the midwest - the Sparta McElroy trail is legendary. Its also right off the Interstate, which makes it readily accessible.
Crud: I just checked the website for the Kickapoo Valley Reserve (http://kvr.state.wi.us/), "DUE TO HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODING, ALL trails are CLOSED". Skip that one.
Eau Claire Dells: you *do* know they are nowhere near the city of Eau Claire...they are NW of Wausau. Great spot, I've been there a coupla times as my wife is from Antigo (OK, now everyone can make fun of that name) There's a section of the Ice Age trail over there that's been in my sights for a while, but might be better suited for October when the bugs are down. My father-in-law would be happy to do some shuttling for us if anyone wants to attempt that. Links:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/cnnf/rec/tra...atl_trail.html
or maybe
http://www.iceagetrail.org/PDF/Serie...20Langlade.pdf
Food for thought,
--Kurt
B4 anyone makes fun of the place names (yes, you NCPatrick), let me tell you the story of how the Chequamegon Bay was named on Lake Superior.
Up in Northern Wisconsin, we are known for our long and brutal winters. Before the white man came to the area, the local Chippewa (Ojibwa) and Souix Indians were the local inhabitants. The first fur traders going through the area would canoe in through the lakes, visit the tribes in the spring and summer, and ship the furs back before the brutal winter hit.
After a few years of trading, a local tribe had learned enough pigeon english to briefly converse with the transient fur traders, so an intrepid French fur trader, Francois Tete dans Arriere decided to stay over the winter with the local Ojibwa Bad River tribe to get a jump on the trapping and trading in the spring. After a particularly long winter, he noticed a curious ritual that would take place each day at about the same time as the trees started budding out. A different indian brave was selected each day to go down to the lake and wade up to his groin. He'd let out a "whoop!" and return to the shore. The whole band would then return to their wigwams, heads hanging, singing a mournful song while doing a slow, shuffling dance. Then they would go on with their daily life.
This happened every day for about 3 months, or into late June, when everything changed. They picked a usual indian brave, and sent him into the lake. But this time, instead of the "whoop!", the brave waded up to his groin, smiled and yelled "Chequamegon!", and the entire tribe cheered and dove into the bay!
You see, the whole winter the entire tribe hadn't bathed. They were waiting for Lake Superior to warm up enough to be safe for the women and children to take a good bath, and the indian brave would test the water by wading up to his most sensitive spot. When they could safely brave the cold water of Lake Superior (it's only warm enough to swim in about 2-1/2 months a year,) it was customary to yell out to the local tribe in Ojibwa that the water was again safe to bathe in.
They were so proud of having learned some English, and since Francois was there in their tribe, they decided to yell it in the only other common language they shared, English. Francois, being a Frenchman and not really great in English himself, asked what all the excitement was about. The tribe yelled over and over and pointed at the lake "She Warm Again!" Of course, Francois, being the dirty frenchman he was with no thought of bathing, thought they were giving the name of the bay, and passed the name along to all the other traders.
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