Newport Winter Camping Trip

“See the 2007 Newport Candlelight Ski trip report (thank you again Prosecutor) to get a sense of what this is all about. Winter camping and cross country skiing are never "easy", but overall this is an easy trip. I usually hoof a gear sled to the campsite. I'm sure you all know this but if you use a gear sled, walk to the side of the ski trail so as not to mess up the ski tracks.”

“Wish it was closer for me but.... 9 hrs by car, maybe slightly quicker if I took the boat over from Ludington Michigan, if it even makes any runs in the winter? Still it be 4 hrs to Ludington, then at least 3hrs across the Lake, then another 1hr up to the State Park?
last edited: 10/24/07 3:05:42 PM”

“Same for me...it's a long drive and I might not have the energy after the trip a couple weeks before so I thought I'd put myself down as a "maybe"...”

“We all love when dates get changed--but this change is good one. I've added a day to the trip and I tagged it on at the beginning.

I'll be driving up from Chicago (via Milwaukee, Sheboygan, Green Bay Friday morning, arriving early afternoon. Plan on heading home Sunday afternoon. Anyone interested in carpooling, let me know.”

“In milwaukee and could be a go”

“Spalpeen,

I'm taking off work Friday, 2/8. Ideally, I'd like to get up to Newport State Park around 1:00 in the afternoon, give or take. I'm flexible. Let me know what works for you for a departure time.”

“Croft, I should know by the 1st”

“Can't wait to get out and this weekend looks like it may work for me, at least right now I'm 95% sure. I should know more in the next two weeks. I'm keeping my fingers crossed :)”

“have not hiked since last winter- i need to get out. hope I can get there”

“EEEK! firebug lives! Where ya been, buddy?”

“Did your ears burn last Saturday night when we were talking about you around the campfire on our Black River State Forest, "Freezin' in Wisconsin" trip, firebug! You have been missed!”

“anymore on the trip?”

“Yes, I am alive. I am finally on a shift that will have me off weekends so maybe I can get out more. I miss seeing you all.

Hey spalpeen - I inadvertently deleted your phone number, give me a call.”

“ok, cocktails?”

“I am in. Croft I will have the friday off”

“Spalpeen, just tried to send you an e-mail but it failed. Still interested in riding up to Newport together? Assuming you're in the Milwaukee area, I can pick you up about 10:00 am. Send me your address and if that time is okay. My e-address is sgille@younanproperties.com .”

“it is an old address, I will be in touch but need to find out about firebug”

“okay now - I see six people marked "maybe" for the trip and only three marked yes so far, lets get a few more marked yes.”

“yes yes yes”

“Ok, this is looking much better for me...we are having a work slowdown right now and it's a good time to ask for a LOA...it's a long drive for me (8 hours) so I'll drive over on Thursday, find a cheap motel somewhere in Door County (I'm good at that but if anyone knows one, let me know) and meet you all Friday...I hope they'll be enough snow for a sled...and, with Spalpeen and Firebug around, I know if I need help it'll be there...
last edited: 1/26/08 8:01:48 AM”

“We're slowing down at work a little. I may be a last minute "yes" on this deal.”

“Heck,I'm slowing down and I don't even work!”

“Mata,

Stay at the Journey's End Motel in Bailey's Harbor.
(920) 839-2887 (Don't let the name scare you!) LOL

Its a small, very clean, like new motel w/ good week day rates ( for Door County ). The owners are wonderful people.
last edited: 1/27/08 3:46:08 PM”

“I don't know if I can drive that far in one day...I'd prefer something nearer Green Bay but I'll certainly note your suggestion, iSolo...and, thank you!”

“Mataharihiker. You have the option of staying with us.”

“Don't do it!!! >8-O They'll haul you out geocaching!!!!! EEEEK!!!



LOL! j/k - They were kind enough to haul me out geocaching. :-)”

“Lorax, just out of curiosity...how long does it take to drive from Green Bay to where you live? And, you DO know this trip is happening the week-end of Feb 8th, don't know and not this week-end?”

“Baileys harbor is a nice town, kinda grew uo there”

“Mata, thanks for getting my weeks straight. I don't even know what day it is anymore. At least this gives me another week to try and lock this trip down.

I'm 40 miles below GB, straight down I-43, It's a straight shot and I make it there in 35 minutes.”

“the excel in gb has $45 a night advertised on a billboard leading into town, saw it saturday.”

“Croft did you get the mail from Firebug with My phone #”

“anybody know how much snow they have in Newport?”

“Spalpeen,

Yes, I have your phone number and will call you tonight. I was out of town for the last week doing some major R&R in Miami with its 78 degree wind chill factor. Had an exciting landing at O'Hare the other night at the height of the blizzard. The weather was so hostile I thought they had diverted our flight to Antarctica!

If I miss you tonight, I'll try again over the weekend.”

“I talked to fisheries, looks like he will not be able to make it. He just accepted a job and it requires him to work weekends. He should have turned it down, unemployment is not that bad. :(”

“I've had to change my status to a maybe...missing all that work was good for my health but bad for my pocketbook...I've only worked 3 days in the last 8 day work cycle...if there's work next week, I have to be there...property taxes, insurance coming up...you know how it is.....”

“Bummer. This is my first post on this forum to let ya'll know I'll be there for sure. One of my friends from work will likely come as well. I'll probably stay both nights, but pass on skiing. I don't have any, haven't done it in over 10yrs, and there's so much fun hiking along the lake shore. Hope you can make it Mata...there should be about 2'+ on the ground around Newport right now. I haven't been there for 3 weeks, and we've had a good amount of snow lately.”

“I just checked the weather forecast for this weekend--highs in the 20's, lows in the single digits. Supposed to be pretty breezy Saturday afternoon and night. Campsite is in the trees which offers some protection but some of the ski trails are exposed so definitely bringing my facemask.”

“The Newport ranger just e'd me. "There's 5-6 inches of snow on the ground and it's snowing right now."”

“I will be getting there around 8:00 pm Friday night. I have never been there so hopefully it is not to hard to find the site at night.”

“I will know tomorrow if I'll be able to go. I'm packing gear tonight in case I have to run up right from work.

The thing I hate the most about my job is that you never know until Friday, whether there will be weekend work. When there is, it all gets dumped on me. The others just refuse to come in.”

“will do my best, but can't guarantee attendance as i am battling a slight case of the flu.”

“It's not hard to find at night. There's a map at the Ranger station, and it's right off the main trail. To get to the Ranger station, go around the costruction at the entrance and take your first left. First driveway on the left after that will lead you to where you need to be. I'll be coming in around the same time on Friday. Hope to leave GB by 5:30-6:00”

“After parking in the #3 parking lot (the only one usually plowed other than the ranger station), head toward the Lake. As you go toward the Lake from the parking lot, the first trail on the left is the Fern Trail, you want to take the 2nd trail on the left. When the Lynd Point hiking trail splits off to the right, keep going straight along the ski trail. (It's a bit dicey finding the campsite from the Lynd trail at night.) Take a right at the sign on the right pointing you in to Campsites 1 & 2.

I'll be arriving early afternoon Friday. See y'all there!!”

“I just checked the weather forecast--some light snow flurries Friday and Saturday. 30 mph wind with 45 mph gusts Saturday and 50 mph gusts Saturday night--bring your face masks!!! Temps will dip below zero Saturday night. Character-building weather for sure.”

“BRRRRR!!! I can't wait to read the trip report on this one!

HikeWI, Fast FWD, and I will be snowshoeing in Kettle Moraine North Saturday, and after that it's home for some Cherry Snowplows!!

croft, I hope you guys can capture the arctic experience in pics! I can't wait to see them!

You guys be safe!”

“Well, reading those wind-chill predictions make me a tad less unhappy about being unable to make this trip...working today and I will be exhausted by the end of the day...

You all have a great trip, please take LOTS of pictures (campsite, fire, food...falling...oh, Jimmy San isn't with you, is he? LOL) and take care...no frostbite!”

“I am out, the flu or something. If I feel better tommorrow maybe I will hook up with you isolo”

“I'm going to do my best to make it tonight, but I have some things needing attention that may keep me until tomorrow. I'll be there before 11AM if I can't get out until then. That wind at Newport can be really fun :)”

“Well, I guess I will be building character. I am leaving now.

50 mph wind gusts - below zero temperatures and we are right next to the lake. Sounds good to me.

I will work on my sun tan.

Saturday during the day and tonight are supposed to be okay.”

“We survived !!

The weather was fine Friday night and up to 9:00pm Saturday night. Light snow, not much wind. After that, the weather turned. Had - 11 degrees this morning with 40 below wind chills.”