Freezin' in Wisconsin Weekend

“Companion thread to "Freezin' in Wisconsin Weekend" trip planning page.”

“hm-m-m-m...I've always wanted to do this area in winter...let's see if we have snow...we didn't last year at that time...”

“531 miles and 8 1/2 hours. =( Sounds like a lot of fun.”

“yeah, this is all dependant on their actually being snow. also, and i want to point this out... there is no need to winter camp if you don't want to. the black river falls holiday inn express is right off the highway and has a pool, hot tub. i used to take my kids there when they were little. they have this COOL waterslide (for kids only) that is shaped like a bear with a fish in it's hand. they have rooms right off the pool. so if you want to come with little kids get a reservation there, ask for a pool room, and come play in the snow on saturday with us. it would be a GREAT family weekend for people with little kids.”

“damn that lake!”

“Despite (or because of?) all this crazy lostness in the Trap Hills - and despite what I've seen Jimmy San do to a canoe (and also the fondling of the Thermarest >8-O), geez, I've been to this place, so maybe I can help out when the blue blazes fail.

Besides... I have snowshoes! And besides besides... I have one of them there propane heater thingees that hopefully I'll have tried by then! :-)

Knock on wood some dumb newspaper thingee doesn't come up!”

“you gotta admit i have a style that is all my own.

it would be tough to get seriously lost on these trails, but there are people here that i know would be up to the challenge.

actually, i don't think they are blazed, but i am working from a fractured memory here. there are maps at most junctions with a screw set in them that says "you are here". that plus they are loops and i don't think there are any other intersecting trails... perhaps an old logging road.

there is that link trail that goes off to that old farm site that is -way- cool with the cellar and well and all. that might be worth a side trip.”

“I've always wanted to try snowshoeing but im not a fan of camping in the cold....if I do this I might want to stay at the motel.”

“Maybe”

“CMB says maybe too....”

“Great, then we can spoon”

“ACK! You will NOT spoon with my hubby, thats MY job LOL”

“He wont, SC! I'll be between them! LOL!”

“WHOO HOO!

We gotta get birch in on this!”

“Ok, you guys spoon in the cold, I'll go lounge in the motel's hot pool.”

“Hmmmm... tempting. I will have to talk to mountainrunner bout this one :)”

“Hey Jimmy San: on the third link to the trail map, it says no hiking or snowshoeing on groomed trails during ski season. Are we gonna be able to do this at that time?”

“we have to follow rules?”

“define "groomed"...
Hee hee.”

“Got gear--will be camping.”

“ut oh.”

“I just afraid of any ticked off skier ---- they have a larger weapon than my snowshoe :)”

“Who wants to snoeshoe on trails???

Nuthin' like having virgin snow to snowshoe on!! So... we don't snowshoe on the ski trails. Simply 'nuf. :-)”

“i'll think of something. this is a great area and there are lots of things to do. we would not want to break any rules. the grooming of the trails is important. these trails are popular with hikers and mountain bikers in the snowless seasons and skiiers in the winter.”

“I've got mountainrunner at least contemplating this one :) :) :) I can't wait to get out and do some winter camping!”

““I just afraid of any ticked off skier ---- they have a larger weapon than my snowshoe :)”
honeybunches
3:50:09 PM
10/24/07

Yeah, not a good idea to wreck a groomed or set-track cross-country ski trail. It really screws up the trail for skiers, more than you 'd think it would, but if its a wide trail and single track set, not 2 skied lanes, then go for it, just don't tromp across the set-track.”

“lots of fun stuff to do in this area, great resturants, a great little family-friendly hotel. for friends and family looking for some winter fun this is a great, great place.”

“OK, question... have you guys snowshoed on non-tracked snow? If you haven't, you are definitely missing out!

Many places keep the skis to the trails and let snowshoes go wherever. If you like, right along the trails even!

I did a snowmobile trail last year in a park and it totally sucked. Might as well walk on it. What's the point of snowshoes on a trail already packed?

Test the snowshoes for the purpose they were made for: floating on a nice, thick layer of snow. Of course, first you need that snow, which is always a question. I can't imagine a state forest would say you couldn't go just anywhere you want (think hunters)

Link to photos of deep snow on trails in a SE MN forest unit - it was the best snowshoe ever!
”

“the last few winters in wisconsin have been non-starters. i doubt i'll be snowshoeing this trip. these ski trails are just to excellent to pass up. that said, if brsf gets snow then there will be places to snowshoe, hike and camp to your hearts content.”

“OK, I'm interested in this trip, but have nevered snowshoed before. Help me out. What do I need.”

“I haven't had my skis on in four years. Snowshoes in five. I really hope you guys get snow. I think I might try and talk Birch into this. What's 17 hours in a car with your best pal? It'll all depend on vacation time.”

“Wow, the dhutch1 twins are on the trip roster.

Pray for plenty of snow.”

“well to snowshoe you need... a pair of snowshoes.

aside from that it's just like hiking in the winter. dress in layers because you will get hot when hiking and cool down quickly on breaks.

consider renting snowshoes. rei does this. then if you get into it you can select a pair with the features you like.

if there is not enough snow to snowshoe then it's basically the same as hiking with rocks in your backpack. you might as well hike.”

“Thanks Jimmy san. I thought that might be the case, but wasn't sure. Good idea to rent them first. I will wait and see what the weather is going to be like, then see about renting them if I need them. Everything else I should have for winter backpacking.
last edited: 10/25/07 11:38:24 AM”

“I'll be camping and snoweshoeing. Can I invite my twin brother, iSolotoo?...
last edited: 10/25/07 11:11:40 PM”

“CAMPER WARNING:

Croft's snoring has been known to attract wolves!”

“As of October 18, 2007, long range forecast calls for a 33% chance of warmer than normal over northern Wisconsin:
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/images/djf08t_18oct07.jpg

Near normal precipitation:
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/images/droughtlook-ndj0708.jpg”

“Lizs,

That pic, 'Full Moon on Trail' is awesome!”

“:-)

LOL, I bet you have people wondering now!!!! Are they going to trust it's an actual shot of a full moon?!?!?!??

>8-O”

“it's a great area with lots of fun stuff to do, snow or no snow. like i said, the last few years it's been no snow but that hasn't kept me from enjoying this area. no snow means we probably won't get a lot of objection hiking to the two shelters to camp and i expect there won't be a burn ban on this time of year so we can make good use of the fire rings.”

“Ha, my luck it will be the biggest snowstorm of the year on that weekend and we won't even be able to make the drive down from the UP”

“i wish we would get good snow, but as pros pointed out the odds of this aren't that good.”

“hey folks, i have to move the date for this trip or i have to pass the reigns to someone else. i have to be in reston, va that week for work and can't make it back in time for the drive up on friday. so i am going winter backpackign in the Shenandoah National Park that weekend.

would the weekend of januart 5th work?”

“Works for me.

Prosecutor - Ha! I've killed off my evil twin.”

“D.....................Hutch!”

“based on the extensive feedback i got on the date change i have move this to the weekend of Jan 5/6. complain if you still want to attend and can't make it.”

“DHutch1, we would much rather you have killed off your prim and proper good twin. Your evil twin is undoubtedly much more fun.

JimmySans, January 5/6, 2008 actually works out better for me. I'm still in.”

“is that twin a or b prosecutor? i forget which was the wild and crazy one...

glad this works better. we'll keep this date and hope others can draft behind these plans.”

“LOL Twin A - you're right prosecutor, the evil twin is more fun for me too :-)

Still in!!!”

“Where we camp Friday evening, how far from the parking lot is this hike or is this car camping style?”