Memorial Day in the Northwoods

“Hi hi hi all. I've talked to Cindy Lu and we discussed doing a hike up here in MN around Memorial Day. I've got a classmate who is interested in going. Anyone interested? Length, location, etc. whatever works best for the most people. I'd love to meet some of you on the trail.”

“Oldie, we would love to but the drive is "mucho grande" from here. We are however taking Abby up to Jordan River for her first overnighter.Have fun!”

“well.....I will be in Madison from the 25th through the second and now my wife just told me we are going to...Iron Wisconsin? for a couple of days to see some friends. I'll have to check with here on whether that is the correct location or not but she says it's straight up north from Madison a couple of hrs.”

“I think Minnesota during Memorial Day would be too ambitious for me. I think I'll be camping in Canada instead.

But, I would definitely be up for a hike this summer.”

“sirpete, is it Iron River, Iron Belt, Iron Ridge, Ironton? We've got one of each here in the Cheese state. Iron River is the largest and farthest north, up on U.S. 2 between Ashland and Superior, offering a detour up to Apostle Islands NL; Iron Belt is almost as far north and teeny tiny, Iron Ridge is a crossroads just southeast of Horicon Marsh (great birding), and Ironton is a little farm country village sorta west of the Dells.

That's not counting Ironwood, Iron River and Iron Mountain which are all just across the line in the Upper Peninsula.

Oldie, I'll keep the date in mind as I figure out the end of semester plans; still haven't determined if I'll be "needed" at a state conference around then, and that might determine which direction I can head so as not to meet myself coming and going.”

“Don't forget Minnesota's "Iron Range."”

“"The Range" is beautiful and appalling all at the same time. I can't say I really like symmetrical flat-topped "hills" of tailings and gigantic holes left from strip mining. On the other hand, the areas that haven't been mined are very nice.”

“Never been there Oldie, only heard and read about it.. (I am intrigued by old mining areas and ghost towns out west... and, as you, appalled by areas where they now slice off the tops of the mountains and build their cyanide ponds.)

Never been north of the Cities. Don't think I could make a Memorial Day weekend trip, either. On the other hand, I now work only 35 miles south of Rochester. One of my first big exploration's gonna be Forestville State Park and its cave. It's been so close all these years and I've never been to it! (Isn't that the way it goes?!)”

“You are missing some of the prettiest parts of Minnesota Lizs (that is not denying some of the nice areas in S. MN), we gotta get you up north one of these days.

I may end up living near Duluth this coming school year (not definately though). If I do, we should plan on getting all of us Iowan, Sconnie, Minnesotan hikers together for a trip.”

“Iron River”

“sirpete, if you go up to Iron River, WI, you'll only be a couple miles east of Brule, which is on the Bois Brule River, a great paddling river and trout river. Probably some hiking trails too. There's an outfitter in Brule right on U.S. 2. Beautiful country, and as I noted, not far from the Apostle Islands. Bayfield is a cool little village and the jump off point for the Apostles. Ashland, to the east of Iron River on U.S. 2 is home to Northland College, which is an environmentally oriented school, has the Sigurd Olson Center I think. My ACA Instructor workshop teacher is on faculty there.”

“well alright them!”

“sirpete, if your northward or return route has you passing through or close to Rhinelander, let me know the date. If I'll be around, the first beer's on me should you need a road break.”

“So,where we goin', Oldie? I'm all packed!”

“Don't know. Suggestions? I would like to be out for up to a week. Have you done any of the BWCA trails?”