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I have decided that if my health continues to hold together I an going to attempt to hike the entire Ice Age Trail and hope to become an official “thousand miler.” I will be doing it in segments as I still have to worry about work and all those other stupid necessities in life; however, I plan to do it nonetheless.
I am looking for anything that anyone might have to contribute to my journey. Have you hiked the trail through before and what did you learn? Any recommended near the trail spots to camp along the way? Shouldn’t miss places to eat along the trail? Can’t miss geocaches on the IAT? Basically anything that you think would be good to know would be appreciated.
I haven’t decided exactly when to start, but it will be this summer/fall if the good Lord allows it. I am planning to start on the Door County side and hike the segments (including all connecting roads) in order, even if they were previously hiked another time. It is time to get better connected to nature and less connected to the rat race of life. I figure that this is as good of a way as any. I look forward to any thoughts anyone may have. Thanks!
Rick (geolivestrong)
Well, Rick, we are already fifty feet ahead of you, since we were just at the eastern terminus in Potawatomi SP a couple of weeks ago! :LOL:
I know that zoesbrother and MuggleB have both hiked chunks of the IAT, so maybe they can chime in here or you can contact them. Good maps are a must, I would imagine. The IAT web site, which I’m sure you have already checked out, can help with some of what you might need.
If you need transport at one end of a segment or another, let us know so that we can be part of your support crew when your regulars are unavailable or if they need a break. And when you arrive in Interstate State Park at the end of your journey, we’d love to be there.
Sorry, I don’t have any words of wisdom, but I can be a cheerleader. That’s great! It sounds like a worthy goal. Blessings to you as you work towards it.
Not all who wander are lost. -J.R.R. Tolkien
Go to a local state park that has a book store, and pick up the IA Atlas, that shows the trails and the companion guide. It tells about all the segments along the way, places to sleep, shop, and what to see along the trail.
We have hiked 2/3 of it and am working on the last third.
GOOG LUCK!!!!Rick,
I know there are a couple of segments in our neck of the woods, if you need a ride back to your car or starting spot when you are here, let us know. We would be more than glad to help you with your trek.
Just realize that much of the IAT is actually paved roads which connect segments. Wear reflective colors or a vest. Also realize that many segments are not all that cleared and in the fall thorn bushes often cross the trails; good sturdy hiking pants will be a must.
Discover Wisconsin is showcasing the Ice Age Trail on its show the weekend of July 26-27, so check when it airs in your area. Iceagetrail.org has some information regarding planning a hike and overnight options. Safe travels! 🙂
Wow! Now THAT is a challenge!
I know a friend and former geocacher that recently completed canoeing the entire length of the Wisconsin River in segments over several years. I think hiking the entire IAT will be an even bigger accomplishment.
Best of luck and be sure to keep us posted!If you havn’t already done so check out:
http://www.iceagetrail.org/
https://www.iceagetrail.org/store – new book this year
http://www.iceagetrail.org/trail-map-and-current-conditions
http://www.iceagetrail.org/plan-a-hike
http://www.iceagetrail.org/section-and-thru-hiking
http://www.iceagetrail.org/hiking-awards-and-programsTo see the full list of Thousand-Milers through the years, click here.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/IANST/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/214797715197465/
Also check into – Cold Caching
http://www.iceagetrail.org/hiking-awards-and-programshttp://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=e5efb39e-49b2-426e-802a-81fee149992f
Happy hiking…
There is a backpacking campsite at Lapham Peak (near Waukesha) with an outhouse, grill, and some large trees for cover. When we took a gander at it on our hike, it looked pretty nice.
As for must-do caches, http://coord.info/GC3KJH2 is pretty clever. It is located near Verona. http://coord.info/GCYQ2A near Devil’s Lake is also a good all-around hide. Of course, there are tons of ECs along the way, so I would maybe bring a small pad to record answers.
Chase (10 years old) and I plan to start the entire 1000+ miles of the IAT in Late May starting at the West Terminus. We are hoping to do about a 1/3 of the trail in the summer of 2015 and finish the rest in the summer of 2016.
This is Chase’s idea and I’m supporting him. We will be camping many days. Hopefully we can meet you and other geocachers along the way. Good luck and keep pushing toward your goal!
Congratulations on your upcoming adventure!
Something I also would like to do in the future. With that, I have always thought or wondered if there is any resource of information on individuals that would be willing to pick you up at the end of a day of hiking and bring you back to your vehicle for a fee. It would be an excellent resource even if it were only partially available.
Thousand-Miler WannaBe & Hikers’ Helpers
For those hiking through Dane and Green counties, contact Tess Mulrooney ([email protected]) for “Trail Angel” assistance. Tess can also connect you with new hiking pals who are exploring the entire Ice Age Trail year-round, piecing together the dashed line one segment at a time.
Thanks for the info Casual Cacher. I started looking and there looks like there are contacts for each chapter of the trail.
We hiked our first 5.5 miles of the IAT yesterday. Here is a link to Chase’s blog. He will be doing all of the writing from here on out. Hopefully we get to meet many geocachers along the way.
hikingwithchase.wordpress.com
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