Leadership Trail Camp

This week's blog post is by Leadership Trail Instructor, Nicholas WazeeGale on behalf of himself and co-instructor Bill Humphrey.  

Hello Summer Campers!

As cool mornings roll in we are reminded of summer's end coming before too long. These days are also reminding me of mornings on the trail with you all, waking everyone up in the dew, starting the fire. We all are missing the rituals, experiences, and challenges of being out at KVR on the trails, and on the river, and our time together with our zaney crews of campers. We trust you have found good things to fill your summer days. We write today to offer ourselves virtually, instead of in-person, and to give some fun ideas to fill your end of summer days with adventure.

Here are some highly recommended hiking routes we love. Don't forget to pick up a KVR map at the visitor center and bring your compass!

1-If you are interested in a good solid day hike with some beautiful terrain, try looping out Cut-Off Trail through Warner Valley to either the crossing of Hwy P at Big Valley or all the way out to Haugh Road on Hoot Owl Trail and back on Big Valley Trail to 131. To add some adventure to the end, you could cut down and across the valley at the location of your choice back to Cut-off trail and your parked location. If you are having parents pick you up, all the better, pick a destination, confirm it with them, and go!

 

2-For a great destination with beautiful views and great side explorations opportunities, hike from Campsite P up into the high overlooks of Hanson Rock Trail, or down West Ridge onto the Ice cave Trail and loop around. Don’t forget to look for the rock shelters down towards the river, or have lunch overlooking the river.

3-Looking for an opportunity to combine some paddling with your hike? Something not entirely new but a favorite lately is dropping a canoe or two at the ending of a solid half day hike for a water shuttle back to your starting point. This could be done after hiking the Billings Creek Trail north and then cutting through some of Wildcat State Park to landing 5, or if you're feeling ambitious, hike all the way up the Hay Valley trail from just west of Bridge 10 up to Bridge 6 and paddle down to Landing 10. Don’t forget to stash PDFs and paddles though, or you would be up a creek without a paddle!

Remember that if you are needing to go a little wilder, you can always take off overland and head for a distant hill, creek, or valley. I often enjoy doing this through areas I am interested in or want to see more of. It can be done safely by having a map handy and picking an area that has notable boundaries, like the river, trails, and/or a road. This way you will always hit something recognizable if you get turned around and get to test out your wayfinding abilities.

All of this is just to give some good ideas, but check out the map of KVR and see what looks good. Get out for a good day's hiking and you will feel like a new person. Or add some camping on and make it into more. With care these things can be done with social distancing and good relative safety. We all have to figure out ways of working out both being safe and bridging the gap with others in these crazy times.

If something quieter is needed for your well being, seek a solo experience. Either way, the KVR, and the natural world, are waiting for you. In these times of challenges and unsettling events we need to remember what the outdoors has always offered us: a place of peace, a place of connection, and a place of rejuvenation. In working with youth from afar, as in online, one of the cornerstone experiences I use to instruct youth is having a site they visit consistently to connect to and be attuned to what is going on in the natural world around them. This provides a backbone to our integration into the natural scene and integration of the natural world into our days, minds, and hearts. If you are in need of some solace, solitude, or connection, look to the Earth. Find a "sit spot" like I am referring to and go there regularly and see if you don’t find what you are looking for. Or if you are needing movement, expansion, and adventure in this time of challenge and density, go into the wilds and move, travel through, and be a part that way. There is no one right way, but any way you genuinely go to the Earth to make yourself well again will change and move you in a good way. Get out there and try--you will find a way and a different end to your day.

We hope your summer has been fulfilling in small ways at least. We all need to count our blessings and enjoy the things we have in abundance. And thankfully most of southern Wisconsin has healthy water, beautiful forests, gorgeous views, and hallowed hollows of ferns and hemlocks. Get out there and enjoy them!