Canyons and Waterfalls in Illinois

Living in the Midwest, sometimes it's hard to believe that the terrain isn't really as flat as one would think when thinking of the Midwest.

This weekend I was reminded again of the beauty left behind by the glaciers that came through centuries ago.  I've visited Starved Rock State Park in Utica, IL a couple of times before, but always in the fall for the fall colors.  As you drive up toward the park entrance, you don't think anything of it.  The land is flat all around you with a few hills, but nothing that would make you think you were driving into something amazing.  You drive over the Illinois River and you start to get a glimpse, but really, still no visual clues of what you're going to be experiencing once you enter the park.

Illinois River from Starved Rock State Park

Once you turn off and enter the park, you start to get an idea though.  You drive down a road that is bordered by large rock bluffs overlooking you.  You start to get an idea of what was to come.  But even driving into the main parking lot - still not much of a giveaway to what you just parked your car in the middle of.

Once you get out of the car and hit the first trail that takes you on along the river, you'll start to see the magic of what the glaciers and the Illinois River did to this area.  The glaciers and river carved out some incredible canyons along the river, leaving behind beauty one could never have imagined when driving toward the park.

Being the beginning of spring, this weekend provided even more amazing sights to be seen while hiking through the park to view all the canyons.  The spring melt off of what winter threw at the park left myself and other visitors great views of the waterfalls and remaining ice falls that come to life in the spring.

Ice Fall and Waterfall in French Canyon - Starved Rock State Park

When watching these waterfalls, you get the idea this landscape is still changing and will continue to change with each passing year.  As the ice and snow melt and create these wonderful waterfalls, the rock continues to be carved out and the land below changes with the sediment from the waterfalls and the washout to the Illinois River.

Illinois Canyon at Starved Rock State Park

This is an amazing place to visit in central Illinois.  And if you like waterfalls - don't stop here.  Make sure you check out some other of the amazing places the Midwest has to offer that the glaciers have provided us.  No, the Midwest is not flat.  Here's some great ideas to visit:

• Minnesota's Superior Coast
• Wisconsin's Driftless Area
• Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois

Get out and enjoy what nature has provided you.
"Keep close to Nature's heart, yourself; and break clear away once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods.  Wash your spirit clean."  John Muir.

Never Giving Up - Adventure on the Trails

Being an avid outdoors person, I have encountered more than my share of things that would make most people pause, stop and possibly turn around on the trails.  But not me!  I find times like that as the perfect opportunity to stop, assess the situation, analyze the possibilities and then make the next move.  This goes for encounters with wildlife and crazy weather conditions.

Wildlife on the Trails

I think of all of them, wildlife is the scariest, but is also the most amazing.  Mountain Biking has usually provided me the most interesting encounters.

Running into a mother black bear with her two cubs in northern Wisconsin.  Thankfully I saw them early enough that I was able to stop, assess and turn my bike sideways to make myself look bigger and then just wait.  Finally after standing on her hind legs, she dropped down and took her cubs back into the woods.  After a little while, I jumped back on my bike and continued on - definitely making sure to watch and listen closely as I rode by where she wandered into the woods.

The second scariest was while mountain biking in Moab, UT.  Taking a break at the top of the Amasa Back trail, I took a walk to the edge to look at the Colorado River and was standing next to a tree.  Next I know I heard a rattle - let me say - I looked, saw how far away it was and backed away quickly.  I don't mind snakes, but standing close to a rattlesnake is not where I wanted to be.  The bike ride back down Amasa Back was much more uneventful.

Crazy Weather on the Trails

Backpack with me and be ready for anything.  Because that's probably what you're going to get.  Rain - not just rain, but torrential rains, snow, sleet, wind, mud, ice...  Shall I go on?  It will definitely be a trip you'll never forget.

Cabinet Mountains and Glacier National Park

My most memorable was a vacation out west.  First three days was a trip up into the Cabinet Mountain range of Montana.  On day two as we climbed up to St Paul Pass the storm moved in.  Not a bad storm, but snow started falling as soon as we got to the top of the pass.  What makes it memorable is when you are heading down and you realize that with all the wet snow and then rain, that your Goretex boots have finally given out.  

St Paul Pass, Cabinet Mountains

It was a long hike back down to camp in the rain and snow with cold, wet feet.  At camp I had to ring out my socks and put them back on.  Still had one more day before heading out and moving on to Glacier National Park for part two of the trip.  The next morning my socks were almost frozen when I put them on and made the long hike back down to the car.  

Thankfully we found one store in Libby, MT that had a pair of boots.  I bought them and decided I would break them in while backpacking through Glacier National Park over the next four days.  And I had plenty of opportunities to make sure they were waterproof.  Almost every day in Glacier National Park it rained.  Lots of rain, lots of mud and glaciers. 

Boulder Peak - Glacier National Park

Someday I really need to go back here and see the back country without the rain.  

El Chalten, Argentina

Yes, typical Patagonia weather, hard to predict.  Woke up one day and decided to hike the trail up to Fitz Roy - it was supposed to be a nice day.  I thought perfect day to view the infamous Fitz Roy.  I packed my lunch and threw my rain gear in my backpack for a day trip.  As I headed up - the weather changed.  Rain, sleet, snow - it was all there.  At the climber's camp many people were hanging out in the shelter and turning around to head back down.  From there up to the lake and the route to Fitz Roy was where the wind and wet snow really hit.  While most people turned around to head back to town - I continued and ventured up alone to the top.  Very slowly climbing the trail of wet, snow covered rocks, I finally made it to the top.  I connected up with the two other guys who ventured up before me - the three of us exchanged cameras and turned around knowing if time permitted, we'd have to come back.  The weather was so bad you could just see the lake but no view of Fitz Roy.

Lago de Los Tres and "Fitz Roy"

Thankfully - I did have the extra day and did get to go back up and catch a great view of Fitz Roy.  Gotta love Patagonia and the crazy weather.

Lago de Los Tres and Fitz Roy on a clear day.

Nope, I never gave up and continued on with my adventures and still do so today.  I love the adventure, I love the challenges it all brings and by never giving up - I always feel accomplished when the adventure is over.  And then of course, I'm ready to start planning for the next.

Training for Another Mountain Climb

Seems like almost every year in early spring I like to take vacations that are always adventurous.  And many times these vacations require preparation and training.  March 2012 it was climbing Mt Kilimanjaro.  April 2013 it will be climbing Mt Whitney to raise money for Big City Mountaineers.

I think one of the things I like most about taking these vacations in the early spring is the fact I have to train all winter long.  It provides me a great opportunity to dig out the winter gear and go.

Today I just wanted to share with you some of my favorite places I've gotten to this winter for training and why these places are special to me.  Maybe next time you're thinking I'd like to go for a walk or a hike some where new - you'll get to explore on of these places and find the magic in them like I do.

Mt Kit Carson (Mt Spokane State Park)

Spokane, WA

OK, so for those of you in Wisconsin - this is not near us.  But this was probably one of the best snowshoeing trips I did this winter for training.  It was a beautiful place to snowshoe and had a great view of the Spokane Valley and out toward Idaho's panhandle.

The trail starts out following a small stream that yes, even with all the snow, was still flowing in the winter.  It then follows up through the woods and provides peeks of the area all the way up.  And if you really like snow and the magic of mother nature and how she can sculpt snow with all her powers, you'll really enjoy this trip.  I saw snow that was so heavy on trees that it made the tree roll over on itself and look like a candy cane and/or snail.

Snow sculptures along trail up Mt Kit Carson

Mt Kit Carson - Mt Spokane State Park

The trail starts at about an elevation of 3,900 ft and ends at about 5,260 ft.  Once at the top, I took a break to take in the views, have a little lunch and head back down.  This was the perfect place to be on December 21, 2012 and end another year of adventures.

View from atop Mt Kit Carson

Ice Age Trail - Multiple Areas

Southern Kettle Moraine - State Park Headquarters

Heading west toward the Horse Riders Camp

This is a great hike.  You start off on the Ice Age Trail heading through an open field.  In the winter it can be a big expanse of white snow and during the spring, summer and fall it's full of wild flowers.  Absolutely beautiful.  And if you're lucky enough like I was this winter, I got to break trail.  Since no other human footprints were in the snow, I was able to see many of the tracks left by the natural inhabitants to this area.

You could see the field mice tracks running around on top of the snow and then where they dove under.  You could see the fox tracks on the Ice Age Trail that would go off trail when they caught the scent of the field mice.  And plenty of rabbit tracks as you got closer to the edge of the field toward the wooded area.  Nature at its best.

Following fox tracks on the Ice Age Trail

And then once you get back in the woods - peace, quiet and solitude.  Looking at the shadows of the trees on the snow, listening to the birds, eating lunch by a frozen pond.  What else could you ask for?  What a perfect place to snowshoe.  

Ice Age Trail - Southern Kettle Moraine - West from headquarters

It's Wisconsin, so for training we don't have any mountains to climb, but this was a good trail for some quick hits up and down for pushes of about 175 ft.

Southern Kettle Moraine - Ice Age Trail - Eagle Segment

Great day to get those snowshoes out and train because of the friends I had with me.  It was great getting them out snowshoeing especially since one had not done it before.  I love introducing people to the outdoors so this was a special snowshoe trip.

We had fresh snow and got to break some trail while out on the Ice Age Trail.  It was also a part of the Ice Age Trail I hadn't been on in a while so it was great to visit it again.  Another area where you get to go through some open fields where in the summer months are filled with wild flowers.  And this is Wisconsin so getting to snowshoe along the farmer's fields in the winter provides you with open views of the woods and area that Southern Kettle Moraine and these people get to call home.  Beautiful.

Ice Age Trail - Eagle Segment

Ice Age Trail - Eagle Segment

Again - not a lot of elevation to gain while training, but another 135 ft gained on this day.

Northern Kettle Moraine - Ice Age Trail - Milwaukee River Segment

Probably one of the most scenic (in my opinion) parts of the Ice Age Trail in Northern Kettle Moraine.  From the New Fane trails parking lot, you'll head through the forest and then an open field for a bit.  But after crossing the road, you're in the woods.  The first section once you cross the road is full of remnants of the glaciers that went through Wisconsin.  High hills that you'll cross over and walk between provide some amazing scenery.  

View from the Ice Age Trail - Milwaukee River Segment

I trained here by snowshoeing on one of our coldest days.  It was -4 degrees fahrenheit this day with the wind.  The second segment of this trail after crossing the next road climbs a hill and for a while follows the edge of the bluff.  From here you can see out quite a ways and even see the ski hill in Kewaskum, WI.  It really is an amazing view.  But didn't stay up here too long on this day due to the wind.  Continued on with the dogs and got back in the trees for the little protection they provide during the winter months.

Ice Age Trail - Milwaukee River Segment

Again, not much elevation gain - maybe about 200 ft from the lowest point to the highest point, but still a good area to snowshoe in.  And again, finding peace and solitude in the woods.  

Training Continues

Those are just some of the favorite spots so far this winter where I've gone snowshoeing for training, though are not the only ones.  I hope this makes you want to go out and hike or snowshoe some of these areas.  They really are a great way to explore nature and some of the natural surroundings of the Kettle Moraine areas of Wisconsin.  Our state park system does a great job of maintaining and providing this for us to use, so get out there and use it.  And if you ever need someone to explore it with - just let me know.

Longer Days, Higher Sun - Winter's Winding Down

I'm starting the feel spring in the air.  The sun's coming up earlier and going down later.  The birds are singing and I've already seen signs of the daffodil's popping up on the sunny side of my house.

I'm a little sad that winter's winding down.  Snowshoeing today I just felt like it may be one of the last of the season.  The sun was higher in the sky.  The shadows of the trees, longer on the ground.  And the birds were chirping like they were happy that warmer weather is on the way.

High sun, long shadows.  Spring is near.

An Old Proverb

Yes, winter's winding down.  But it's not going out without a fight this year.  As the old proverb says "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb."  And I believe this year will be no exception.  December and January we saw little snow.  February we saw snow and March is starting off with the forecast of another storm coming.

Plans are already made to take advantage of this next round of snow, as it may be the last.  The snowshoes and headlamp are ready for an evening snowshoe hike along the Milwaukee River.  Because after that, I think we'll see spring.  40 degrees and rain next weekend.  Yup, winter's winding down.

Inspirations... Friends, Training and the Unknown

It's hard to believe tomorrow is already March 1st.  Less than two months away from my big adventure to climb Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous 48 states.

The journey so far has been very inspiring for me.  What's inspired me?

• My absolutely amazing friends and network of support.  Because this adventure is also a benefit climb to support Big City Mountaineers through Summit for Someone, I'm really finding out how absolutely amazing my friends are.  When initially selected by Backpacker Magazine to join them in this journey, my biggest fear was not the actual climb itself, but rather the thought that I was going to have to go out and raise $4,000 for the benefit.  My friends have supported me through this by donating both their hard earned money and talents through having their bands play a benefit.  I'm just humbled by all of this.

• Training - Getting ready for an adventure requires a lot of dedication and training to prepare for the trip.  Inspiration for training comes from a number of sources, including
• My fellow climbers and I've never even met them yet. 
• Again, my absolutely amazing friends.  Joining me on snowshoeing trips.  Asking me how training is going.  Training yourselves (that always makes me want to push harder.)   

• The Unknown - 
• Having done ice climbing, hiking, snowshoeing, rock climbing, backpacking, etc - but never having to do all of it on the same trip, inspiring.  
• Getting ready to meet a group of people I've never met before who all love to do the same things I do, inspiring.
• Knowing I'll help at-risk youth I'll never meet to succeed in life, inspiring.  

There are so many unknowns with this trip, as with most trips, but that's part of the adventure.  And what is life without any adventures.  Adventures are what inspires me.  

2013 - Resolutions and the Great Outdoors

2013 is now underway and I've been starting to think about what do I want to do this year.  No, I didn't make any resolutions on New Year's Eve, but I have ideas in my head of some of the things I want to accomplish this year and here's to hoping I can make them work out.

Doing Good for a Cause - Big City Mountaineers

In 2012 I was determined to give back more which I did, but not as much as I wanted.  So in 2013 - I've committed myself to Summit for Someone and doing a benefit climb with them and Backpacker Magazine to support Big City Mountaineers.  I'll be raising $4,000 to help out some well deserved at-risk youth gain opportunities to have a one-on-one mentoring experience in a wilderness experience.  In my opinion, it's two-fold, not only will these kids come out with an experience that will provide them some great skills to help them get through school and become leaders to their peers, they'll also get a great experience in the wilderness, which is something I hold close to my heart.

And in return as I'm doing this through Summit for Someone, I'm going to get to climb Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous 48 states, meet some new people and hopefully make some new life long friends.

Summit For Someone

More Training - Wilderness First Responder

Last year - I invested time into becoming Wilderness First Aid certified to make myself more readily available when I'm out in wilderness settings.  It made me feel more confident to take other people out hiking and camping and getting them to experience what I really love.  This year I plan to take it another step further and get the Wilderness First Responder certification.

Why?  Because I really love being in the back country and experiencing life unlike the majority of the people I know.  And I would really love to take some of the people who want to see this part of the country / world with me.  But doing so requires me to be prepared to take care of not only myself, but those who have placed their trust in me as well.  By getting certified - I get trained on standards and protocols to follow to ensure that if someone gets hurt, they'll be in good hands until I can get them out or get emergency personnel in.

Driftless Area - Wisconsin

Yes - I do have more to explore.  In 2012 I found the Black River State Forest where you can go backpacking.  I hiked a few trails in the forest, but didn't get time to go back and do any backpacking.  In 2013, I'm determined to get back there and take the dogs on a weekend backpack trip in the forest.

And I would like to go back to the Kickapoo River Valley area and do some backpacking on the trails along the river.  This was probably the most magical of the Driftless area I found in 2012.  It was just amazing.

Kickapoo River Valley area.  Wisconsin's "mountains".

So I'm extending an offer to anyone who reads this to join me in 2013 to visit one of these area's with me.  Don't worry if you don't have the gear - I know where we can get it.

Exploring Beyond Wisconsin

I have a few ideas of ideas I would like to explore in 2013 beyond Mt Whitney (not sure what, if anything I'll actually get to do yet).  

• A trip back out to Colorado and Utah to do some mountain biking, climbing and backpacking.  Specifically I would like to get out to SW Utah and check out Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks.
• Head back out east to explore - haven't gone in that direction in a number of years.  West Virginia's Dolly Sods Wilderness, the White Mountains of New Hampshire or something else.

That should keep me busy most of the year beyond camping in and around Wisconsin's State Parks.  And exploring my own backyard in Milwaukee.  Looking forward to a good 2013.  Join me if you want.  

2012 - A Year Outdoors

Great Outdoors

Never realized when I titled my blog the Great Outdoors that literally I'd be spending so much time in the outdoors.  And 2012 has proven to be just a bunch of experiences enjoying life outside.  I'm so glad I have the ability and opportunities to experience what I do and look forward to doing more of it in 2013 and bringing more people along for the hike.

Mt Kilimanjaro

January and February, I trained, trained and trained some more as I got ready to tackle one of the seven summits - Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.  It was quite an experience.  To not only climb 19,340 ft (5895 m), but to meet some great people, experience a different culture and throw in a safari to boot.  

Uhuru Peak - Mt Kilimanjaro

42 Nights of Camping

Yes, 42 nights - that's a lot (12% of nights in 2012).  I beat 2011 by 2 nights.  I don't intend to beat 42 in 2013.  Some experiences were great, some ok and some stressful (when you lose your phone).  The majority of the best nights in a tent came with a backpacking experience.  But also - a few camping experiences allowed me to get people out camping with me and help them (or most of them) gain an appreciation of the outdoors.  And finally I got to explore a lot more of the Driftless Area of Wisconsin.  Hiking and camping in state parks I'd never been to.  I think I now have the entire driftless area covered for state parks.

Backpacking

The first night in a tent came back in February 2012 with a snowshoe trip up in the Kettle Crest Range in northern Washington.  Hanging out up in the mountains overnight in the winter was incredible.  Not only was I the first one to sign in to the log book on Wapaloosie Mountain for 2012, but from the top we could also see into Canada.  

View from camp in the Kettle Range Mountains of Washington 

Other memorable backpacking experiences of 2012:

• Yellow River State Forest in Iowa - the hilly area of Iowa.  Very pretty, quiet.  May 2012
• Superior Trail in northern Minnesota - what a beautiful area.  Need to get back here again.  Labor Day weekend.
• Kokanee Glacier National Park in British Columbia, Canada.  Beautiful and quiet in mid-September.  But sad to see the glacier is receding.  Hopefully they get a lot of snow pack this year to help build it back up.

Other Great Experiences

View from Mt Kit Carson, Spokane, WA

• Timms Hill - Wisconsin's highest point.  Not quite the same as Kilimanjaro, but still another one of the USA's 50 highest points picked off.  (1500+ ft)
• Christmas in Washington - got to visit my brother in Newman Lake and take in some great hikes and snowshoeing in the area.  Finally got to go to Mt Spokane State Park and get to the top of Mt Kit Carson via snowshoe.  (And had the peak to myself)
• Dogs - Jasmine and Wailea made it another year - ableit a few surgeries to fix a torn ACL (Wailea) and remove a ~7 lb tumor and her spleen (Jasmine).  The dogs managed to get in 33 nights in a tent and traveled to 6 states.  Hopefully both remain healthy enough to continue in 2013.  

Backpacker Magazine, Mt Whitney and 2013

Mid-year 2012 I found out Backpacker Magazine was offering up to its readers an opportunity to climb Mt Whitney with their editor, Jon Dorn.  So in July, I wrote and submitted an essay, wrote my "I Want to Climb Mt Whitney" blog post and had wonderful friends support me via posts to it to try and get to selected to join Backpacker in their Mt Whitney summit attempt.  

After what seemed like forever, I got a response.  I was lucky enough to be selected to join Backpacker Magazine to climb Mt Whitney and support a great organization - Big City Mountaineers via Summit for Someone.  

Which brings me to 2013.  This climb is in April 2013, but I've started training and am really looking forward to this opportunity.  I'll get to the highest point in the contiguous 48 states (and highest point in CA), experience mountaineering, meet new people and make new friends, help some under-privileged youth get a great experience as well and finally get to the Sierra Nevada's.  I can't wait.  I'm sure this will be one of my highlights for 2013.

Special Thanks

Thank you to everyone who has joined me and supported me in all the adventures of 2012.  And if you didn't join me - feel free to join me in 2013.