lapham peak is the highest point in waukesha county and is part of the kettle moraine state forest. it’s named after wisconsin’s first serious naturalist and scientist, increase a. lapham. as the sign pictured below notes, lapham made the first national weather service forecast from here in 1870. not bad.

a nice spot, even if the observation tower usually accessible here was closed for the winter.

a.

the land was good to increase

as he ranged from its heights right here

to its rivers’ mounded mouths

b.

the tower’s stout wood

bears the trace of frost

a spiral to the winter sky