ice age trail

the arbor ridge segment of the ice age trail (wisconsin’s state-wide trail more or less along the terminal moraine of the wisconsin glacier) goes thru my hometown of janesville. found out a few years ago that the ‘arbor ridge’ segment runs thru land that used to belong to my wife’s great grandfather. they used to run cattle there.

a beautiful walk on easter, tho the rain started coming down pretty good about half-way thru. can tell they didn’t plough due to the rue anemones all over–though i suppose you’d know from the steep ravine anyway. first id of carolina wren, and fun to realize that her great grandfather knew these trees (at least one massively old oak) and marsh creek.

rue anemones

in full bloom

while the others rest

carolina wren

singing out

beyond the railroad

driving back from mineral point and cave of the mounds, we saw this dramatic bedrock hill that was fairly recently acquired for the wisconsin ice age trail. (would guess the bedrock is st. peter sandstone here, but couldn’t confirm.) this is just west of the johnstown moraine, where the wisconsin glacier stopped and retreated.

a nice and muddy circumambulation of the hill with remnant prairie on it set between farm fields. a bit of a bummer not to be able to climb up and see the surrounding terrain, but signs posted that they’re doing restoration work, so we celebrated being able to help support lots of other creatures having some space instead.

no climbing today

but will care

for lives we don’t know