Day 28, Sept 30, 2024
DCA Andersen Preserve to DCA Springfield Hill. 17 miles
One inconvenient detail about FarOut is that it does not include the out-and-back or loop bits that branch off from the main trail when calculating total mileage. Therefore, the total IAT official segment mileage is greater than what is shown on FarOut.
I had one such segment today. A 1.2 loop off a connecting route.
Anyway, backing up…I was up and out by 6am, enjoying the cool predawn morning and the way the fields look in my headlamp…and also enjoying the fact that this is supposedly the last un-fall day of the year. Tomorrow the temps are supposed to be in the 60s as opposed to the upper 70s/80s. FINALLY. I have only had four days of that this far.
Left my campsite and walked through the residential area of Cross Plains as quietly as I could. While approaching the Table Bluff section, I saw a misty field looking gorgeous in the early light. Went up the steep beginning of Table Bluff – gorgeous! Nice views back over that misty field. A connecting route with quaint farmhouse scenery came next, then that loop I mentioned above. Once back on the road, I encountered a mailbox with an IAT sticker on it – trail magic! Gatorade and nuts. Yum! I had not encountered any good water since I broke camp, so the Gatorade was particularly welcome.
Walked a road that is under construction to a dog park at Indian Lake where I had to deal with an aggressive barking dog that kept running at me. The owners were casual about reining in their pet until I pulled out my Dazer. Funny how certain owners don’t care about keeping their dog off you until they see you are quite prepared to handle things yourself. I did not use the Dazer, didn’t have to since the owners finally physically restrained their dog. By the way, Dazers do not hurt dogs. They emit a high-pitched sound dogs do not like (and humans cannot hear). I have successfully kept aggressive dogs at bay with this device on other hikes. And if the Dazer should ever fail, I carry back-up methods. I prefer the Dazer though since I don’t ever want to hurt an animal unless I am left with truly no other choice.
The Indian Lake segment was scenic but annoying since the trail made a point of going up as high as it could and then coming back down again when, according to the map, there was a short and flat trail cutting through all those bumpy bits. There was an apple tree that dropped fruit on me as I passed, and the apple was yummy, so that was nice.
I arrived at the wonderful picnic shelter and sat in the shade for a while. There was a filtered water faucet for bottles, and I drank a liter and a half before refilling all my containers. From here it was four miles to my campsite….another dry one. I am getting tired of having to carry a ton of water into camp.
More road walking, including a short stretch along a four-lane incredibly busy highway…and I had to cross it, that was fun…and then it was on to another loop. This one had my night’s DCA on it. I arrived around 1pm and rested for an hour in the shade before doing camp chores.
I pitched my tent awkwardly on the small tent pad. Not perfect, but it should get me through the night.
The DCA was in the woods and had a couple of benches. It was quite nice, even though you could see and hear the traffic on Highway 12 through the trees. The noise was relatively faint though and did not disturb my sleep that evening.
I decided to get a cheap motel for tomorrow night in Lodi. I am only a couple nights away from Baraboo and a scheduled zero, but I think six straight nights out isn’t enjoyable for me. I enjoy camping as I thru-hike, but after four nights I want one night in to get really clean and wash clothes. That will not always be possible, but when it is, I will do it. The motel is only $55 including taxes and fees.
I miscalculated my last resupply. I thought I had bought enough food, and a week ago I would have been correct. Now I am hungry all the time and will walk into Lodi with an empty bear canister.
Oct 1, 2024. Day 29
DCA Springfield Hill to Lodi motel. 16.2 miles
It’s the beginning of Wisconsin’s Mammoth Challenge! In October, locals are encouraged to hike 44 miles on the IAT and visit three trail communities. Businesses offer trail magic in discounts and freebies. Local chapters organize group hikes. It’s impressive and heartening to see how much public engagement goes into this annual Challenge. There is massive state-wide community spirit. I look forward to meeting more people on trail.
Tossed and turned last night until the temperatures fell, then I woke at 4 to the sound of tree debris hitting my tent. The forecast had called for gusts of 35mph after 3am, and yes, that wind now gusted. I quickly packed without getting hit by periodic falling branches and was on trail at 5:40am.
For only the third time thus far, I began the day’s hike in my long sleeve merino! The temps were in the 50s, and the forecast called for a mid-60s high. Hooray!
Love love love hiking in cool weather. I blew through my first six miles of mostly road walking without realizing it, happy happy happy.
Loved the quiet country roads, and especially loved the “Trail Magic Garden” by a trail angel’s home. Seats and water bottles and cute decor. I sat for a while and appreciated it.
The Lodi Marsh section came next, and it was beautiful. First bit was west of Lodi Springfield Road and had hilly fields and woods, then the trail came back around and crossed the street to stretch toward Lodi. That part went up and over meadows and had some nice stretches of sustained climbing. Both parts of Lodi Marsh afforded beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.
Met an EABO (Eastbound) thruhiker named Mercury on the top of the Lodi Marsh section. He had spent the night at the same Lodi motel to which I was headed. We chatted for a while before going our separate ways. It’s always nice to meet other thruhikers as there aren’t many of us on this trail.
Came into Lodi and of course stopped at the first place I could to order food. At that diner, I ate a chicken-spinach-boiled egg salad (that came with bacon bits, didn’t know that when I ordered), two huge pecan pancakes, a small cup of creamy potato soup, green tea, and a big glass of milk. All of that only cost $24. Walked all the official Lodi segment bits (streets and sidewalks with some dirt trail leading to the community pool), then resupplied at Dollar General before heading to my motel.
I need to get smarter about my resupply – I am spending too much on groceries. Or maybe it’s the right amount and I underestimated how much I would eat on this hike. Anyway, I will try to be more cost-conscious from now on.
Realized I left my small ultralight pocketknife at the campsite last night. Let folks know on the Ice Age FB page in case anyone finds it. (Edit – Jenifer and Bruce Davis found and brought it to me – thank you!)
The Lodi motel has mixed reviews online, but I liked it. Friendly staff, family owned (toys and bikes are scattered in the lobby), big clean rooms, hot showers, good internet, and only $55 including tax and fees if you use Booking.com (more expensive if you just show up). They even let me check in early since I was hiking. No breakfast, no coffee, no laundry…but hey, it was $55, and the grocery store was three blocks away.
