UPDATE ON BLUE MOUNDS

KETTLE MORAINE NORTHERN UNIT

Trip made in October

NORTHERN MORAINE KETTLE UNIT STATE PARK
****
Geology and Topography:
30,000 acres of rolling hills with lakes and forests, grasslands, white kames.

Outdoor activities:

Hiking, walking, picnicking, camping, and fishing.

KETTLE MORAINE SOUTHERN UNIT

Trip made in: October

SOUTHERN MORAINE KETTLE UNIT STATE PARK
****
Geology and Topography:
20,000 acres of glacial hills, kettles, lakes, prairie restoration sites, pine woods and hardwood forests.

Outdoor activities:

Hiking, walking, picnicking, camping, and fishing.

LAPHAM PEAK STATE PARK

Trip made in: October

LAPHAM PEAK STATE PARK
***
Geology and Topography:
Pond, butterfly garden, grassland, and observation tower.

Outdoor activities:

Hiking, walking, picnicking, and camping.

LOEW LAKE STATE PARK

Trip made in: October

LOEW LAKE STATE PARK
***
Geology and Topography:
Valley, Oconomowoc River, and lake.

Outdoor activities:

Hiking, walking, picnicking, camping, fishing, and boating.

PIKE LAKE STATE PARK

Trip made in: October

STATE PARK RATING: PIKE LAKE STATE PARK

*****

Geology and Topography-

Kames, kettles, lake, prairie, woods, marsh, and moraines. There are extensive trails to be walked on. Observation tower sits on one of the kames, newly built-impressive display of the unique atmosphere of environments from high up.

Outdoor activities:

Camping, hiking, volunteer work, swimming, walking, boating, fishing, and picnicking.

This park is one of the top favorites because of the versatility that this park provides with activities and scenery. Everything is quite accessible as well with all the hills and paths there are a plentiful number of signs to direct you to Powder Hill or other locations. This was one of the busiest parks that I have visited it seemed unusual for a park that doesn’t seem to be massive to have so many people in such a small area. I thought there was a field trip going on but apparently just lots of families that enjoy the park.

Oh and its so close to Madison!

Here is a map of the park.

One of the most beautiful scenes I've ever seen as the woods was covered in a wonderful yellow.

The sun was beginning to set and the water was very clear.

I know for a fact that Tim didn't want to go up this tower however, he made the trip so we could take many more pictures of him.


Here are more of the beautiful colors of the area.


A magnificient view of holy hill.


I was so enthused of the beach I took this of my face at the exact moment I saw the next picture.


The magnificient beach!

Just kidding here is the real beach.



So happy to be so far in the world.


The warm walk we enjoyed each others company.


Here I pose for the wilderness has called my name.

MARINETTE

Trip made in: September

This is the happiest moments in my life!

He was like god he came down from the sky.

So, smiley but deep inside he really wanted to beat the hell out of someone.

Tim so didn't want this picture taken of him. It's ok because I think after I posted this here he enjoyed it even more.

Trip made in: September

We decided to drive up to the Marinette area for the sake that we could tell people we were in Michigan this weekend. We did see some interesting features that we don't commonly see in Madison such as boats of this number in one area and dead sea gulls in the water but it was a trip we wouldn't soon forget.

I'm not really sure what is going on in this picture you can make up the story in your mind. I will say that Dale was chasing after me a bit and I think this was his creating way of hiding from me and that was standing behind Jonathan Myers.


I saw a lighthouse picture like this at a nearby Culvers. However, this was the real thing unfortunately because I had to zoom so much in that it was hard to keep my hands still so I could take the picture.

Here is Dale at one of his finer moments of life.


Here we are in a group huddle trying to figure out what else there was to see in the area. To my relief as I was very tired at this point we had seen all that there was to see.


Here is one last farewell to Marinette as it was a beautiful time indeed.

COPPER CULTURE STATE PARK

Trip made in: September

STATE PARK RATING: COPPER CULTURE STATE PARK

**

Topography and Geology of area-

This is a significant Indian burial ground off of the Oconto River where we have in combination a 15 acre prairie and river land. No other significant land features and no mounds as all the burials, cremations included were pits.

Outdoor activities:

Walking, fishing, boating, and picnicking.

This park was just recently purchased by the state as a child while sledding one winter day discovered a bone of one of the Indians leg’s in the snow. So as being part of the city limits of Oconto the land is interrupted by private homes but has a beautiful walkway and undisturbed river way for the most part.

Here is a excellent picture of the oconto river and this is a picture from the camera of Jonathan Myers as these were more recently added.


I took a picture of Dale just before he nearly met his doom in the river. I was entertained by the fact that he likes to have pictures of him taken.

I however, don't like to see embarrassing pictures of me. Every once and awhile I slip and post one.
I was giving a thumbs up in this very so awesome place.

Here Dale and Tim dueled over a bag of cheetoes.

Dale looks so cute while he's sleeping. I think I see a bubble.



This location that you are seeing was only attainable by crossing over an existing area of logs and you can see but only very slightly that the water also isn't too deep here.

Here is a memorial site of the indian burial ground. Dale touches the mighty beast remembering the people of the past.



Like a boy just before dinner washing his hands in water.



The camera did an odd thing but moments before Dale was hitting Jonathan with a stick...j/k he was hitting Tim.


Here we followed the rare black bear and then realized that was a story I made up to get them to all point one direction. I remember us looking at the beautiful riverside.


I think catching people off guard for pictures is the best way to take pictures or don't take them at all! Dale didn't want us to see that he was eating.


Oh what do you know I got him eating anyway and it's too bad because I think he knows he looks cute eating.

MERRICK STATE PARK

Trip made in: August

STATE PARK RATING: MERRICK STATE PARK

***

Topography and Geology of area-

North of La Crosse near Perrot state park this high sandstone bluff gives you an excellent overview of the Mississippi River and the small deltas.

Outdoor activities:

Camping, walking, fishing, boating, and picnicking.

This park had a variety of blooming flowers that I haven’t seen before as I was able to get closer to the Mississippi with this park than others in the past. There are parts of the park that are flatter than any other Mississippi state park enabling you to get another view under the tree line.

NELSON DEWEY STATE PARK

Made trip in: June

STATE PARK RATING: NELSON DEWEY STATE PARK

**

Topography and Geology of area-

South of the Wisconsin River and Mississippi confluence where Wyalusing state park is. Sandstone vistas of Mississippi River with wooded areas.

Outdoor activities:

Walking, camping, fishing, picnicking, and boating.

On the way down here we missed the park completely and ended up heading towards Dubuque, IO. However, we finally turned around and got a chance to venture through this park. A lot of this park is slowly being stored from the damage that was caused throughout the years and is not a lesser park but Wyalusing is the image it will be in time as the trees will finally take their domain back.

WILDCAT MOUNTAIN STATE PARK

Trip made in: June

STATE PARK RATING: WILDCAT MOUNTAIN STATE PARK

***

Topography and Geology of area-

There are high bluffs with many vistas, the sandstone structures dot the cliffed environment as the Kickapoo River runs through this land.

Common activities:

Hiking, fishing, boating, canoeing, camping, and picnicking.

I first discovered this park on accident almost a year ago through a canoeing trip. However, after further exploration I realized that the roads only got more curved as you traveled through the park area. This is a beautiful park with many things to do but hiking would be on the top of the list.