I like ice

Not Ice Cubes, or Ice Storms, or Icy roads but natural ice formations. 

I like ice caves or actually ice formations. I like those rock shelters that have water seeping over and through them. In the winter they form exotic and beautiful ice curtains. The colors of the ice can be stunning depending on what the seepage picks up. I've seen hues of greens, blues, and yellows.

It all has to do with absorption of light and reflection of light. But I just admire it for what it is.

I'd planned on this hike for over a week so I packed my things and set off.

It is one of the winter attractions at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Getting to this valley is described in the brochure as "Trails into and around the ice flows are steep, slippery, and strenuous travel. Walkers are are advised to use caution as the trails are strenuous back country winter hiking."

This is true. The trails are there and sometimes even easy to follow late in the year by all the frozen foot prints in the snow. The trails are not maintained and sometimes marked with blue strips of ribbon on trees.

I hadn't done a proper exploration of the Valley of Ice last year, just a hurried walk through when I met my Geologist friend Jason and his dog Piper.

This time I wanted to take my time and explore.

So I did. I found the first ice cave after taking the trail from the maintenance building along the snowmobile trail. The 40+ degree weather had melted the packed snow into ice and the light skiff of snow and sleet we had the night before made that trail just plain treacherous. I trudged through the snow on the side of the packed trail. 

The first cave wasn't too impressive and many more large trees have fallen over the past year. Climbing through the mess wasn't my what I intended to do first thing so I followed a run off along the valley floor. 

In a way it was a happy accident because it took me far out off the trails and to where I wanted to explore last spring. 

Charlie and I crossed the backwater marsh on the eastern side of the river and gazed across towards the Valley of Ice on March 11th in the blog titled Time Out.

I ended up where the arrow is in the next photo.

I sort of rejoiced in the discovery and then turned towards the steep hillside behind me and get back to the trail.

According to the contour map of the area, I had to climb 100 feet up from the valley floor back to find the trail.

I did. And I enjoyed every bit of it. At times I sat on an old pine tree's roots and stared down into the valley and the ice covered river. 
I was feeling every second of being alive. 

I took off my coat when I reached the trail on top and carried it as I hiked along the trail back towards where the ice caves were. I did a face palm as soon as I realized that the trail would take me around the top of all these valleys and that I'd be going at least an extra mile. I secretly was glad no one else had gone with me. However, doing all of the trails last year was a real bonus. As I immediately knew where I was and how far I had to go.

In good time I found the right valley and the first of the Ice Caves. I made my way down into the run off below the cave.

It looks as though you can walk right on into it. Well, it takes some scrambling and some grit. Here is the view from where I was sitting inside on the left part of the cave.

I scrambled around to the other side. Having good insulated and water resistant pants is a good thing here. I sat inside for quite a few minutes and listened to the water dripping. It was peaceful.

View of the Ice Curtain across the front from the inside.

As the noon whistle went off in LaFarge, I was halfway back to the parking area. 

I passed up a father and son who asked me about the ice and then a couple with their dogs. A pit bull and a mini Doxxie. It seemed that a  few people were taking advantage of a nice sunny Holiday to get out and walk.

When I got to the parking area I had to laugh. It seems Subarus like to park near each other. 

I can't wait to go back and explore some more.

Valley of the Ice

Section 30 County P ~ KVR Trail Challenge

 

Recall that little blind? It is so tiny, even a little person like myself can barely move in it. 

However it is proving to be pretty fun on some mornings. This little 8 point buck was about 300 yards away at the other end of the meadow.

This little doe came from the neighbor's meadow and walked between the fence wires. 

She kept looking around and the buck at the other end of our meadow saw/smelled her. He walked towards me and she ducked into the woods just west of this shot.

That was all the action I saw on Friday morning.

Charlie and I loaded up and headed out to tackle the trail section I'd been avoiding at Kickapoo Valley Reserve. 

Charlie and I saw some traffic and a lot of pheasant hunters. Charlie got his fill of hearing shotguns go off near the Weister Creek Trail. He became a bit nervous but didn't freak out. 

In my opinion there is no benefit to having the side of the road be designated as a Trail to hike on. 

The Trail Section is #30. It runs from Pott's Corners to KV Ranch which used to have horses years ago and would take folks on trail rides.  A person could stay at the cabin and ride down the road to access the rest of the KVR Trails.

Part of the access was a gate that led to a short section of the West Ridge Trail that still exists but is poorly maintained. We found the marker on our way back from the end near the KV Ranch. 

It was hidden and had not obviously been used, yet is part of the Trail Challenge.

Once we brush busted through the berry briars we did end up on what used to be a nicely groomed steep uphill climb. When I got to the top of the hogback ridge, the trail disappeared off to the right somewhere. There was no evidence of it being used recently at all. 

We spent time searching and found pieces of the trail. There were no markers, however if one studied the leaves and the ground you could sort of figure out where it was supposed to be.

It was however, very pretty.

We followed the trail and ducked under branches and went around deadfalls until we came out on Strait Rd at County P.

The mileage for this one way was 1.87. We may have done more as we wandered here and there to scout out the trail.

We found an area in the West Ridge Trail [woods] that was loaded with Wild Ginger and Hepatica. I noted that it would be neat to see the abundance of wildflowers next spring.

We made it back to where we parked with no issues. The traffic wasn't too bad on the road, but still it kept me wondering why it was marked as a trail. 

I have one other trail just like this to knock off this week and it is a bit longer. It runs from County F near the Wildcat Mountain border, follows State Hwy 131 for a bit and then heads out Hay Valley Rd to Campsite U and the Hay Valley Trail Head. 

At least part of this trail has a beaten down trail in the grass off of the road on County F.

Having a partner for these trails would be really nice. As it is I am doing them solo with Charlie so we walk the 'trail' and turn around and walk back.

With Bill we'd park one vehicle at each end and walk point to point.

I'm still close to our goal though.

With all the backtracking Charlie and I have done, I figured we've done about 70 miles of hiking or more at the KVR. All of it has been an adventure.

Charlie has been a champ. I think it proves that little short/long dogs can do it too. There have been a few times when I've had to carry him in warmer weather, but mostly he is an avid hiker.

Our goal is within reach and I hope to have it finished off before the gun deer season begins.  I have 4 more planned hikes. Three of them will require me to again go over trails I have done to trails I haven't done and then return.

I'm okay with that as it allows me to see the same woods in different seasons.

Here is Charlie in his home made carseat waiting for a treat and a ride home.

I thought I'd regret not getting another terrier, but he has proven to be an excellent partner in hiking as well as cuddling.

And...we are off again hopefully today!

Valley Girl

The last day of November was bright and beautiful. Cold in the morning and sunny with temperatures heading up to 45 degrees!

What better way to celebrate the end of the gun season and the end of the month but to go out to the 'Reserve' and explore old places. I packed an apple and a few snacks.

Charlie and I set off. 

I wanted to search a small valley from the river to the highway. I want to find the ice cave that Rich took me past on my very first mule ride so many years ago. 

I started at Willow Camp and off we went. I forgot to start my Mapmywalk app. The green dot is where I remembered to pause and turn it on. Below is a terrain view of the hike. What I found was rather unexpected.

View from the old campsite that was abandoned due to constant flooding. If heavy rain is predicted it isn't smart to be anywhere near the river even if it is 10 feet above the 'Poo. This location is beautiful but brutal. The river here is fed by a small stream that would become a raging Flash Flood Monster so the water flow towards the campsite would be twofold.

I wanted to see if I could follow the tiny unnamed creek towards the highway. Riding through this area years ago I just watched my mule's footsteps and gazed around in wonder. There is no longer any designated trails in this area. However I found one of the old road beds. 

Was it there because of an old farm from the 1960's? 

Was it there because the Army Core Engineers built it? 

But there was a long straight flat area that led in the direction I wanted to go.

It ran just above the unnamed creek. 

Charlie and I detoured to look at an ice pond and investigate some bright red berries. I think the berries might be Highbush Cranberries? Not sure, but they were brilliant!

The 'road' - flat area disappeared and we ended up brush busting. The valley is deep with steep hillsides and rock formations on each side.

I found the highway and climbed up the hillside to see the ancient sign that faced the road.

This sign was from the early 1990's.  Young guys with huge monster trucks would come in and tear things up. The signs went up after a group came in with chain saws and cut trees down so they could drive down to the Kickapoo and mud bog.

Rich and I joined a group of loosely organized equine riders that went in and repaired the damage carrying all of our supplies of seed, bales of straw, and rakes on our animals. This was all before the Reserve became the Reserve.

We found the place where the creek met the highway.

I looked on the northside of the creek and found and old yellow marker. I can't recall if it was a property marker or what. 

The valley to the north was where I'd first been introduced to an ice cave. I mentally marked this area for exploration on my next hike.

We decided to find an old trail and remain on the south side of the Valley.

Charlie finds an old equine trail --- he is good at that!

I headed up the old equine trail which we lost often but generally located again. It ran aimlessly above the 'old' road.

Eventually I found an old homestead. Charlie and I took a break there and wondered what happened. 

Did they sell their farm, or were they one of the unlucky ones who had it condemned?

All that was left was their junk yard.

We found a point to look out from and down on where we had started our little journey.

We climbed back down and headed up old 131.

Charlie and I, The Valley Explorers.