Category: North America

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Weekend at Kettle Moraine, Wisconsin

We spent long weekend at ☞ Kettle Moraine State Forest (Northern Unit), camped at Mauthe Lake campground (very nice, spacious and clean). Spent most of daylight hiking, 40 km on different trails. And kayaked 7.5 km around Mauthe Lake and upstream East Branch Milwaukee River.

Kettle Moraine State Forest (Northern Unit)

☞ Our 3 trails in Kettle Moraine State Forest
☞ Mauthe Lake and East Branch Milwaukee River kayaking

We also visited Long Lake and Dundee Kame viewpoint. Weather was 50/50, with rain one night and heavy downpour followed by several hours of rain, sometimes heavy – the last two days. We were prepared, our stuff did not get wet, and we had campfire every night. Surprisingly mosquito activity was only low to moderate. Our friends joined us for a day. There was a lot of damage/downed trees after 17 storms and tornados, and high water levels after heavy rains in this part of Wisconsin on August 28.

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Picnic at Ravinia

With James Conlon (conductor), Nadine Sierra (soprano), Michael Fabiano (tenor)  and Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Rossini and Dionizetti.

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Hyde Park and Palos Forest Preserve

History trail: Fermi in Chicago

 

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Great Smoky Mountains 2018

Our trip was timed for watching synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus), blooming flame azaleas (Rhododendron calendulaceum), mountain laurels (Kalmia latifolia) and even some rhododendrons (Rhododendron maximum). The weather was warm and humid, but only a few hours of continuous rain. Hike completed in 2018: from Elkmont to Tremont by car âžœ Spence Field 110 âžœ Mollies Ridge 112 âžœ Sheep Pen Gap 13 âžœ Spence Field 110 âžœ Derrick Knob 109 âžœ Marks Cove 28  âžœ Tremont West Prong trailhead.

We had good time hiking in Smokys, this time and in 2015  â˜ž Mammoth Cave & Smoky Mountains. We enjoyed shorter side-walks as well and altogether walked 143  km, 6.8 km  total ascent, on 3 longer trails including two multi-day hikes (map).

Loop from Tremont West Prong trailhead

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Our Smoky Mountains destinations on map (both trips)
Click on clusters to zoom-in and on markers for info and links   older destinations  hiking trail road trip  hotel/motel/cabin   tent camping  car camping  Back to global view
Hiking in Smokys

☞ Hiking in the Smokys
☞ Smoky Mountains NP trail map

Smoky Mountains video clips
Forest floor – 52 photos

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Great Smoky Mountains days 8-9: Derrick Knob to Marks Cove and back to Tremont, and going home

From Derrick Knob we hiked a bit more on AT (Northbound) and then started walking down on Miry Ridge trail to Marks Cove,  11 km and 800 m total elevation gain. Next day 13 km was all downhill to Tremont. We took lunch break at Indian Flat Falls.

Indian Flat Falls

And enjoyed easy walk on old forest road through the forest and along Middle Prong Little River with many cascades and falls. For a while we walked in quite heavy rain, but we were already on paved Upper Tremont Road so it was not too bad. We found our car at West Prong trailhead as we left it. We packed our still somewhat wet gear and after big dinner in Townsend took off for Chicago with  O/N near Knoxville.

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