100 Miles to Winter
In the next 30 to 40 days our part of the world will experience a spectacular shift in climate and environment. Over the next few weeks, the summer’s greens will pass through a momentary splash of autumn color before meeting a sudden chilly death. Over the next 30-40 days the world will transform from color to black and white. In the next 30 to 40 days, average high temperatures will drop nearly 30 degrees. The water temperatures will follow close behind. In a month of days ice may start forming along the rocky shores of our little lake. What an amazing time to be outdoors and watch the world change before your eyes.
It’s also time for me (The guy who manages this website) to begin my own personal celebration of Devil’s Lake State Park’s 100 year anniversary. It’s time to paddle 100 miles to winter. It’s an accident of arithmetic actually. Devil’s Lake is just over 3 miles in circumference requiring about 35 trips around to get to the hundred mile goal. Put aside a few “off” days and that means we’ll cross that 100 mile mark in late October when the peak colors of autumn have given way to blacks, browns and grays and sometimes, even the first snowflakes of the year.
In that short time we’ll watch the annual gathering of the vultures before they head south for the winter. Transient ducks and geese will come and go. Most enjoyable will be simply experiencing our annual fall color event from beginning to end on the water and from one of the most beautiful fall color destinations in the Midwest.
On a personal level, Devil’s Lake is where I learned to kayak. Long before becoming an instructor or taking trips around the country or the world.. I had to learn simply to keep my boat straight! I put in that time right here. Here is where I practiced self-rescues, and where I learned to roll and not fear that I wouldn’t come back up. Here at Devil’s Lake State Park I’ve posted a few thousand miles over the years on the water and on the trails. It’s here where I got my once nearly 300lb body back into halfway decent shape. It’s where I once worked for 3 seasons and as you know is a big part of my business life today.
Stop in and follow along on this little back yard adventure, an adventure within reach of anyone willing to put aside just a bit of time to accomplish. Together we’ll celebrate having Devil’s Lake State Park open to everyone for 100 years. We’ll celebrate Wisconsin’s famous “Colorama” and probably get a little cold and wet along the way. 100 Miles To Winter Archive.