Winter seems to have finally arrived here in central Wisconsin.  A few inches of snow have fallen, but it’s not quite enough to make for great skiing or snowshoeing yet.  Not to say that folks aren’t giving it a go!

Meanwhile out on the lake, as of this morning (12/18/2012), I did see a few fisherman who just couldn’t wait any longer. Still, those with fishing shanties and trailers are still clinging to the shoreline. Not a bad idea as it was in the 50s just a few days back! Keep in mind that the park staff does not monitor ice conditions and you’re out there at your own risk.  The Wisconsin Department of  Natural Resources does offer a lot of good information about ice fishing in Wisconsin however, click right here to head over to their Wisconsin Ice Fishing Information Page.

Did you hike 100 miles on the trails of Devil’s Lake State Park in 2011?  Well, don’t stop now! Get outdoors in 2012 and hike 101 miles! This year, people who earn 101 miles will earn a certificate of accomplishment. Use the log sheet to record your 101 miles of hiking, skiing, or snowshoeing the trails of Devil’s Lake.

Download: Hike 101 Brochure | Hike 101 Log Book

Please Note:

• Miles must be logged during 2012.
• Use the form to log your miles.
• When you have completed 101 miles, bring this
• form to the Nature Center to receive your certificate of accomplishment.
• We thank you in advance for being honest when filling out your mileage sheet.

There’s a lot happening in January at Devil’s Lake State Park! Yep, it’s time to look at the nature center’s January Happenings! Throughout the month the nature center will be offering hikes, snowshoeing, bird watching and more! Parents should be sure to check out the indoor programs for the kids.. Just click here for the January line up (PDF) !  See you there!

This can be a risky time of year for walking the trails here in Wisconsin, especially for the casual hiker.  When each day brings change, rain one day, snow the next, warm and sunny days followed by cold, the trails turn can turn nasty.  The photo above was taken on the Tumbled Rocks trail along the western bank of Devil’s Lake just yesterday.  It was hazardous to say the least.

Often, experienced hikers will wear some sort of shoe grip or cleat to avoid landing on their faces when the trails turn icy.  When the trails are surrounded by pointy quartzite boulders and quick drop-offs, you don’t want to fall.  A pair of cleats that will go right over your hiking boots will run around $20, the downside is that the quality is hit-or-miss.  Some will last for years while others may break on your first time out.  (Anyone who has a solid recommendation is more than welcome to comment on this post!) However, with a little observation, you can usually navigate an icy path simply by thinking ”outside of the trail”.

When you look at the picture above you’ll notice the center of the trail is covered with clear and white colored ice bordered on each side with a bit of white snow. The continued foot traffic along with radiant heat slowly turned the center of the path into an icy danger zone. Still, for whatever reason most hikers will continue to walk the well-worn path despite the obvious danger. If you ever get a chance to sit and observe hikers on an icy trail sometime, you’ll see what I mean.  Certainly, there are times when we just don’t have an option.. but usually we just don’t think much about it.

Simply moving to either side of the worn path can provide a safe solution.  On the sides of the trails there is usually some deeper snow that has not been compressed, leaves, gravel and all that other stuff that gets brushed from the heavily used center.  Often you’ll get great traction on the edges of the trail. Seems sort of obvious doesn’t it?  It is of course, but it’s also hard for us sometimes to move out of the mainstream, even in such seemingly obvious ways.  Sometimes we just need it called to our attention.  After watching a few folks almost wipe out yesterday, I thought it may be worth the mention!

So be careful out there.  The trail surfaces are changing each day right along with this strange January weather.  If you’re going to be out hiking often, think about investing in some cleats for your boots… If you’re only going to be out occasionally or can’t spend the twenty bucks, just be extra cautious and remember that the well-worn path isn’t always the best, or the safest. Happy Hiking!

This time of year it’s easy to forget that you need to update your park sticker.  Yep, it’s 2012 already!  If you’ve not purchased your new sticker, you can just pick it up at the state park’s office when you arrive.. Well, that’s if the park office near you is staffed this time of year.  Otherwise why not head over to the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks website and order your 2012 sticker online?  Just click here.  Remember, being at a park without a valid sticker is sort of like an automotive wardrobe malfunction. You know how embarrassing that can be!