North Kettle Moraine WI - Ice Age Trail Beginner/Intermediate trip

Status: No longer accepting RSVPs

Trip Summary:
Mileage: Moderate
Terrain/conditions: Moderate
Duration: 17 miles
Location Details / Map : Glenbeulah WI

Requirements:
This is a trip for experienced backpackers, or beginners in good physical shape and in possession of decent backpacking gear. If you have not completed an overnight trip with our meetup, direct message the organizer to introduce yourself. Review the club guidelines posted here. https://www.meetup.com/Chicago-Backpackers/

Meetup messaging is unreliable, and we use email for pre-trip communications. You will be asked to enter your email when you RSVP. Respond to organizer emails in a timely manner or risk forfeiting your spot on the trip. Participation is at the discretion of the organizer. DO NOT RSVP UNLESS YOU FULLY INTEND TO PARTICIPATE AND HAVE ARRANGED FOR TIME OFF FROM WORK ETC. Cancellations and non-responders require the organizers to take additional time to contact and confirm waiting list participants to fill the spots.

About the Trip
This backpack will be a moderate hike along the Ice Age Trail in the Kettle Moraine State Forest Northern Unit, approx. 2.5 hours north of Chicago. We will start at the Butler Lake parking lot and hike north to the end of the trail. Trail maps: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/kmn/maps

The trail will be mostly comprised of packed dirt along rolling terrain. There are hills throughout, mostly under 25' gain. While the breaks will be called for throughout the day, participants will need to be in good physical shape so that the group can stay together and have a positive experience. We will camp at a backpacking shelter on Saturday night. There will be plenty of space to set up tents outside the shelter.

As there are no reliable water sources along the trail (aside from the occasional water pumps), water will be cached near the Saturday campsite in advance.

Gear: this outing will be a self-contained trip, meaning each participant shall provide their own backpacking gear, food, etc as though this was a solo trip. Participants are encouraged to bring this own stove and fuel, but the organizers will share theirs with participants who do not have these items.

Itinerary
Friday evening:
Meet at Campground TBD for an overnight car camp. Dinner on your own prior to arrival.

Saturday:
6:30-7:30: Breakfast
7:30-8:00: Break camp.
8:00-9:00: Shuttle cars and backpackers to end of trail and Butler Lake and cache water near Shelter #5.
9:00-9:15: Trail briefing and review backpacking etiquette and LEAVE NO TRACE principles.
9:15-3:00: Hike the Ice Age Trail north 9 miles, including a lunch break at Parnell Tower and other breaks.
3:00: Make camp at Shelter #5, gather firewood, eat dinner, and share camaraderie.

Sunday:
6:30-7:30: Breakfast
7:30-8:00: Break camp.
8:00-12:00: On the trail, hike approximately 8 miles to end of trail near Glenbeulah, including breaks.
12:00: Return home and eat lunch.

Transportation:
Trip organizers do not arrange carpools but we do encourage carpooling. If you want to offer or solicit a ride, use the Comments section for the trip. Confirm your travel arrangements before you RSVP for the trip. Each car should make its own gas reimbursement arrangements.

Costs:
Camping fees for the trip will be divided evenly among the participants and collected by organizers. Approximately $5-15/person.

Acknowledgement:
As a member of the Chicago Backpackers Group, by registering (RSVPing) for this event, you accept that Hiking & Backpacking can be a dangerous sport and fully assume all risks associated with such participation, including travel to and from the event. You agree to be responsible for your own safety and equipment. You realize that conditions, obstacles, and weather are always changing, and your personal safety cannot be guaranteed. You understand the Meetup.com Terms of Service agreement which you signed when you joined Meetup (link below) and accept that participation is at your own risk. You agree to communicate with event organizers to plan for the trip and sign the Release of Liability provided by the organizers prior to participation.

Click here to review the Meetup.com Terms of Service.
(https://www.meetup.com/terms/)

Click here to review the club standard Release of Liability form. This link takes you to the read-only form. Once you RSVP a trip organizer will share the form and request electronic signature, which is required to confirm participation on our trips.

[INSERT LINK TO READ ONLY FORM HERE]

Erik Sander, and Mike Staffeldt