Beginner Winter Backpacking Weekend

This event is open to all skill levels. Join us for a weekend of cold weather backpacking doing the Delafield/Lapham Peak Segments of the Ice Age Trail. If you have never backpacked in cooler temperaturs, this would be a great first outing. The Delafield Segment is 3.2 miles and takes you through downtown Delafield and along part of the Lake County Recreation Trail. The Lapham Peak Segment is a total of 6.1 miles and highlights the Kettle Moraine State Forest through winding woods and prairies sites. There is a 45-foot observation tower offering 360-degree views of Hartland, Holy Hill, the Kettle Moraine ridges to the north, to the east is downtown Milwaukee. To the South and southwest are Dousman and the southern Kettle Moraine, to the West is Oconomowoc.

This will not be a “rushed” hike, it will be a hike your own hike, stop for breaks when needed, stop for pictures, enjoy your time in nature hike, and maybe a stop for a coffee or hot chocolate in downtown Delafield if we pass a coffeeshop along the way. 😊 The mileage for the weekend will be approximately 9.5 miles broken down between Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday if anyone would like we can do some more hiking inside Lapham Peak State Park, there are lots of trails within the park.

Saturday we will be starting at the Delafield Segment, continuing on to the Lapham Peak Segment where we will be staying the night at a backpacking shelter. The shelter includes a covered shelter, picnic table, pit toilet and fire ring. There is also plenty of room for tents outside the shelter or bring a hammock to sleep in. Then on Sunday we will finish the Lapham Peak Segment and then do some other hikes if the group would like. Sunday morning after you pack up your tent, you can walk down to your vehicle if it’s parked at Lapham and drop off your gear and just hike the rest of the time with just a daypack, water and snacks.

Directions
Parking will be at the Kettle Moraine State Forest Lapham Peak Unit Evergreen Parking area right by the new Lapham Lodge they just built. W329 N846 County Rd C, Delafield, WI 53018 Coordinates: 43.04055,-88.40344
We will leave the majority of the cars here and then ride over to the start of the hike in a couple of other vehicles. We will park the other vehicles at the Nagawaukee Park and Ride 2707 Golf Road Delafield, WI 53188, and start our Delafield segment from there on to Lapham.

Weather
This is a early winter trip, please check the weather forecast prior to packing and come prepared for cold temperatures. November temperatures range from a high of 52 to 65 and low from 29 to 40 in the evening.

Saturday
Please arrive at 8:45am or earlier (if the extra time is needed) at the Evergreen Parking area inside Lapham Peak State Park then get your gear all set, bathroom stop and get ready to go so we can leave to the Nagawaukee Park and Ride at 9am sharp. We will start the Delafield Segment from there. We will stop and have lunch on the trail or snack along the way. Once we get to the backpack site, we will set up our tents and get some wood for the fire. In the evening we will have dinner and relax by the crackling fire. Lapham Peak has other trails in the area of the shelter that can also be done if others would like to do so, and the observation tower very close by, which is a must to see. A sunset view from the tower would be awesome!

Sunday
Have breakfast, pack up and head out to finish the segment and more trails if we want.

Fees
There is no cost for this event. You are responsible for providing your own personal equipment, food and drink. Please bring a bear container or some way to hang your food out of reach of big and little critters.