Adventure: Picnic Point

Ah, snowy Wisconsin. A flat state full of badgers and cheese. But it was somehow so alluring to explore as I was making my way through its frozen plains on my way to Minnesota's Twin Cities. As plans were set to spend a night in the capitol city of Madison, I immediately investigated what sort of short adventures I squeeze into the afternoon. All sources pointed the same way: Picnic Point.

Dubbed one of the 10 best places to kiss in the world, this small nature preserve hiding in an urban area is managed by the University of Wisconsin. The shape is incredible as the wooded strip of land extends out into the massive Lake Mendota, looking like the campus's own wang on display to the rest of the city on the adjacent shore. Indians originally held the site sacred, creating mounds that are typical of the natives of that region. Later, settlers used the fertile soils of the peninsula for farming. 

Today, the trails and forest make a popular summertime picnic destination to enjoy views of the old glacial waters and the skyline of Madison across University Bay. Of course, I instead led Bilo, Mary and Liz across the slender shorelines in the dead of winter in horribly freezing cold temperatures and a shit-ton of snow.

You know the drill, click Read More to see the pictures n'at after the jump.

Adventure: Presque Isle

The endless expanse of Lake Erie can make one quickly forget that it's not really the ocean. Erie is so much like a seaside port in an otherwise landlocked Pennsylvania that it has become something of a destination for weekend warriors. Of particular intrigue: the soft sands of Presque Isle. As an early nation, the American militias including General Mad Anthony used the coves as a staging ground for naval battles. Before that, French explorers dubbed it with its current moniker, which translated from French means "Almost an Island" (completely appropriate as a slender sand bar keeps this lengthy peninsula anchored to the mainland.) Even earlier than that, and Native American legend explains its very existence.

According to the old tales of the Erie tribe, for generations the people of the Erie nation lived along the fertile banks peacefully, never journeying into its waters. They were protected by their savior, the Great Spirit. But one fateful evening the most adventurous men in the tribe took to lake in wooden canoes to find the place where the Sun sunk into the lake at sunset. The lake spirits were angered by their arrogance and set forth a great storm to dump them into turbulent waters, but the Great Spirit was still watching over his chosen people, throwing his massive arm into the water from the shore to shelter the wayward paddlers. When he lifted his arm from the waves, a great sand bar remained in the shape of his appendage, forever sheltering his fledglings of the Erie tribe. Even today, maps and aerial images show the eerie shape of the peninsula of lore.

Today, Presque Isle is an incredibly popular tourist destination as an inland beach. Its overwhelming usage (and my own dislike of beaches) had prevented me from visiting since I was young, but when my old pal Ber-Ber asked me to join her there for camping I couldn't let her down. We were joined by our friends Buddy and Jas for a few days of shorefront camping and casual hiking. This isn't really adventurous, but I like the old legend and everything is just so photogenic.

See just how nice the pictures look after the jump!

Adventure: Bogus Rocks

Anyone who has spent extensive time exploring the wilderness of Pennsylvania has come across the occasional rock outcropping that secretly dot the landscape. When you explore them enough, every grouping of these blocks of sandstone begins to seem as ordinary as the last. Yet occasionally, one of them retains some sort of old legend or story to give it a little bit of character. An outcropping near Knox in the Pa Wilds just off an abandoned railroad would be nothing truly special if it weren't for a tale of gunfighters, outlaws, and one unlucky traveling salesman. Shortly after the Civil War, Levi Epstein was bringing his wares to a strange Ohio family camped out in the crevices of the large rocks back in the forest. Levi thought i awfully suspicious to be making a delivery to such a remote location and to be paid in such a large amount of fresh cash from a family that seemed so poor they were using the natural overhangs for shelters... or were they hide-outs? Before Mr. Epstein could make his return journey, government agents surrounded the stone fortress. The haggard old woman that was in charge of the group, known to everyone as simply "Maw," ordered her boys to take up arms. The entire family bunkered down in the outcrop and a huge battle of rifles ensued until the men sent in by the Department of Revenue prevailed. As they raided the possessions of Maw's gang they began to confiscate overwhelming amounts of counterfeit money and the plates and presses they had been using to print it amongst the mossy cliffs. Levi had narrowly survived by hiding between the cracks of the boulders, returning to civilization to propagate his crazy tale. The outcrop appropriately gained the moniker "Bogus Rocks" and some still claim that some of the bogus bucks and printing plates are still there, carefully hidden by Maw.

After hearing this story, I obviously just had to check it out. But I could never pinpoint the location. Turns out, a friend from Clarion had passed right through it while interning with the Forest Service, though she was unaware of its historical significance. So we combined our knowledge and sought out Bogus Rocks, and I spent a fine afternoon with my friends Joe and Danielle hiking to the rocks that hid so many criminals.

Pictures and description of our journey is right after the jump!

Adventure: Doe Run

There are thousands of small streams gushing through the steep hollows of the Pa Wilds, yet true waterfalls are still uncommon. Doe Run, just north of Clarion before it flows into the Clarion River Lake, is no exception. It is in every way standard; no unique water features, no geological abnormalities, no unique history, nothing. It's something that would never make the cut for this website, yet I'm making an exception. When I decided to hike through it in late December, there was just something about the setting that just seemed so picturesque that I had to snap a few shots and post them here. That's the only reasoning for these pictures being here. Enjoy, or not. I don't care.

Gotta love having the Jeep around when the snow makes the backroads shitty. Now to head out on foot, just meandering along Doe Run...

 

Finally after descending down the steeper and steeper banks and slopes I came out to a beautifully frozen Clarion River... breathtaking view...

Tally-ho!
-Crash

Fleet: Potomac 100 ES

After borrowing an Old Town Otter from Kovachu practically every week in Clarion over the summer, I decided it might be time to invest in a kayak. But I didn't have to. I found a brand new red one in my garage one day as an early graduation gift. Thanks to Mama and Papa Crash. It isn't my ideal kayak but dammit its free.

Make: Potomac

Model: 100 ES

Name: To be determined...

Here's how she looked as I brought her up to my old apartment...

And of course ol' Crash just had to customize his toy a bit...