Adventure: Whittimore Hill

If you're adventuring into good ol' Cameron County or Potter County, you don't have a lot of options for resupplying yourself. The heart of the Pa Wilds is pretty desolate, with entire lumber towns deserted and long stretches of nothingness. So when Lavaricky and I spent a few days exploring what the locals call God's Country with Soco at her cabin, we were forced to make use of one of the only actual town's around, Emporium, mostly because we wanted somewhere to catch the Pens game.

But without much outside of the town itself, there were even some adventures to be had nearby. Proof of this: Whittimore Hill. Just up the plateau from this quaint village was a great view that brought the whole settlement into view, along with the surrounding valleys and forests. It was a quick stop at a snowy overlook, a perfect pit stop in my books.

Stunning view of a really friendly town... maybe too friendly as we learned at a nearby restaurant. But the pizza was good and we did talk them into putting the hockey game on TV. Great way to end an adventure within an adventure.

Tally-ho!
-Crash

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.