S3 C, SK
Half of the nearly 1,000 acres within the Nature Conservancy’s Tenderfoot Forest Preserve is comprised of old-growth hemlock, sugar maple, basswood, and yellow birch, with a smattering of super-canopy white pines. The only trick to seeing this magnificent forest is that one must first paddle across Palmer Lake, through a portion of the Ontonagon River, and then across Tenderfoot Lake to get there – a three-mile paddle. We’ll hike at a moderate pace, pausing frequently along a two-mile loop within the preserve to discuss the old-growth, and stopping for lunch at one of the wilderness lakes on the property. This site is arguably one of the three best old-growth stands left in Wisconsin. 60-807-69200
John Bates/Mary Burns
Saturday, August 4
9 AM - 4 PM
Class #10090 Fee: $30
Class #10091 Fee with canoe rental: $40
S3 C
Sylvania’s 21,000 acres of crystal clear lakes and oldgrowth forests in the Ottawa National Forest provide perhaps the best exploratory opportunities for paddling and hiking in Michigan. A summer paradise for canoeists and kayakers, Sylvania’s extensive virgin hemlock-hardwood forests also offer some of the most beautiful hiking in the Midwest. Silence, too, may be one of Sylvania’s most precious commodities. No motorized vehicles are permitted within Sylvania’s borders at any time. We’ll paddle and portage into a few of Sylvania’s lakes, hike some of the shoreline trails, discuss the value of wilderness and old-growth, and perhaps take a swim in the crystal clear waters. 60-807-65200
John Bates/Mary Burns
Sunday, August 5
9 AM - 4 PM
Class #10092 Fee: $30
Class #10093 Fee with canoe rental: $40
S3
Wisconsin boasts some of the most interesting geological landscape in the United States. This class will include three days of walking on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in the Devil’s Lake and Baraboo Hills region of South Central Wisconsin. The Baraboo Hills are the remains of the oldest mountain range in North America and, at one time, were as lofty as the Rocky Mountains are today. The bluffs surrounding Devil’s Lake are what remain of a gorge created by an ancient river, the power of which of which defies imagination. The park is replete with many native wildflowers, some rare, and is an important stopover for migrating birds in the spring. Highlights will include guided hikes and natural history interpretation of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail with a side trip to Parfrey’s Glen, Wisconsin’s first Natural Area. We’ll also tour the monumental effigy mounds built by human inhabitants over a thousand years ago. Lodging will be in charming hillside log cabins; fee includes lodging, breakfasts, and transportation from Rhinelander. 60-807-62010
Dave Phillips/Martha Schouweiler
Friday - Sunday, May 4 - 6
Depart Rhinelander Campus at 8 AM on Friday, return late afternoon on Sunday
Class #61011 Fee for double occupancy: $275
Class #61010 Fee for single occupancy: $400
S3
This trip will feature two short hikes to two peaks, Lookout Mountain in Lincoln County and Timm’s Hill, the highest elevation in Wisconsin, located in Price County. Numerous glacial features will be highlighted as we traverse the Harrison Hills including the unusual ice-walled lake plains. Hiking is easy to moderate on this trip; fee includes lunch at a cozy restaurant.
60-806-62800
Paul Ehlers
Tuesday, July 31
Depart Nicolet Rhinelander Campus at 8 AM, return around 4 PM
Class #10068 Fee: $38
S3
Cathedral Pines not only features one of the finest old-growth pine-hemlock stands left in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, it is also the location of a Native American village and mound site that was likely occupied between the 11th and 16th centuries A.D. We will spend the day exploring the beauty and ecology of the oldgrowth as well as delving into the mysteries and revelations found in the archaeological remains. In the morning, Mark Bruhy, retired archaeologist for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, will guide our walk into the past in this highly sensitive area, then in the afternoon, John Bates and Mary Burns will pilot their thoughts on the ecology of oldgrowth forests. Cathedral Pines was designated as a State Natural Area in 2007, and encompasses 1,874 acres near Townsend in Oconto County. 60-806-61500
John Bates/Mary Burns/Mark Bruhy
Friday, August 10
9 AM - 3 PM
Class #10065 Fee: $42
S3
Franklin and Butternut Lakes State Natural Area not only features a number of small undeveloped lakes and several stands of old-growth hemlock-hardwoods, it’s also located within the Butternut-Franklin Lakes Archaeological District which contains 20 archaeological sites dating back to as early as 400 BC. Listed on the National Register of Historic places, this area has been significantly excavated and much is known about the people who once lived here. In the morning, Mark Bruhy, retired archaeologist for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest who led many of the excavations in this area, will guide our walk into the past, then in the afternoon, John Bates and Mary Burns will lead us on a hike within the old-growth forests. The 1,396-acre State Natural Area contains several interconnected stands of hemlock-dominated old growth on the isthmus between Franklin and Butternut Lakes. 60-806-61500
John Bates/Mary Burns/Mark Bruhy
Saturday, August 11
9 AM - 3 PM
Class #10066 Fee: $42
S3
Fifteen miles north of Bessemer in the Ottawa National Forest, the Black River tumbles through a series of five gorgeous waterfalls to reach Lake Superior. We’ll follow the North Country Trail between the waterfalls as we walk downhill for about four miles to the sand beach at the mouth of the Black River. If the weather and lake are sufficiently warm, we’ll take a swim or opt to just walk the length of the beach. We’ll park a van at the bottom to take us back up to our cars. Though downhill the whole way, the trail still slips up and down and is rocky and rooty. Wooden boardwalks lead out to beautiful vantage points at each of the falls. We’ll take our time going down the trail, talk about the natural history of the area, and allow plenty of opportunities for photography. 60-806-61500
John Bates/Mary Burns
Sunday, August 12
9 AM - 3 PM
Class #10067 Fee: $34
S3
When local people talk about their favorite places in the Chequamegon National Forest, Morgan Falls, St. Peter’s Dome and Copper Falls State Park are always near the top of the list as they offer the perfect contrast of experiences. Morgan Falls is intimate; the state’s second highest falls, it tumbles down a rock face in steps. The volume of water is never great, even in spring. On St. Peter’s Dome, the world opens up. A clear day reveals Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands 20 miles to the north. Below is the vast carpet of the forest and farmsteads in the lowland near the lake. The top is 400 feet above the starting point. St. Peter’s Dome was created when the Penokee Mountains were being uplifted over two billion years ago. The hike to St. Peter’s Dome is 3.6 miles long, round trip, and is fairly rugged with some steep climbs. We’ll hike to both places and learn about these geology gems. Wisconsin’s pre-Cambrian history and plate tectonics will be the main topics of discussion. Total distance is about 5 miles including the stop at Morgan Falls. 60-806-62800
Paul Ehlers
Tuesday, August 14
Depart Nicolet Lakeland Campus at 8 AM, return in the evening
Class #10069 Fee: $38
S3
Clark Lake is the largest of the 34 named lakes in the 18,327 acre Sylvania Wilderness Area. The hike around Clark Lake is about eight miles of mostly flat to rolling terrain, with occasional wet spots and small stream crossings. Along the way, we’ll learn about the rich cultural history as we explore the spot where the elite Sylvania Club had large lodges and guard shacks. The Sylvania tract has only been open to the public since 1967 and became a designated wilderness in 1987. If doing a long hike through a virgin forest along the shore of a pristine lake sounds good to you, you may want to sign up for this one. 60-806-61500
Sandra Lotto/Joe Panci
Monday, October 1
10 AM - 5 PM
Class #20003 Fee: $36
S3
This trip will be similar to the one last year but will include all different (but just as adventurous) walks. Each walk will be rugged and strenuous but less than eight miles in length. At night, we will relax in historic lodges and enjoy gourmet meals prepared by the North Shore’s best chefs. Backpacker Magazine has described the Superior Hiking Trail as one of the “10 prime trails that leave all others in the dust”; few trails in North America offer such a high frequency of spectacular and satisfying viewscapes. For most of its length, it follows the ridgeline above Lake Superior. Hikers are treated to dramatic views of Lake Superior with its various moods, colors and weather. In the distance one can see Isle Royale and the shorelines of Canada, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Descending into river valleys, we are amazed by waterfalls and deep gorges carved out of ancient bedrock by mythic glacial floods and thousands of years of cascading water. This trip includes four nights lodging,breakfasts and transportation from Rhinelander. 60-807-62010
Dave Phillips/Scott Bradley
Friday - Tuesday, October 5 - 9
Depart Nicolet Lakeland Campus at 8 AM on Friday, return late afternoon on Tuesday
Class #20006 Fee for double occupancy: $440
Class #20005 Fee for single occupancy: $620