Photo of the day

And they are off at the 40th Birkebeiner

And they are off at the 40th Birkebeiner

This photograph comes from I believe the 5th wave of the 50 kilometer skate race at the 40th Birkebeiner cross-country ski marathon, which was held this last Saturday. I was in wave 6 of the classic race and because of this photo, I was late getting to the starting line.  Sometimes you just have to [...]

One month to the American Birkebeiner: Pray for snow

One month to the American Birkebeiner: Pray for snow

The American Birkebeiner cross-country ski Marathon is only a month away and currently there is a shortage of snow in Hayward, Wisconsin. There is not much snow anywhere in the state. One-by-one, many winter events all across the state have been canceled from biathlons, skiing races, and candlelight night skis. Let us pray that the [...]

Stark conditions at Blue Mound State Park

Stark conditions at Blue Mound State Park

We arrived to a foggy Blue Mound State Park. It had recently snowed and then freezing rain capped the snow making a crusty top layer. Despite the less than ideal conditions, the woods were beautiful in stark kind of way. In fact, an author contacted me for some of my pictures from this day to [...]

On the edge at Trollhaugen Ski Area

On the edge at Trollhaugen Ski Area

The first snow of the year has hit northern Wisconsin, but Trollhaugen Ski Area has been making snow for a week or two, so they have opened for some great downhill skiing. Located in Dresser, Wisconsin close to the Minnesota border, Trollhaugen is a local favorite for Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois downill skiers. The purpose [...]

Typical scenery in the Driftless Area

Typical scenery in the Driftless Area

The Driftless Area is an unglaciated section of southwestern Wisconsin along the Wisconsin, Mississippi, and Kickapoo River valleys. The region is characterized with beautiful bluffs, hardwood forests, and farm fields. Driving through this region it is interesting to note the harmony between Wisconsin farms and nature. Often times you will see barns wrapped in a [...]

North country scenic sunset from the Brule River State Forest

North country scenic sunset from the Brule River State Forest

The North Country Scenic Trail winds its way through seven northern states starting in New York and ending in North Dakota. Along the way it passes through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. This is from the trail as it traverses through the Brule River State Forest on a section between the St. Croix River [...]

Driftless area road into the bluffs and clouds

Driftless area road into the bluffs and clouds

It has been years since I have been through the Kickapoo River Valley in southwestern Wisconsin, and I forgot how beautiful the Driftless Area really is. After so many years canoeing the Wisconsin River, I assumed the bluffs along the Wisconsin River were unique to the Lower Wisconsin River Valley. A drive north through the [...]

Like a rainbow in the Driftless Area

Like a rainbow in the Driftless Area

A summer storm rolled through the Kickapoo River Valley, but the sun was not far behind. This of course brought on a rainbow to the delight of those in the Driftless Area in Wisconsin. This picture was taken just north of Readstown, Wisconsin on highway 61 going south. The purpose of Wisconsin Outside dot com [...]

Two kayaks along the Kickapoo River

Two kayaks along the Kickapoo River

The meandering Kickapoo River is one of the prettiest rivers in Wisconsin. The Kickapoo River runs through the Driftless Area, which is named because the area was never covered during the Ice Age by glaciers. The headwaters are found near Ontario, Wisconsin, and it flows south to its confluence with the Wisconsin River at Wauzeka. [...]

Bong wildflowers and glaciated topography

Bong wildflowers and glaciated topography

Richard Bong State Recreation Area in southern Wisconsin near Burlington is a beautiful park featuring varied landscapes. Prairies with summer wildflowers are interspersed with hardwood forests and wetland areas. This pictures features them all with the prairie in the foreground, a marsh in the middle, surrounded by forest, and Verne Wolf Lake in the distance. [...]