Snowshoeing today along the Waupaca River (pics)

Last edited Fri Jan 9, 2015, 07:58 PM - Edit history (1)

The Tomorrow River flows out of Portage County in NE Wisconsin, fed by a wonderful aquifer. The water is as pure and clean as in the neighboring – and appropriately named – Crystal River. When the Tomorrow hits the Waupaca County line it becomes the Waupaca River, tumbling through the small city of Waupaca where it spawned mills nearly two centuries ago. The city still relies on small industry (and some not so small) if not on the hydro power the river once supplied.




This week Wisconsin has been blasted with frigid temperatures, combined with high winds to create brutal cold. Overnight temps were double-digit below zero and highs during the day capped out at plus-2. Wind chill has been as low as minus-35.

And we finally got a little more snow. Light, fluffy snow typical of what one sees in very cold weather. Hard to tell how much as the wind was piling it up here and there, but perhaps 5-6 inches.

We got a real break on temperatures today – it was a balmy plus-4 when I left the house. Cabin fever was a real threat if I didn’t get out.

I embarked from River Park, a City of Waupaca park on the east side. The trail meanders along next to the river for perhaps ¾ mile. I chose the river bottom as a good place to stay out of the biting wind. This is a primitive trail, but not difficult. The out-and-back distance of ~ two miles took me 90 minutes, with many stops to take pictures. My snowshoe tracks were the only sign of human presence.



Slow sections of the river are frozen over after this frigid spell ….



But faster sections remain at least partially open …




Deer take advantage of the footbridges. I hiked around to avoid damaging the bridge decking with my snowshoe cleats.



Tracks are easy to spot in the fresh snow. I saw tracks from mammals as small as shrews and as large as whitetail deer, and from birds small as chickadees and as large as turkeys.



No fundies beyond this point …



This loop turns the out-and-back stem of the trek into a “lollipop” hike. Leopold is, of course, a legend in Wisconsin.



Basic gear … gators to keep the pants dry, snowshoes, and my sticks (trekking poles) which serve three purposes: They help one keep one's balance; they make a great mono-pod for the camera; and – for snowshoers – they allow you to back up! Use the tip of your poles to push down on the tips of your snowshoes, thereby lifting the back end up so you can step backward. Very useful for a photographer who wades into a tight spot to get a shot.