Kettle Moraine State Forest: Lapham Peak
25 March 2016
After my plans to start a PhD program at University College Dublin completely fell through (LONG STORY!), I found myself back in good old Wisconsin. My brother suggested we go for a hike, and I was glad to go along: due to my unemployed status, cabin fever had begun to set in something awful. To put a peakbagging spin on the hike we decided to make an assault on the highpoint of Waukesha County, Lapham Peak. To get to this peak, take Exit 285 off I-94 and head south on County Road C for 1 mile. Take the turnoff to the park on your left; drive on by the entrance station and go to the parking lot at the end of the road. Once you reach the parking lot the daunting wooden observation tower on the summit will come into view.
To our surprise, the assault on Lapham Peak was fraught with peril from the start. The previous day the sky had produced an inconceivable mix of rain, sleet, and snow which is surely only possible as part of a Wisconsin springtime weather pattern. All of this moisture had frozen to the trees overnight, and as we stepped out of our vehicle in the parking lot, and the sun’s first rays struck the frozen crystals, they began falling from the trees! ‘OY! Death crystals aloft! Take cover, brother!’ I screamed in terror. ‘The windshield of your Prius might not survive the day!’ We hurriedly left the parking lot only to discover the observation tower caked in rime ice! How careless of me to leave my crampons and ice tools at home!
In all seriousness the frozen crystals dangling from the trees combined with fresh snow on the ground made for a beautiful scene. You don’t have to live near one of the greater ranges to appreciate and discover wilderness!
To make more of a day of it, we decided to hike north through the park on the Ice Age Trail. We visited a backpacker’s campsite, spotted a pair of loons cavorting about a lake, and stumbled upon an old timey Wisconsin farmhouse and barn. The park also sported a wide cross country ski trail with overhead lights. There are plenty of miles of trail around here to enjoy a solid hike or ski.
Good to be back in Wisconsin!
