Its a nasty day here in Wisconsin; strong and gusty winds, snowing, and 28 F. Good day to test out my homemade insulated tarp. Inside that is my hammock with encapsulating windsock. While I was in the hammock temp was 42 F inside, 14 degrees warmer than outside. #hammockcamping #backpacking

I spend a lot of time hiking, which gives me hours with my own thoughts. Please check out my thoughts on Supreme Court Reform, on my latest Substack post. #scotus #supremecourtreform open.substack.com/pub/rayschra...

Why do I hike? For the exercise, scenery, and relaxation. Today I walked 2 hours, and relaxed at this spring popping out of the hillside. Its tiny, but I still enjoyed the sound of tinkling water. Humans are naturally drawn to the sound of running water. Its soothing. Primal. #hiking #wisconsin

When the sun gets down into the trees, its time to head back, or I'll be caught in the woods in the dark. Fine if I had my hammock and tarp along, but I don't. And it got down to about 15 F overnight. This was yesterday on the Kettlebowl Segment of the Ice Age Trail, WI. #IAT #iceagetrail #hiking

Just some of the names of Stockbridge Mohicans who served and died in the Patriot cause during the American Revolution. Mohican War Memorial on Healing Way, Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation, Wisconsin. This tragedy was part of the #kenburns documentary the #americanrevolution on PBS.

Mohican War Memorial honors those who served and those who died in American wars going back to the Revolution. After serving Patriot cause in the Revolution they were displaced from their homes and land in the East. Memorial is on Healing Way, Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation, Wisconsin. #kenburns

My hike today at Polk Kames forest preserve included a nice walk through a beautiful stand of white birch. Sunny, temp of 45 F, crunching through the dry leaves. Gotta love it! #hiking #iat #iceagetrail #wisconsin

Allow me a moment away from my hiking and history posts. I've been seeing lots of videos lately that seem to be produced with AI. I am calling on my Senator to pass a law requiring all AI generated content be labeled as such, and requiring capability for consumers to opt out. Please join me. #AI

Just finished 1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin, which I did NOT buy on Amazon. Extreme arrogance, extravagance, wealth inequality, and indifference to the less fortunate unequaled...until now. Hope we can find our way out of this without repeating the 1930's. Great book! Kitty agrees! #history #nokings

It's 7 year anniversary with my Chevy Bolt EV. I saw very few EV's in Wisconsin when I bought it in November 2018. Just a few Tesla Model S and Nissan Leafs, and an occasional BMW I3. Total maintenance cost in 7 years? Just over $200. Still drives like new. Love it! #EV #electricvehicle

First ice here in southeast Wisconsin. The thing about hiking is it allows you to enjoy the outdoors even with temps below freezing. Today I had a very enjoyable 3 hours out on the trail. #hiking #iat #iceagetrail

Mr. Fox, upon getting a closer look at my wife's wooden Thanksgiving decoration, scowled and skulked away. I promise I heard him mutter under his breath, 'WTF! That's not even a real turkey!' #thanksgiving #fox #wisconsin

The most beautiful November day I could possibly imagine. It was like walking in a dream. #iat #iceagetrail #hiking #wisconsin

Check out the parking lot at this Ice Age Trail trailhead. More and more people know that walking is good for us both physically and mentally, especially out in nature. Its all made possible by our many volunteer trail associations around the country. Thank you! #hiking #iceagetrail #iat #wisconsin

During my 6 mile walk yesterday I got my first look at 2 newly created miles of the Ice Age Trail. It has eliminated some of the road walk between the Polk Kames and West Bend Segments. Many thanks to the Cedar Lakes Conservancy for access to their land. #hiking #iceagetrail #iat #Wisconsin

One year ago I got lost in the Porcupine Mtns. My charging cord broke so couldn't use GPS. Fallen leaves covered the trail in a large area. Lost the trail, it got dark, had to hang my hammock in the woods. Next day found my way out just before a snowstorm. Live and learn. #hiking #backpacking

Such an amazing gorge carved through bedrock by such a tiny stream. I wonder how long this took? Parfreys Glen State Natural Area, Wisconsin. #hiking #backpacking #wisconsin

My recent hike in Parfreys Glen State Natural Area in the Baraboo Range, Wisconsin. #hiking #backpacking #wisconsin

During my visit to Devil's Lake State Park recently I rode my bike from the campground 6.5 miles to Parfreys Glenn. Then hiked 2 miles into Parfreys Glen and back. Then about 7.5 miles back to Quartzite Campground. Good workout. Very cool bedrock gorge, stream, and waterfall. #hiking #wisconsin

I was an accountant before I retired, so decided to run the numbers. I'm seeing $200 billion being reported as the annual payroll cost for the United States military, more or less. $130 million divided by $200 billion=.00065. Get it? Get billionaires OUT of politics!

Saw some color last week from the top of West Bluff, Devils Lake State Park, Wisconsin. I hiked all the way around, including up West Bluff, down, and then up East Bluff. It was a workout! #hiking #backpacking #wisconsin

Antifa terrorists running amok in Madison. #nokings

My hike today...in Madison, WI. #nokings

We don't have true mountains in Wisconsin, but we do have this. This is the 'trail' up the East Bluff at Devil's Lake State Park, Wisconsin. From my trip there earlier this week. #hiking #backpacking #wisconsinstateparks

From my visit to Devils Lake, Wisconsin this week. Climbed the CCC Trail which is basically a scramble up a boulder field. Pic is from my lunch break at the top of East Bluff. #hiking #backpaking #wisconsinstateparks

A bit over 7 miles hiking today, with 1,257 feet of elevation gain. That included a detour to see if the ice cream stand was open at Devils Lake State Park, Wisconsin. No such luck. #hiking #backpacking #wisconsinstateparks

I love watching the hawks soaring along the cliff face below me. Not only are they beautiful, but since they are below me it means my hike is all downhill from here! Today at Devils Lake State Park, Wisconsin. #hiking #backpacking #wisconsinstateparks

Such a beautiful day for a day hike. This is my favorite time of the year, and here in Wisconsin we have to enjoy it while we can. The snow will be flying all too soon. #hiking #wisconsin #autumncolor

The bumble bees and bugs are buzzing busily among the blossoms today, along the trail. #hiking #backpacking

A peaceful little kettle pond along the trail. Yesterday I did 6.5 miles as fast as I could, carrying a partial pack for practice. Today I took my time for 4 miles, enjoying the beautiful autumn day here in Wisconsin. #hiking #backpacking #kettlemoraine #iceagetrail

Heres another look at Lake Superior from the land of the Grand Portage Ojibwa, hwy 61 overlook.

Many thanks to the Ojibwa for allowing us to pass through their beautiful land at Grand Portage, MN. I drove up the North Shore of Lake Superior on my trip to Isle Royale a few weeks ago. Check out this view from an overlook along hwy 61 near the Canadian Border.

Went to Cranfest in Warrens, WI the annual cranberry festival and HUGE flea market. Had cranberry coffee, cranberry scones, cranberry fritters, cranberry juice, cranberry jubilee, and this morning cranberry jam on my toasted bagel. And dried cranberries make great trail snacks! #wisconsin #hiking

Did you know there are elk in Wisconsin? Here is part of the herd in the beautiful Black River State Forest (the pic is from my camping trip last year). There is another herd in the Clam Lake area of the Chequamegon National Forest. The herds have been growing. #wisconsin #outdoors #camping

The view from the top of Castle Mound near Black River Falls, WI. Fall colors starting to show up. In addition to the climb to the top, I got in a nice 2.5 mile hike after attending Cranfest in Warrens, WI. #hiking #backpacking #wisconsin

Here is Voyageur II arriving to pick us up from Isle Royale NP. Its a 2 hour ride across Lake Superior back to Grand Portage, MN. I hiked 31 miles in 3 days with a 20 pound pack, and slept outside in my hammock. My reward? Memories. #hiking #backpacking #nationalparks

Last Thursday I arrived back at Windigo, the starting and ending point for my 31 mile backpacking loop in Isle Royale NP in Lake Superior. 3 days of hiking and 1 morning just hanging out waiting for the boat back to Grand Portage, MN. Great hike! #hiking #backpacking #nationalparks

This tree wants to stand apart high on a ridge on Isle Royale NP. It needs to bend with the winds coming off Lake Superior, strong and resilient, so as not to break. There might be a lesson there. #hiking #backpacking #nationalparks #lakesuperior

Feldtmann Lake and Lake Superior from a ridge about 2 miles from Windigo on Feldtmann Trail, Isle Royale NP last week. It was an easy hike to that point, but soon descended into a tougher trail overgrown with weeds and thimbleberry bushes. #hiking #backpacking #nationalparks

During my 31 mile 3 day hike last week on Isle Royale, I came across many ponds like this. I always had to stop, look around, and say 'no moose'. That slowed me down considerably. Never did see a moose, but I spoke to other hikers who did. Park Ranger said there are over 500 moose on the island.

Siskwit Bay, Isle Royale NP. This is where I camped on night 2 of my trip there last week. Took a nice cool bath in Lake Superior. You haven't experienced Lake Superior until you've taken a bath in it in September! 😅

Fresh cold water running out of a rock face, directly to a waterfall, and on down the gorge. Filter this and there's your drinking water for the afternoon. Doesn't get any better than this! Found along the trail on Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior. #hiking #backpacking #nationalparks

The view from the observatory tower on Feldtmann Ridge, Isle Royale National Park, in Lake Superior. This is about a 15 mile hike from the trailhead. #hiking #backpacking #nationalparks #lakesuperior

Morning fog drifts through the valley below Feldtmann Ridge, Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior. I was there just last week, but already it feels like another lifetime. #hiking #backpacking #nationalparks

One week ago today: waiting for the two hour boat ride out into Lake Superior, from Grand Portage, MN to Isle Royale National Park. #hiking #backpacking #nationalparks #lakesuperior

Isle Royale features unique overnight accomodations...a hammock hung in a cedar grove on the shore of a beautiful inland lake...which is on an island in a bigger even more beautiful lake. #hiking #backpacking #nationalparks

Just got back from Isle Royale National Park, where I hiked 31 miles in 3 days, hung out at Washington Creek day 4. It is a beautiful and unique place, out in Lake Superior. #hiking #backpacking #nationalparks

Twin spotted fawns greeted us at the end of our driveway today as we came home after breakfast. #nature

Yesterday we had a relaxing family day at the game, even though the Brewers lost to the Phillies. A big THANK YOU to everyone who had to work on Labor Day. I propose a law mandating quadruple or quintuple pay for anyone required to work on Labor Day. Encourage employers to close for the day.

Bluesky says I have reached 500 followers, with no starter packs or memes, just posting things that interest me. But my son says the internet is dead, just bots following bots. So now I'm asking, how many of you are a bot? Will all bots please raise your hand? Oh, I forgot...bots don't have hands.