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River birch in 58F sun, 1/30/25,
in La Crescent MN |
Brrr! January came in with quite the nippy temps this year (negative temps and single digit temps) before spiking temps into the 30s - and then back down and up and down and up again. These head-whipping, roller coaster temperatures kept everyone guessing on what any day might bring throughout the month. Our final week brought on high 30s into the 40s (and finally breaking an all-time record for our area in January at 58F on Thursday, January 30) for significant thawing.
The Driftless Area was also in a January snow drought so, during hikes, we were mostly surrounded by brown. Luckily, Iowasota’s recent blog by Linda Haugen reminds us of the beauty we can find even on snowless trails.
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La Crosse River at Pine View trails
Fort Mc Coy |
Our quest to find snowshoe-depth snow near upper Michigan and up on the North Shore in early January came up empty. I can report that these areas are now experiencing some welcome snowfall and silent sports enthusiasts are once more finding snow to play in.
Snow-lover though I am, I still found plenty of great places to hike and beauty on the trails. I was out on almost all of the days that weren't sub-zero with friends or family marveling at everything from wildlife to patterns in nature. Never give up, never surrender!
Here are a few of the highlights from January trails:
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| Great Grey owl near Grand Marais MN |
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| Frozen waterfall near Grand Marais MN |
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| Happy little pincushion moss, Fort McCoy WI |
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| Fascinating layered knothole, Hixon Forest WI |
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| Wood fern, Afterglow Lake, WI |
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| Doe, La Crescent MN |
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| Leaves on the trail, Eagles Bluff, La Crescent MN |
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First day hike snowflake on my mitten
Eagles Bluff, La Crescent MN |
Sunshine on a snapping cold day
Pine View Campground, Fort McCoy WI
Image - Steve Dawson
What are YOU seeing on your hikes?
A month of hikesHikes below in colored,
bold type or
underlined have links to previous posts OR descriptions/location of the trails found online.
Eagles Bluff Park, La Crescent MN (2);
Afterglow Lake trails, Phelps WI (3);
Poplar River Lakeshore Trail, Lutsen MN;
Devil’s Track SHT segment, Grand Marais, MN;
Gitchee Gami State Trail, Grand Marais, MN;
Bluffside Park, Winona MN (2);
Hixon Forest, La Crosse, WI;
Pine View campground trails, Sparta WI (2);
Riverside Park/Gardens/Marsh Trails (2), La Crosse WI;
Mathy Quarry trails, La Crosse WI;
Reno Spillway, Reno MN; Wagon Wheel Trail, La Crescent MN; USFWS National Refuge Pool 8 Hwy 26 Root River trail, La Crescent MN
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A new-to-me lookout, thanks to friends!
Image - Kris Lawson |
Images, unless noted - Marge Loch-Wouters
Thanks for the shout out on my blog! I enjoy your blogs and pictures. They inspire me.
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