journey-1407 summer 2014
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Journey through Wisconsin!
Photo by Carol Toepke (Paddles High article, Pg. 36)
Summer 2014 $7.50 Buena Vista Grasslands Everything under the Sun Genealogy of your Land Year of the Salamander Paddles High! Badger State’s Waterfalls
Features 6 Everything
under the Sun! Crop Diversity in Wisconsin.
14 Genealogy of Your Land Jerry Apps’ discoveries about finding your property’s heritage.
20 Year of the
Salamander Nature writer Jill Sisson Quinn reveals Wisconsin’s varied salamander species.
36 Paddles High!
Lower Fox River Park-to-Park Event.
42 Flying Feather Denise Krause, Feathered Gold Stables shares equine tips and photos of her Gypsy Vanners.
26 The Badger
State’s Waterfalls David Hedquist delivers a synopsis of his new guide to Wisconsin’s cascading majesties.
52 Happiness is in the Journey! Tawnya Schilt reminisces about the vacations of yesteryear.
4 Currents
Ruth Faivre, Editor, conveys her thoughts on life’s twists and turns.
Page 2 Journey-Summer 2014
Table of Contents Summer 2014
Focus Article 28 Buena Vista Grasslands
Uniquely Wisconsin By Pete Sanderson, MD, MBA
Journey SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO OUR PRINT/ONLINE MAGAZINE AT SPECIAL SUMMER SAVINGS! Please support our efforts to publish this prestigious regional publication by subscribing to Journey through Wisconsin. Print subscriptions for Journey make great gifts for loved ones, friends or yourself. Save 20% on your one-year print/online subscription, normally $25, now only $20! Save 30% on your two-year print/online subscription, normally $50, now only $35! Journey publishes quarterly: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall in full color, 56 pages or more. We included a handy subscription card on page 58 in this issue or on our website subscription page. If you prefer, you can email us at [email protected] or call (715) 347-3755. ==============================================================
PUBLISHER, EDITOR, PHOTOGRAPHER, DESIGN, PRODUCTION, CIRCULATION/WEB/AD MANAGERS Ruth & Jim Faivre [email protected] www.journeywi.com 715-347-3755 Facebook.com/JourneyWI
REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Denise Krause & Pete Sanderson ADVERTISER INDEX We are building a network of businesses committed to our area. Please consider supporting them.
ADVERTISER PAGE
B&B Paving 26
Central Cities Credit Union 59
Collections by Carol 13
Divepoint Scuba Center 41
Edward Jones/Bob Ebben 13
Farm Technology Days 19
Feathered Gold Stables 45
Hosta Stop 41
Pete Sanderson Photography 35
Robert Rosen Photography 54
Scaffidi Trucks 5
Ski’s Meat Market 9
Todd Reilly 27
United FCS 3
Waterfalling in Wisconsin 54
Queens of shade! That is what many gardeners consider
hostas to be. I agree with that belief and am prone to seek out these hardy plants with a passion. That is why, when returning from Wisconsin Rapids on Highway 54 going east to Plover, I quickly asked my husband to turn around so I could check out a small sign I spotted about hostas for sale. As we drove down their wooded lane, I was amazed to see incredibly beautifully landscaped areas full of hosta displays lining the driveway. Further down was a huge display with hostas of every shape, color and form along with the cutest red chicken coop, bantam chickens and guinea hens running wild while peacocks strutted their stuff. Appropriately named Hosta Stop, this newer hosta hotspot currently offers over 400 varieties with a future goal of 1,500 varieties! While enjoying some fountains and fairy gardens, I marveled at the miniature hostas grown for smaller, container or specialty gardens. I also drooled over the mammoth sized hosts, which are my favorite. This greenhouse off the beaten path reinforced something I truly believe – some of the best experiences in life are spontaneous! Opportunities arise that afford a joyous adventure when and where you least expect them. Spontaneity can certainly be the spice of life, if you let it. It is hard to appreciate the light if you never open the curtains. This issue has several articles that cover exciting destinations, like the rediscovery of areas like the Buena Vista through new views, outdoor sports like kayaking, nature exploration and vintage vacations. Hopefully, they will spur you on to your own journeys. Bask in the summer sun and remember to take time for yourself. Please feel free to mail me and let your thoughts flow!
Editor [email protected]
Page 4 Journey-Summer 2014
Currents
through Wisconsin!
“Our 4
th Generation of Macks!”
“For over 20 years, Paramount Farms has counted on Mack tractors’ dependability and durability. Scaffidi’s great sales and service team and extended service hours make Macks an even better fit for us.” ~ Bob Berard, Paramount Farms
Stevens Point, WI (888) 414-4629 Tomahawk, WI (866) 978-1347
Left to Right: Robert Markley (Scaffidi Trucks), Bob Berard (Paramount Farms) and Joe Ebben (Scaffidi Trucks) with Paramount Farms’ Mack trucks from Scaffidi Trucks.
“Mack’s mDRIVE 12-speed automated manual transmission is awesome! Our drivers love the way they shift and ride. We like the lower driveline maintenance costs.” ~Bob Berard
Page 6 Journey-Summer 2014
Warzynski Paradise Farms Inc, Almond
Everything
under the Sun! Photos & Article by Ruth Faivre, Editor
The land of ice and snow, Wisconsin surprisingly
yields a virtual potpourri of vegetables and fruits, far greater than its own citizens imagine. As Portage County prepares to host 2014 Farm Technology Days, August 12-14, at Blue Top Farms and Feltz Family Farms, we celebrate our state’s crop diversity. Most people think of Wisconsin as the Dairy State and know it yields sweet and field corn, soybeans and potatoes, but that is just the tip of our agricultural iceberg. Central Wisconsin alone is home to commercially or fresh market grown carrots, green beans, peas, cucumbers, beets, tomatoes, celery, onions, peppers, squash, asparagus, garlic, parsnips, turnips, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, lettuce, kale, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach and even ground cherries.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The photos in this article are ones shot for various stories about crops that appeared in Neighbors magazine or Journey through Wisconsin magazine. Opposite: Years ago, Paradise Farms, headed by brothers Michael and David Warzynski, their father/company founder, Ray Warzynski, was transformed from a large dairy operation into 2,500-acres growing several cucumber varieties for four major vendors. Paradise Farms was featured in Neighbors September 2011 issue. Above: Blueberries from Chet’s U-Pick Farm disappear within a few weeks of ripening every July. Read more in Neighbor’s July 2011 issue. Right: Paul Miller and grandson, Jordan, of Paul Miller Farms, Hancock, display their giant dicing carrots, produced for Birdseye Foods and Seneca Foods. These carrots can grow up to ten pounds and are perfect for uniform dicing. Neighbors January 2012 issue featured Paul Miller Farms’ carrots.
Chet’s Blueberries 525 County Road J North, Stevens Point (715)340-4989 Facebook.com/Chets-Blueberry-Farm Please call for open dates and times.
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Paul Miller Farms, Hancock
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Yes, while the name is misleading, ground cherries (Physalis peruviana) are a vegetable, not a fruit, and have a protective paper husk. However, the edible part looks like an orange cherry tomato and are sweetly tart. They are often baked into pies or tarts. UNIMAGINABLE VARIETY On the fruit side, Wisconsinites have grown apples for over 150 years but that is just the beginning. We raise cherries, plums, pears, grapes, cranberries, strawberries, blueberries, apricots, persimmons, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, melons, lingonberries, elderberries, currants, rhubarb, hardy kiwis, pumpkins and Medlars. Today, many farmers experiment with specialty crops like ginseng, mint, wild rice, mushrooms, walnuts and other nuts, honey, maple syrup, hops, sorghum, garlic, gourmet mushrooms, Christmas trees, landscaping trees/shrubs, greenhouse flowers and vegetables, sod and aquaculture.
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Above: Commercial processors harvest the sweet corn grown on Gagas Farms, Custer. Gagas Farms’ new grain bins on the corner of County Highway J and 10
th Street were in a Neighbors September 2011 article. Left: These two girls are
from Lakeview Berry Farms’ third generation. Lakeview is a U-Pick berry farm known for its bountiful brambleberry crops: red, black, purple and gold raspberries; red, champagne, black and white currants; blueberries; rhubarb and red and green gooseberries. Neighbors July 2011 featured Lakeview Berry Farms.
Lakeview Berry Farm 1746 Bergen Road, Mosinee (715) 457-2704 www.lakeviewberryfarm.com
Gagas Farms, Custer
Old World Charm Taste beyond compare!
Ski’s is an experience, not just shopping. The minute you walk into Ski’s, you know you are somewhere very special. At family owned and operated Ski’s, quality knows no bounds and you receive only the freshest, finest meats, seafood, 100+ Wisconsin cheeses, Boar’s Head deli products and other treats. Savor Ski’s famously delicious homemade brats and sausages and the most tender beef, pork and chicken, cut by our expert butchers. New, in-season seafood refreshed daily – from salmon, halibut and cod to crab legs and lobster! We offer Wisconsin’s finest artisan and master cheese makers with ‘squeaky fresh’ cheese curds on Friday and Saturday. Visit us soon for your good, old-fashioned, neighborly meat market experience!
5370 US Highway 10 E Stevens Point, WI 54482
(715) 344-8484 www.skismeatmarket.com Mon-Fri: 10am–6pm Sat: 9am–6pm Sun: 10am–4pm
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BROADENING HORIZONS In the 1800s, Wisconsin’s predominant crop was wheat and our state grew one-sixth of the U.S. wheat. By the late 1850s, competition from farmers in other states drove down that market share. Wheat rapidly depletes nutrients in the soil so the state’s soil quality dropped dramatically. In the 1860s, chinch bugs, wheat diseases and bad weather spelled an end to the wheat ‘empire’ Then, like now, farmers experimented with alternatives better suited to our soil and climate like grain and forage crops such as corn, oats, rye, and hay to feed Wisconsin's growing dairy industry, which was producing milk, cheese and butter.
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Above: Casey’s Orchard and country store in Stevens Point, featured in Journey Spring 2014, is a landmark attraction drawing a steady stream of people every Fall. Middle: ANR Tree Farms, Wautoma, grows Christmas trees for both wholesale and retail markets, fulfilling the holiday dreams of thousands of evergreen purists. They have two “Choose & Cut” retail locations. Neighbors December 2011 issue celebrated the company in an article about their operation. Left: One of Wisconsin’s largest potato producers, Paramount Farms, Bancroft, plants, maintains and harvests 14,000+ acres with about 5,500 acres potatoes, 5,000 sweet corn acres, 3,000 green bean acres and 1,100 acres in peas. Shown here, washed and graded potatoes rest in holding bins, awaiting bagging. Once bagged, they are placed on skids holding 2,000 pounds each and then stored in the plant’s humidity and climate controlled storage facility. Neighbors October 2011 included an article about Paramount Farms’ potato harvest and facilities.
Casey’s Orchard, Stevens Point
ANR Tree Farms, Wautoma
Paramount Farms, Bancroft
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Dairy products account for over half of Wisconsin's total agricultural receipts ranking us second place across the nation. One reason for the popularity of dairy farming was that many farmers migrated to Wisconsin from New York, the leading producer of dairy products at the time. They also came from Europe, bringing an extensive knowledge of cheese making. About this same time, cranberries, tobacco and hops also gained popularity, as did commercial fruit and vegetable cultivation, particularly peas. While they cannot match dairy’s economic power, cattle, hogs and poultry evolved into major contributors to the state's agricultural economy. Sheep, lambs, turkeys, buffalo and other wild and exotic game fill out the specialized side of the meat equation.
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Above: Like red rubies, Horizon Cranberry Farms’ sparkling cranberries travel from the ‘corral’ up on the platform’s conveyor, into the waiting semi-truck bed for delivery to the processors. Horizon’s operation encompasses 320 acres of bogs, reservoirs, buildings and other grounds. It was spotlighted in Neighbors December 2011. Middle: Bronks Farm, Stockton, branched into hops in 2011. Hops require lots of manual labor. Neighbors October 2011 covered Bronks’ hops harvest. Bottom: Two major producers, both of which are located in Wisconsin, grow 90% of the world’s millet. Millet Supply LLC, Plainfield, larger of the two, controls about 60% of the market share with their millet processed into bird treats (pictured right). Millet Supply was featured in Neighbors March 2011, its very first issue.
Horizon Cranberry Farms, Hancock
Bronk Farms, Custer
Millet Supply LLC, Plainfield
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Wisconsin soon led the nation in the commercial production of vegetables for processing like green peas, sweet corn, cucumbers, snap beans and beets. Nearly 30 percent of the state's potatoes, a basic food source for many farmers, came from Portage, Waushara and Waupaca counties throughout the early twentieth century. In that same period, fruit crops such as apples, cherries and strawberries began emerging as viable commercial crops. GOOD STEWARDS As a die-hard Midwesterner with rural roots, I will continue to write about farms, their owners, workers and the crops they raise. Wisconsin’s farmers are ‘earth tenders’, real people with a stake in their land, nourishing it for current and upcoming crops and more importantly, for new generations. If you ever get the opportunity to visit a 'real' working farm, I encourage you to do it. Until you see firsthand what a farmer does on a daily basis, it is hard to appreciate just how hard they work and how much they care!
Above: Never afraid of a challenge, Guth Farms Inc. ventured into beet production fifteen years ago while still growing cucumbers, originally harvesting them with a rock picker. Their beet operation was featured in Journey through Wisconsin Winter 2014. Left: Richard Gumz, co-owner of Gumz Muck Farms, LLC, Endeavor, stands in one of his mint fields. Mint grows best in nutrient-rich, extremely fertile, dark muck soil, found in previously swampy or wet areas formed during the glacial age. An article about their mint appeared in Neighbors October 2012.
Guth Farm Inc., Bancroft
Gumz Muck Farms, LLC, Endeavor
Photographer Carol Toepke specializes in capturing the many splendorous moments emanating from Wisconsin’s people, places, animals, wildlife, events, celebrations, hobbies, sports and outdoor activities. Whether it is winter’s midst, spring’s new beginning, summer’s sweltering humidity or fall’s rainbow, Carol always finds striking images to record and share. Please view Carol’s thrilling and personal experience of discovery captured through her glorious lens in her online stores, blog and collections or email Carol, [email protected].
Online Store: facebook.com/CollectionsbyCarol Online Store: facebook.com/CardsAsArt Website: collectionsbycarol.com
Follow Me: collectionsbycarol.blogspot.com capturedoorcounty.com/users/CollectionsbyCarol capturewisconsin.com/users/caroltoepke
Page 14 Journey-Summer 2014
Jerry Apps Genealogy of Your Land
By Ruth Faivre, Editor
The melting pot of the world,
America has attracted people of every income and educational level from nearly every known global destination. Tracing ancestral history is one of our nation’s most popular pastimes. Americans spend countless time and money searching for their roots in their quest to discover who they are, their country of origin and secrets/stories of their past. How many of us, though, have ever wondered about the heritage of the land or property we own?
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Opposite Page: Historian Jerry Apps relaxes by a favorite spot, the pond on his family farm, Roshara, near Wild Rose in Waushara County, WI. Jerry’s son, Steve Apps, award-winning photographer for Wisconsin State Journal took this photo of his father. Above: Jerry Apps reminisces with Jim Faivre, who sold him one of his first riding lawn tractors, long ago, at Jim’s John Deere dealership, located at that time in Nelsonville, WI. Jerry, with his incredible memory, recalled his many transactions with Jim. Right: Jerry Apps’ book, Old Farm: A History was featured at a presentation and book signing I attended at Heritage Hill State Historical Park, Green Bay, a fifty-acre living history museum with twenty-five restored buildings representing four centuries in Wisconsin living. The book revealed how to discover the genealogy, history and stories of your land.
Page 15 Journey-Summer 2014
Click here to watch A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps documentary by Wisconsin Public Television, .
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WISCONSIN’S STORYTELLER Raised on a Wisconsin farm, Jerry Apps, UW-Madison Professor Emeritus, has drawn on his personal history and cherished memories to author more than 30 books over four decades, many on rural history and country tales. In 2012, Wisconsin Public Television recognized his skills and contributions by producing an award-winning Jerry Apps: A Farm Story documentary that aired in 65 public television stations in 49 states. OLD FARM: A HISTORY In April 2014, I attended a presentation and book signing of Jerry Apps’ new book, Old Farm: A History, which recounts how Jerry undertook the discovery of the history of his family farm, Roshara, in Waushara County, WI.
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Above: In 1840, John Arndt built Cotton House for his daughter and her husband, U.S. Army Capt. John Cotton. In 1896, Green Bay Diocese bought the house and used it as an orphanage until 1933. In 1937, the building was moved to Heritage Hill and transformed into a museum. Bottom: Most of the early surveyors, who created Wisconsin’s original land surveys, were mostly generally private contractors, employed by the U.S. Government, railroads and speculators. They recorded exact measurements and coordinates of land along with observations of the dominant vegetation, such as forest types, wetlands, prairies, savannas and even notes regarding potential land usage.
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A loquacious speaker with a downhome style, Jerry regaled us with snippets of what it was like to grow up on a Wisconsin farm before electricity. However, when he started to describe his ‘journey’ to peel back his farm’s layers of ownership records and ancestral history, finding as many surprises as that of family trees, I was hooked. Jerry’s book, Old Farm: A History outlines how he accomplished this feat and details how others can do the same, providing tips and every reference for everything you need to start the process. SURVEYS I wanted to see for myself exactly how easy or complicated it would be to replicate Jerry’s efforts. Since farmers are extremely good at keeping records of their land, I approached Tony Kizewski, Kizewski Farms, to serve as my guinea pig. He agreed and provided the farm’s deed, which listed the county, township, range and section legal descriptions I needed.
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Above: Tony & Marlene Kizewski’s homestead in Plover, WI is located on some of the records we obtained. Right: These survey notes are not as descriptive as some that Jerry Apps found but they still provide a lot of description on a portion of the Kizewski farms, like this: “60.50 Descend from Bluff of 30 Ft to a Tamarack & Cedar Swamp SW.”
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ONLINE EASE Armed with just the county, townships, ranges and sections legal description, I was ready to proceed to the Wisconsin’s new online search for Original Field Notes and Plat Maps, 1833-1866 and Resurvey Maps, 1858-2009 In a matter of moments, I was able to access several images, two of which I have included in this article. While I have no connection to the land involved, I found these images and records quite interesting. I was amazed at the level of description and handwritten drawings involved in this record keeping. Some of the surveyors in the 1800s were more descriptive than others were and even drew trees, large boulders or provided narratives regarding investment potential or possible land usage. After seeing the precision that went into these early Wisconsin surveys, I can fully understand how they stand the test of time. I also have an appreciation for these early surveyors. From 1832-1866, the United States government hired private contractors to survey lands in the rugged territory that would become the State of Wisconsin. Timber companies, speculators and settlers used the surveys to determine lands worth buying, subdividing or reselling for profit. Jerry’s book, Old Farm: A History is available online like Amazon or Barnes & Noble and in bookstores. It is an invaluable resource should you decide to unravel the secrets and surprises of your own land.
Above: An original plat map for one of the Kizewski Farms land parcels. Note the hand-drawn topographical aspects: rivers, creeks, ponds. Bottom: Surveyors in the 1800s traveled thru dense forests and underbrush and over mountainous areas, often inhabited only by Indian tribes. This 1888 Library of Congress photo shows railroad engineers and surveyors with transits and measuring rods.
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MAJESTIC
ICONS Captured In All
Their Glory
Few things are as grand as an old barn. Often, these statuesque historic relics of our agrarian lifestyle are stranded, quietly marking time, existing perhaps far longer than originally projected; held together with ancestral blood, sweat and tears. Yet, to most of us, they hold wonderful memories of a simpler age, often built in a barnraising get-together, then filled with livestock, hay, grains, tools and equipment; full of richly earthy odors lasting through the decades and ensuing centuries. However, they are not without love. Deep in the hearts of all farmers and urban dwellers is a basic admiration of these stately beauties.
ENJOY
16 MONTHS
OF BARNS IN THIS FANTASTIC
CALENDAR!
PROCEEDS SUPPORT PORTAGE COUNTY FARM TECHNOLOGY DAYS 2014 FAMILY LIVING COMMITTEE Photos of over 50 rural Wisconsin barns. Great gift for holidays, special occasions, birthdays, or just for you!
Page 19 Journey-Summer 2014
ALSO AVAILABLE: 2000 LENCO SELF PROPELLED AIRHEAD POTATO HARVESTER - 1:42 SCALE DIECAST COLLECTIBLE
Only 1,000 produced and sold exclusively by 2014 Portage County Farm Technology Days. Order your very own, which includes Lenco literature and commemorative package. Model dimensions: 11.25” x 6.25” x 3.875”.
Online Order Form for the 16 Month Barn Calendar & Lenco Collectible: www.portagecountyfarmtech.com/online_store.php
Page 20 Journey-Summer 2014
Year of the
Salamander Written by Jill Sisson Quinn
Photos by Tom Quinn
Scandinavia, WI
Four-toed and lungless, or speckled and
spotted, while hepaticas wait to bloom, a hundred somethings move through the forest. Some are toxic; all are tailed and toothed. They exit winter-borrowed burrows, gorge on springtails, and orient toward the odors of the very fishless ponds where they were born. This is the spring salamander migration, now playing at a vernal pool near you. DIVERSITY You might be surprised to find that the United States hosts more species of salamander than any other country in the world. Wisconsin has seven species: spotted, blue-spotted, tiger, red-backed, four-toed, mudpuppy and central newt.
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Opposite Page: Salamanders love woodland ponds like the one featured here since most of the species require standing water for larval stages. Above: Relatively small, the primarily aquatic central newt reaches adult lengths of less than four inches. It is the only newt species in Wisconsin and its toxic skin helps ward off predators. Right: Check out the face-wide grin on this blue-spotted salamander. Quite the happy little fellow!
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HUSHED SILENCE Salamanders are silent creatures; amidst the yammering of the more well-known wood frogs and spring peepers, they move monk-like through the forest—or within the water as in the case of the mudpuppy and for much of its life, the newt. To ferret out salamanders, you must channel your inner 10-year-old child. Become nocturnal, fossorial: put your insomnia to good use; exchange those birding goggles for headlamps. Put away your fishing rod and snatch up a kitchen strainer. Don a pair of rubber boots. Do this on the first warm, rainy night after the snow melts. Maybe you will hit ‘big night,’ when spotted salamanders migrate to their breeding pools in great masses. Big night is nothing less than a town-hall dance. The males tango the females into position over sperm packets they deposited on the bottom of the pond.
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Above: A blue-spotted salamander emerges from its winter burrow. A foul sticky secretion exuded from glands near the tail base, helps ward off predators. Bottom: Spotted salamanders hide in networked underground tunnels during the day. They emerge at night to feed, or in spring, to breed mostly in woodland ponds. .
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By morning, like Cinderella at midnight, the salamanders seemingly vanish, their spermatophores (sperm capsules), gleaming on the substrate like many tiny glass slippers, along with well-hidden golf ball-sized egg clusters, which glow ghost-white in the water. SPECIES DELIGHTS The spotted salamander charms and delights with its bright yellow, Pollock-like dots against a dark body, as if some child-god had painted it. Members of the family Ambystoma (mole salamanders), they spend most of the year underground, feeding on invertebrates from the entrances of small mammal burrows, completely concealed beneath the leaf litter. The blue-spotted and tiger salamanders, which are slightly more common and widespread in Wisconsin, have similar characteristics. If you are not afraid of the dark and a little rain, breeding season, usually late March to early May, is one of the best times to see these three varieties.
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Above: Lungless red-backed salamanders require a moist environment for skin respiration and live under leaves, rocks and logs or in crevices, avoiding high pH soil. Right: Spotted salamanders breed in woodland and vernal pools, laying their eggs only in ponds and pools that lack fish. They grow up to nine inches long.
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Do not despair, though, if you prefer fair weather. In the forested northern half of Wisconsin, you can find the red-backed salamander in moist microhabitats all summer long. Slender, dark, and small with a red-orange stripe from head to tail, the red-backed salamander has no lungs; breathing entirely through its skin. Ironically, this species completes its whole life cycle on land—odd for an amphibian. The larvae undergo metamorphosis totally inside their gelatinous eggs. The red-backed salamanders’ eggs, usually laid in mid-June, hang from cavities on the undersides of rotten logs and look like a bunch of white grapes sized for a fairy or wood sprite.
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Above: The bluish gelatinous masses are salamander eggs, laid by females in woodland and vernal pools. Bottom: The black stick in the foreground displays pyramid-shaped gelatinous cones of salamander spermatophores, tiny ‘sperm packets’ deposited by male salamanders.
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WORLDWIDE RECOGNITION Renowned national organization, Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) along with conservation groups from around the world, dubbed 2014, “The Year of the Salamander.” Their goal is to raise awareness of salamanders overall and promote their role in our environment, helping increase global salamander conservation, education and research efforts. We should give thanks to these elusive creatures for their extremely valuable contribution towards helping balance and maintain our natural eco-systems. They aerate our soils, control insect populations and connect terrestrial and aquatic food chains. Just as importantly, they deserve our praise simply for their annual nocturnal parades, which render the forest a truly fantastical place.
Above: Vernal pools, shallow depressions filled with fresh water only part of the year, usually in the spring, play a dramatic role in the life cycle of salamanders. Salamanders emerge from hibernation to journey up to a half-mile away to the very same vernal pool where they originally hatched from eggs. They mate and lay eggs before returning underground the remainder of the year. Middle: One of the largest land-dwelling salamanders in the world, adult tiger salamanders measure about nine to 14 inches in length. They live near ponds, in deep burrows up to two feet below the earth's surface. Photo by USDA Forest Service-North Central
Research Station Archive, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Jill Sisson Quinn Jill, a Stevens Point Area High School teacher, lives with her husband, Tom, in Scandinavia, WI. Jill won a 2013 Rona Jaffe Writers Award, 2011 John Burroughs Award (Best Published Nature Essay) and 2003 Annie Dillard Award. In 2010, Apprentice House published her first book, Deranged: Finding a Sense of Place in the Landscape and in the Lifespan. For more information, visit her blog, naturescribe.blogspot.com or website, jillsissonquinn.com
Tom Quinn is program manager
at Central Wisconsin Environmental Station. Northwest Earth Institute has published Tom’s photos. He also won the Wisconsin DNR Great Lakes photo contest.
Page 25 Journey-Summer 2014
NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL!
SATISFYING PAVING NEEDS ACROSS CENTRAL WISCONSIN Residential Agricultural Commercial EVEN Railroads! B&B Paving Co., owned by Jim & Marilyn Benjamin, earns many new customers via current customer referrals. Our work stands the test of time and the heaviest loads, whether they are simply pedestrians or fully loaded semis and trains! “We get the job done right the first time, every time!” EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE, REASONABLE RATES & FREE ESTIMATES! SITE PREPARATION ASPHALT PAVING PARKING LOT, DRIVEWAY, PATIO
& WALKWAY PAVING ON-SITE PULVERIZING PAVEMENT REMOVAL & RECYCLING
(We can even recycle your existing driveway in place.)
ASPHALT REPAIR
James & Marilyn Benjamin 6817 Johnnies Lane Stevens Point, WI 54482
(715) 592-4775
Lease Option Available! Call (715) 340-0990
Property price includes this two-bedroom home!
Call Todd Reilly Office: 715-295-5001 Mobile: 715-340-8345 [email protected] Click here for full website listing!
FOR SALE $199,500 Upscale Commercial Building Former bank building with walk in vault
Price includes two-bedroom home
Easy access from Highway 10 East
6810 Johnnies Lane, Stevens Point, MLS #: 13075
Page 25 Neighbors-June/July 2012
Page 25 Neighbors-June/July 2012
Pete Sanderson Pete Sanderson
Page 25 Neighbors-June/July 2012
Uniquely Wisconsin Buena Vista Grasslands By Pete Sanderson, MD, MBA
Page 30 Journey-Summer 2014
PAGES 28-29 (Centerspread): Great flocks of sandhill cranes congregate in the grasslands in early fall preparing for their migratory flight south.
PAGES 30-31: Top Both Pages: ‘Painting the sky!’ Have you ever stopped to wonder why the sky seems painted in streaks of color at sunrise and sunset? One early evening, while driving along Taft Avenue (just south of Plover, WI), I found the answer. Farmers paint the sky at night! The paint gently settles from the sky, ripening and coloring various crops. During the day, these same ‘painting’ systems are used to irrigate crops. Bottom Page 30: Black-eyed Susans stand ready to welcome the rising sun. The faint darker space just above the horizon is the shadow of the Earth cast just before sunrise. Bottom Page 31: Wild flowers and grasses create waves of color across the Buena Vista.
Page 25 Neighbors-June/July 2012
Page 31 Journey-Summer 2014
The Buena Vista Grasslands, south of
Plover, were originally a tamarack swamp with extensive areas of open marsh and alder shrubs. In the late 1800s, the swamp’s timber was cut and the marsh was burned. Later in the 1900s, the marsh’s numerous ditches were drained. After drainage, about a fourth of the area was cultivated, another fourth remained wet marsh or brushy and the remainder became grassland habitat. Most of the land was not conducive to agriculture due to shortness of the growing season, severe frost and soil chemistry problems, difficult to remedy at the time. One crop, bluegrass, prevailed agriculturally and became the predominant crop of the region. However, this bluegrass market eventually failed due to market competition from other countries. With modern farming techniques and overhead irrigation, the area is once again a major agricultural force.
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These grasslands are one of the last remaining territories of the greater prairie chicken (Tympanuchus cupido). The prairie chicken is known for its annual mating ritual during which the males dance in a circle with their wings over their heads, jump in the air, make a loud booming call and square off against one another in order to attract hens. Prairie chicken advocates, Fred and Fran Hamerstrom, first began studying these unusual fowl at Buena Vista Marsh in 1935, publishing their Guide to Prairie Chicken Management in 1957. This guide suggested acquiring tracts of land across a wide geographic area in an ‘ecological block scatter pattern.’
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Above: This image of mulleins (Verbascum) reminds me of the desert photos appearing on the pages of Arizona Highway. Perhaps this wildflower should be renamed ‘Wisconsin Cactus.’ Left: Wisconsin DNR provides a series of blinds throughout southern Portage County for studying and observing prairie chickens in their natural environment.
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This pattern integrated grasslands into farming areas, providing nest-brood cover and wide open spaces and utilized existing private lands. The Hamerstrom’s support and scientific and literary works are recognized as the major force helping save the prairie chicken from disappearing altogether from Wisconsin’s landscape.
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Above: Prairie Chickens in the midst of their annual courting dance rituals. The female at right looks a little bored by the process. Left: The Buena Vista marsh is full of wetlands, forming perfect ecosystems for promoting wildlife and marine species preservation.
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The Buena Vista is not just home to the largest concentration of greater prairie chickens in Wisconsin. It is also one of the most extensive grasslands east of the Mississippi River. It harbors a healthy population of other principal grassland bird species, including Henslow sparrows (state threatened species), several other rare sparrows (like grasshopper, field and clay-colored), short-eared owls, northern harriers, upland sandpipers, bobolinks, eastern and western meadowlarks and more. In addition, the regal fritillary butterfly (a state-endangered species) and other insects proliferate the area. Definitely a place to explore and contemplate the universe. Please feel free to alert me to areas you consider 'Uniquely Wisconsin’ or email your comments to me. I constantly seek wonderful, new places to discover and photograph. Peter A Sanderson [email protected]
For more images, visit my blog, mdleader.wordpress.com
Above: Cattle play an important role in Buena Vista land management as they graze on small woody plants that would otherwise take over the grasslands destroying prairie chicken habitat. Below: Refuge areas for prairie chickens were integrated into agricultural lands, providing nest-brood cover, grasses for feed and open spaces.
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Summer 2014 Featured Print Other Pete Sanderson Images at Koerten’s Fine Framing & Gifts
Sandhill Cranes Buena Vista Grasslands
Portage County, WI
Imagine having your own Pete Sanderson Limited Edition print!
Each issue, renowned photographer, Pete Sanderson, will offer one print from his \multi-faceted collections, which he believes epitomizes the unique beauty of Wisconsin. Each 11”x17” pigmented ink jet print on cotton paper is personally printed and signed by Pete Sanderson. This print is $40.00/each (add $10.00 if you prefer it shipped direct to you), until August 31, 2014. Prints can be picked up at Koerten's Fine Framing & Gifts or delivered direct, (no program enrollment required). To order, contact or visit Koerten's Fine Framing & Gifts: (715) 341-7773, 2501 Church St, Stevens Point, WI 54481, [email protected].
Pete Sanderson
Paddles
High! Appleton Area Lower Fox River Park-to-Park Event Written by Ruth Faivre Photos by Carol Toepke
Page 46 Journey-Summer 2014
Sharing the kinship of an event like Appleton’s
Park-to-Park Paddle event is a perfect way for paddlers to involve family and friends even if they have no desire to participate in the sport of paddling itself. Walkways and roads along the waterway route provide easy access to view and interact with the participants. North East Wisconsin Paddlers Inc. (NEWP), an American Canoe Association (ACA) Paddle America Club, organized the annual Park-to-Park Paddle in 2002 with 21 kayaks. Now entering its 13th year, the 2014 event will have hundreds of participants from Wisconsin and beyond. NEWP focuses on paddle sport education, safety and sharing their passion for paddling, whether it involves canoes, whitewater, surf, stand-up boards or kayaks.
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Opposite Page: Kayakers and canoeists gathering just prior to gaining entrance into the Menasha Lock, raise their paddles in salute to the celebratory opening of the hand-operated Lock gates. This is not a race, just a leisurely trek through from the Fox River at Shattuck Park (Downtown Neenah) to Lutz Park, Appleton. The overall 8.5-mile adventure takes most paddlers about four hours. Above: Exiting the Menasha Lock is sometimes trickier than it looks. The person in the canoe far right, gives the kayak in front of him a little push for guidance. Right: Participants find a spot to await the Menasha Lock opening so they can make the 9’7”descent from Lake Winnebago to Little Lake Butte des Mortes.
“The first river you paddle runs through the rest of your life. It bubbles up in pools and eddies
to rem ind you who you are.” ~Lynn Noel
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SIGHTS TO SEE Most paddlers appreciate the unique waterway vantage point Park-to-Park Paddle affords of Appleton’s urban, historical, cultural, environmental and natural heritage areas. You can actually observe fledgling eagles and 100-year old businesses on the same route! The journey also glides past nine popular parks within the Fox Valley Area, which are great destinations for non-paddlers in your party. Starting in Neenah, continuing through Menasha, downriver to Appleton, you paddle through Lake Winnebago, travel through an active lock and then lower into Lake Butte des Mort, paddling with lots of people in all kinds of boats! The 2014 Park-to-Park Paddle event occurs on July 19. Entry forms are available on wisconsinpaddlers.org website.
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Above: Pictured in the foreground at right, is a sculling boat with one of the crewmembers giving us a big smile. Two-oared sculling is a form of rowing (competitive and recreational). One or more rowers propel the boat with each operating two oars. Left: One lone paddle boarder takes a well-deserved break before rejoining the Park-to-Park Paddle fun. In paddle boarding, the paddler stands upright on a very stable paddleboard and uses a long lightweight paddle to propel and steer. Paddle boarders claim the effect is like “walking on water.”
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ALASKAN CONNECTION Kayaks normally dominate the Park-to-Park Paddle event. For those not familiar with these vessels, they originated with the North American Eskimos over 4,000 years ago. Eskimo men hunted alone or in groups in their own personal kayaks, their most prized possession, braving freezing waters, waves, ice and predators to hunt seals, sea lions and even whales. Eskimos constructed their kayaks from a frame of bone covered with stretched animal skins. Since Eskimos had no written language, each generation passed down their kayak building techniques orally from father to son. Few kayakers make their own boats today, though.
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Above: A pelican skims the water’s surface at Shattuck Park in Downtown Neenah, where Park-to-Park Paddle begins. Hundreds of these white Pelicans soar in sweeping arcs through the Fox Cities’ waterways and Lake Winnebago every year after returning each spring. Right: Doty Park is one of the nine parks along the Fox Wisconsin Heritage Parkway that paddlers and their guests like to explore during Park-to-Park Paddle. Natural and manmade beauty co-exists quite elegantly in these parks with lots of wildlife, marine animals and exquisite insects like dragonflies for visitors to enjoy.
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Essentially, the kayak has not changed in design but it is now made of plastics, fiberglass, Kevlar and wood and can seat one, two or three people. However, there are still skilled craftspeople who custom build beautiful wood kayaks similar to that pictured at left. STARTING POINT According to Carrie Butt, Divepoint Scuba Center, Stevens Point, “If you are want to learn about paddling sports, check with local kayak suppliers or paddling organizations that often offer excellent classes to teach you paddling techniques, safety, equipment needs, actual hands-on experience and provide guided tours for your initial forays.” Meanwhile, paddling events are the perfect venue to learn or hone your skills by watching your fellow paddlers. Join the fun, make new friends and enjoy old ones!
Above: Paddlers head into Little Lake Butte des Mortes from the Menasha Lock with Roland Kampo Bridge (Highway 441) in the background. Visitors can view the fun from the shoreline as seen at right where a spectator stands on the rocks. Right: One of the hand-made custom wood kayaks that often participate in the Park-to-Park Paddle events.
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Plover, WI
(715) 347-7865 Sunday-Saturday
8:30am-6:00 pm
Appointments welcome!
OVER 400 SPECIALTY VARIETIES!
Hosta Stop is THE place to go for quality and specialty hostas, the number
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garden. As we, tell our gardening friends, “You ‘hosta’ stop by and see what’s new.” Facebook.com/The Hosta Stop
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Flying Feather* Regular Column and Photos
by Denise Krause, Owner, Feathered Gold Stables, Ogdensburg, WI, www.featheredgold.com
Stress Free Foal Weaning
Weaning can be a very stressful time for the foal. You can minimize this stress with a little forethought and good management. The trauma of separation is emotional as well as physical and must be taken into consideration. One of the most important parts of weaning is to ensure your foal feels secure and happy within their social group. Ideally, this is a band of other mares and foals of similar age. After a while, the foals become increasingly independent, happy to spend time with other foals. The mares will also relax and leave the foals to their own devices! Horses are herd animals, happiest when with other horses. One of the most traumatic ways to wean a foal is to separate him completely from his dam and leave him alone. It is better to put the foal where he can see and hear other horses and not feel isolated. Avoid total separation if possible. Left alone in a box stall or small corral, the foal may literally try to climb the walls. The traditional way of weaning (mare and foal completely out of sight and sound of one another) is probably the most stressful way to wean. The least traumatic way to wean a foal is to put mother and foal into separate adjoining pens for a few days. Make sure the pens are constructed in such a way that the foal cannot reach through the fence to try to nurse. The partitions should be high enough that neither the mother nor foal will try to jump over. The foal can still see and smell his mother and will benefit from the emotional security of having her close for comfort. Foals weaned in pens adjacent to their dams usually spend most of their time near the fence that separates them, but they are not as worried as other weanlings.
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Top: Feathered Gold Zeus and Feathered Gold Impeccable Impression aka Picasso explore their environment as a team. Bottom: Feathered Gold Romantic Thriller seems to ponder his place in the world. *Feather is the flowing hair on Gypsy Vanners’ legs
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Whinnying and fence pacing is reduced because the foal can sniff and nuzzle through the fence, but cannot nurse. SENSE OF SELF After a few days, you can separate the foals from mares without ill effects, especially if other horses provide company. Once the mares’ milk flow starts to dry up, they do not need their baby by their side quite so urgently. Minimizing stress at weaning time is very important for other reasons. Too much stress can weaken the foal's immune defenses. The foal can also get emotionally upset and not eat properly. Stress may also lead to injury if the foal runs frantically or tries repeatedly to get through a fence. The worried foal may work up a sweat and then chill (especially if nights are cold, as often occurs in the fall at weaning time). Bad weather can lead to sickness in stressed foals as well.
Above: The goal is to develop each foal into a self-sufficient, strong young horse, like Zeus shown here, capable of being alone or interacting well with others.
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Your foal will also fare better if he gets accustomed to the feed he will be eating. Bring mother and foal in from the pasture a few days before weaning and feed the foal hay. If the foal starts eating hay and grain while still nursing, the foal will mimic his mother’s eating habits and be more prepared to eat on his own. Avoid any other new stresses when weaning. Schedule activities such as de-worming, vaccinating or halter breaking a foal, before the weaning, or wait until the foal is established in his new lifestyle. It is usually much easier on the foal if you conduct some training, handling and bonding while mama is still present so the foal gets used to human handling and is more apt to seek their companionship. The foal will then more readily depend on his human handlers for comfort and food when mama is no longer there. This can make the transition much easier for both the foal and his caretakers.
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IDEAL WEANING CONDITIONS 1. The foal has eaten hay and grain for at least 60 days. 2. The foal is halter broke, easy to catch, handle and lead. 3. Mare/foal are healthy and in comfortable surroundings. 4. There is a weaning buddy available, ideally another foal . 5. The handler needs to be present often for a few days, to
monitor the process closely. When ready for weaning, reduce mare’s grain and alfalfa ration to about half. The reduced caloric intake will help diminish her milk production. One or two pounds of grain keep her from thinking she missed a meal and starts to fret. Five pounds of alfalfa helps her hold water in the intestinal tract and provides a laxative effect helpful during the stress of foal weaning. Separate the mare and foal into adjoining stalls or fence lines. In a few hours, the foal will want to nurse, and the mare will have an uncomfortably full bag, dripping milk. During weaning, check mare's bag twice daily; if very hot and tender, she may have mastitis and you should contact your vet immediately. The foal may appear anxious, crying and pacing or show other stress signs all of which may concern the mare. Usually by the second or third day, stress is intermittent. Watch them both closely for 10-14 days. With the mare, your main concern is that her bag dries up. In the foal's case, you want to ensure a good appetite and attitude. The stress of weaning can suppress immune response, so the foal is vulnerable to colds or virus. If the foal seems depressed or lethargic, be proactive and take the foal’s temperature to rule out a fever. (Normal temperature is about 101; call your vet immediately if there is a variance.) Some mares are just as emotionally upset at weaning time as their foals, so the mare's enclosure should be just as safe as the foal's. As the caretaker, you will want to monitor the mares and foals closely during weaning. Proper planning and careful management plan helps minimize the stress and make this a good transition for all involved. With careful planning, you can make weaning a less stressful time for everyone.
Top: Gypsy Vanner horses are normally very loving, docile and herd-oriented. Sonnet, Kalypso and Zeus prove exactly that axiom. Middle and Bottom: Zeus and Kalypso practice their bonding techniques and start working towards being part of the Vanner ‘family’. Feathered Gold Stables’ Gypsy Vanner horses are so docile that stallions can even graze in the same area, uncommon for horses.
Imagine having your own Gypsy Vanner! Enjoy thei r beauty and grace at home and in the r ing!
De r e k & De n i se Kr a u se
O g d e n sb u r g , W I i n fo @ fe a ther ed g ol d. co m w w w .fea th er ed go ld . com
(715) 445-5345
The Badger
State’s
Waterfalls Article & Photos
by David Hedquist Custer, WI
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Wisconsin has waterfalls? Recently, I finished my first book, Waterfalling in Wisconsin, and the comment I hear the most in reaction to it is, “I had no idea Wisconsin had so many waterfalls.” That is why I wrote the book. I wanted to share my knowledge and love of our state’s over one hundred outstanding waterfalls with tourists and residents alike. The breadth and depth of these bountiful cascades are matched only by their dramatic settings, some of which are not easily accessible.
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Opposite Page: Big Manitou Falls, Pattison State Park, thunderously plummets 165-feet. It is the highest waterfall in WI and fourth highest in the U.S., east of the Rocky Mountains. Above: Author David Hedquist,
who grew up in Amherst, WI, poses by Rouse Falls, Iron County. It is in a wild, remote area but its beauty is worth the hike. Right: Water slides gently down the textured rock face of David’s favorite, Buttermilk Falls, Osceola, a lesser known but truly magnificent cascade.
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GETTING THERE When I wrote Waterfalling in Wisconsin, one of my biggest challenges was to decide how to present each waterfall so visitors could more readily reach their location, especially since so many are in remote areas. As a result, each waterfall description includes full details, photos, driving directions, maps, precise GPS coordinates and trail information to help you reach the final destination. ATTAINABLE DESTINATIONS The majority of these natural wonders are located in our northern counties with the Northwest corner possessing not only the greatest quantity but also the most massive specimens. Iron County, specifically, is home to over twenty cascades many of which are my personal favorites.
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Above: Lost Creek Falls, Bayfield County, features a cascade you can walk behind and see through to the outside. It requires a round-trip hike over two miles but is well worth the extra effort to see this beauty. Bottom: Skillet Creek carves a deep, stunning gorge through Pewit's Nest, Baraboo, offering year-round interest.
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Three of Wisconsin’s most popular state parks are also in this region and feature breathtaking waterfalls. With groomed paths, scenic overlooks, footbridges and other amenities, Copper Falls, Amnicon Falls and Pattison State Parks attract people of all ages, who wish to easily view and photograph these mesmerizing treasures. RUSTIC TERRITORY While these parks suit some people, many of Northern Wisconsin’s most spectacular waterfalls are off the beaten path, requiring a lengthy hike over rough terrain. Marinette County promotes itself as Wisconsin’s waterfall capital. Self-guided tours let you proceed at your own pace. Most of their cascades are smaller than the Northwest region, but are still exhilarating. Neighboring Florence County offers several smaller cascades, which are much more remote. You travel rough, gravel roads but they are still worth the journey.
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Above: Sullivan Falls, which is not a huge falls, attracts rafters who like excitement, but also enjoy its tranquil setting. Right: 70-feet tall, Morgan Falls, Ashland County, rushes down steep, sloped granite walls in a series of cascades.
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TAMER ENVIRONMENTS Several of Wisconsin’s waterfalls located near cities are easier to find, but not as tranquil. They nicely balance natural beauty with urban surroundings. Green Bay has unusual, serene waterfalls fairly close to the city. Impressive waterfalls in Osceola and River Falls are accessible from their community parks. Yearly, thousands enjoy Willow Falls, St Croix County, a gorgeous, multi-tiered waterfall where people can lay on the rocks and even walk under the falls. It is definitely an unforgettable experience! Indeed, Wisconsin has waterfalls – more than most would have imagined! I urge everyone to discover your own favorite cascade while exploring interesting towns, restaurants, oddities, landscapes and wildlife as you journey.
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Above: Lower Potato River Falls, Iron County, thunders 40-50 feet to the pool beneath it. Be prepared to walk because even though it is not long, you travel several hundred steps to view the entire upper and lower waterfall series. Bottom: Fonferek Falls near Green Bay is quite striking with a 30-foot cascade accompanied by a gorge with limestone cliffs, strangely contrasting with the neighboring farmland.
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EDITOR’S NOTE
A labor of love is truly, what Waterfalling in Wisconsin (available through Amazon) represents. It began when David and his wife, Val, honeymooned in Ashland. What started as a jaunt to view
the area’s waterfalls evolved into a serious thirst for more knowledge about Wisconsin’s seemingly countless cascades.
David’s years of meticulous research, copious notes and fabulous photos combined with exact GPS and latitude/longitude directions for over 100 falls, resulted in the creation of this wondrous guide
for waterfall enthusiasts of every level. Dedicated hikers, geocachers (participants in real world outdoor treasure hunting games using GPS-enabled devices) and many
others often use and understand numerical GPS coordinates. Even if you are none of the above, you can still easily employ
GPS devices like those in your vehicle, smartphone, handheld computer and geocaching apps/devices or just use the directions and maps along with a compass.
We applaud his book and will use it to plan trips of our own to these marvelous wonders.
Above: Yarnell Creek Falls, Sawyer County is a double-deep cascade with small ledges, almost step-like and reportedly, a popular spot for wedding photos. Right: Twelve Foot Falls, Marinette County, is about two feet below the earth's surface. The handy path provides places to sit and enjoy the spectacular beauty.
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Happiness
is in the
Journey! Article by Tawnya Schilt, Stevens Point Photo by Robert Rosen, Plover
Page 53 Journey-Summer 2014
“We are off like dirty underwear!”
That is what my Dad always said as we left our driveway. To some, this may sound crass, but to me it was and still is,
music to my ears because it signaled the start of a new journey, another adventure and more memories as a family. While others went on cruises, we jumped in a large white Suburban, accentuated with a fat red stripe. We affectionately dubbed that car, Moby Dick. Mom prepared for weeks, packing Moby Dick to the gills with cooking gear, food, towels, bedding, washbasins, ropes, first aid supplies, a Coleman stove and our prized possession, the tent Dad inherited from my grandparents.
Nothing could permeate this thick, army-green canvas tent that weighed no less than 50 pounds. We collapsed the middle seat, covering the entire ‘trunk’ with every sleeping bag, blanket and pillow we owned, creating a makeshift sleeping area for those not driving or keeping the driver awake. Occasionally, instead of driving straight through to our destination, Dad would opt for a motel room, usually in some remote area, around 2 a.m. We would all stay
in one room, Mom and Dad in the bed and us in sleeping bags on the floor. As a family, we discussed where our travels would take us, but usually ended up meandering into the wide West. Our journey was always full of conversation and laughter as the stresses of work and school lives melted away. This was especially true for my Dad. It was fun to see his transformation as the mile markers passed.
We would play the alphabet game, travel BINGO, license plate game (sighting all 50 states before we reached our destination), read or play card games in the back. What road trip would be complete without a little adventure? One time, we ended up on a cliff, in pitch-black darkness, with sheets of rain pouring down in every direction! Suddenly, the headlights shone off the backs of a herd of cows strolling down the road, the light playing off their black and white bodies. They simply stood there, probably in ‘udder’ annoyance for trespassing and trampling their
grassy knoll. Our family’s favorite place remains Yellowstone National Park, where my Dad proposed to my Mom over 32 years ago. We return there almost every year, making a beeline for our favorite campground and even aim for the same campsite, all part of our tradition.
Opposite Page: Robert Rosen, Robert Rosen Photography, Plover, spends part of the year out West, shooting places like Yellowstone Park and the Badlands. This is his photo of Old Faithful geyser. Right: The author, Tawnya Schilt, who lives and works in Stevens Point, poses with her nieces at Bunsen Peak in Yellowstone Park. Below: A vintage 1955 photo from the National Park Service shows Yellowstone Park’s Daisy Geyser.
Perhaps the most memorable part of our trips for me was our family hikes and those special occasions when Dad and I would
go it alone. It was great bonding especially when our shared sense of daring and mischief led us in bold and wonderfully stupid directions. I often daydream about my next grand adventure, something to stir my soul and awaken my senses. For me, the smell of the air when stretching my arms at a rest stop in the middle of nowhere at midnight, the sound of the crackling fire or the burning of my muscles as I reach the peak of a strenuous climb, remind me forever of our family vacations.
I now share these traditions with my own nieces and nephews. Whether it is a trip out west or one of Dad’s notorious “mission” trips to anywhere, I am the first to pack a bag and jump in the vehicle. Destination…happiness! A UW-Stevens Point graduate and long-time Portage County resident, Tawnya Schilt works as a WSAW TV-7 Account Executive. She supports the local communities and businesses she serves and enjoys all of Wisconsin’s outdoor activities, culture and entertainment opportunities.
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Robert Rosen
Photography
Display the stunning beauty of Robert Rosen’s award-winning photography on your own walls in a wide variety of sizes. View Rosen’s photography at Gallery Q, downtown Stevens Point or on his website: robertrosenphotography.com. You can also contact him directly to arrange a personal tour of his studio in Plover, WI.
Plover, WI (715) 344-8469 robertrosenphotography.com robert@robertrose nphotogra phy.com
“Morning View from the Top” Big Pryor Mountain, MT
Who knew Wisconsin has over 100 waterfalls?
Thanks to local author and adventurer, David Hedquist’s three years
of travel and research, the world can now discover the rich wealth of waterfall wonders within the Badger State! Hedquist created Waterfalling in Wisconsin as a comprehensive guide,
sorted into fun, manageable day trips that every waterfall lover will enjoy. It fully describes these majestic beauties from thundering Big Manitou
Falls in Pattison State Park to the tranquil cascading waters of Evergreen Falls (shown below). Join Hedquist, who hails from Portage County, online for updates and events: Facebook.com/david.hedquist.
Available in many local bookstores & these handy online sources: Amazon Barnes & Noble
Kaboom!
What would summer be without fireworks? Photographer Leslie Pavlak shot these stunning displays at various celebrations.
Page 55 Journey-Summer 2014
Wander to Iola, WI and discover the
healthiest, premium quality flowers, seeds, shrubs, trees, vines, supplies and more! We grow and source most of our live goods locally to ensure they adapt to our climate conditions. Check our website for products available online, hiddengreenhouse.com! Mon-Fri: 10:00am-6:00pm Sat: 8:00am-6:00pm Sun: 10:00am-3:00pm
(715) 570-4701 N7146 Torgerson Rd, Iola
It all starts with vision…
TUNE IN TO YOUR FAVORITE POLKAS!
WDEZ's POLKA JAMBOREE ON AIR: Sunday, 6am-Noon HOST: Jeff Heinz, [email protected]
6am-7am Jeff plays a variety of different polkas. 7am-8am Jeff hosts "Early Bird" Polka hour which
features ALL Polish polka music. OVERALL: Jeff hosts the show live all morning, playing different polka music styles from around the world, with fan requests and spots like ‘Twin Spin’, ‘Polka Calendar’ and ‘Six Pak’. He enhances the show with tidbits about bands, songs and history of the polka.
Hair by Haley Transform your hair into a true reflection of who you really are. Whether you bring in a photo of your desired look or let me choose for you, when you leave, you will be truly amazed at the stunning results!
Haley Bridgeforth Independent Stylist CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT: (715) 340-1331
5370 Hwy 10E, Stevens Point (Located in Tiarah Day Spa complex)
JEFF HEINZ The Polka King" of Central Wisconsin for over 28 years and a polka band player for almost 44 years, Jeff travels around the country playing and keeping tabs on what's going on in the Polka world.
Everyone loves to Polka!
Your prime destination for steaks, seafood and cocktails served with exceedingly friendly service in a relaxed, Northwoods atmosphere. Our signature entrée, Prime Rib, is available nightly. Dine in for our traditional Friday Wisconsin Fish Fry or use our convenient Friday “Fish on the Fly” drive-thru. We offer GLUTEN-FREE & GARLIC-FREE options.
(715) 341-7714 redmillsupperclub.com
1222 County Rd HH W, Stevens Point
Wide array of mostly Wisconsin based fresh produce, fruits, berries, jams & jellies, honey, flowers, meats and cheeses, Wollersheim and Door County wines and more.
715-249-3060 N4317 Elizabeth Lane Hancock, WI 54943
[email protected] www.grammamillersmarket.com
Open 7 days, 9:00am-5:00pm
Enjoy that ‘Up North’ feeling without the drive, alongside the Wisconsin River. Order favorites like Black Angus burgers & JUMBO fried shrimp. Eighty different kinds of ice-cold beer & handcrafted Bloody Marys. Happy Hour weekdays 2-5pm, live bands on summer weekends!
Anchor Bay Bar & Grill
(715) 423-0010 anchorbaybarandgrill.com
3460 North Biron Dr, Wisconsin Rapids
TUES-SUN (Closed Mondays) Dining 11am-9pm
Bar 11am-Close
If you love berries, Lakeview
Berry Farm is heaven! Pick your own rainbow of strawberries, blueberries, currants, gooseberries and red, black, purple and gold raspberries.
(715) 457-2704 [email protected]
www.lakeviewberryfarm.com Mon-Sun: 7:00am - 8:00pm
U-PICK AMAZING BIG
SWEET BLUEBERRIES!
Ripening Soon! (Mid July-End of August)
Watch for the opening notice
on our website, Facebook page
and our farm roadside signs
Over 14,000 blueberry plants
with more than eight varieties
on 12 acres. We provide buckets
or bring your own. Lots of fun!
525 County Rd J North, Stevens Point
EXPERIENCE THE SILVER COACH! The only authentic railroad car
restaurant in Central WI!
Steeped in history since 1940, the Silver Coach seats 70 and offers romantic, private dining for two. Elegant, delicious cuisine provides unforgettable dining! Seasonal
outside patio dining available.
RESERVATIONS: (715) 341-6588 38 Park Ridge Dr, Stevens Point
(Half Mile W of I-39 & Hwy 66/10 Interchange)
MONDAY -SATURDAY (closed Sundays) Lounge: Open 4pm Dining: 5pm-10pm
www.silvercoachrestaurant.com
Home of Miller's Fresh Garden Peas
Mon Closed Tue-Thurs 5:00-9:00 pm
Fri 4:00-9:30 pm Sat-Sun 5:00-9:00 pm
SPECIAL NOTE: Until further notice, we are no longer processing credit cards due to the number of Internet security concerns occurring in today's e-commerce.
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Journey through Wisconsin
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Page 60 Journey-Summer 2014
Journey through Wisconsin 7374 Lepak Lane Custer, WI 54423
Farm Paths Beaten thoroughfares ring Wisconsin’s pastures and fields, trespassed first by horses and men and later, equipment. Their very beauty rests in their service to those who travel them. Photo by Pete Sanderson, MD, MBA