Windigo Snowshoe Stomp

Pete and I had a great time checking out a new trail system just 5 minutes from the house during a special event they held the other week. Their facebook page says it all, "The WinMan Trails are a new network of silent sport trails located in Winchester, WI. Spanning 1300 acres of private land and public Northern Highlands American Legion State Forest recreation land, the WinMan Trails offer opportunities for mountain biking, hiking, classic skiing, skate skiing, and snowshoeing."


They hosted a snowshoe race with a Windigo theme. 

Sounds a little scary.

It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon and the thermometer was finally reading above zero.  I think it was 18 degrees; practically t-shirt weather.

Here's Pete

According to Ojibwa folklore a Windigo is " . . .a large creature, as tall as a tree, with a lipless mouth and jagged teeth. Its breath was a strange hiss, its footprints full of blood, and it ate any man, woman or child who ventured into its territory. And those were the lucky ones. Sometimes, the Windigo chose to possess a person instead, and then the luckless individual became a Windigo himself, hunting down those he had once loved and feasting upon their flesh." (http://americanfolklore.net/folklore/2010/07/windigo.html)

Here's 1 of 3 Windigos along the trail.

The snowshoe race was a timed event, but you could also register for the Fur Chaser event that was a little less competitive.  The objective was to collect pieces of fur from all three Windigos along the trail.

Another Windigo

Pete after stealing some fur from the Windigo

Beth stayed on the trail.

Colorful Windigos handed out as prizes in the Fur Chaser Division

Some of the Winners including Pete with his Windigo
(https://www.facebook.com/WinManTrails)

Fur Chaser Division Male
  1) Carl Karaffa 54:46.1
2) Pete Wetzler 1:03:47.9
3) Ryan Russell 1:04:20.3

Really nice custom prizes for the "real" race.

We'll be back to enjoy the trails on our own. The trailhead and parking lot are on the snowmobile trail at the intersection of Highway W and J.

Beth at trailhead

Well behaved dogs are allowed on the trails. I'm not sure if we have any of those!

"I'd like to check out the trails."  Asher

"I can behave, when I have to." Maddie Jo

We Rake Snow Up Here

Asher way down the driveway after February 21 Snowstorm

Snow in the woods was deep.

There was almost 3 feet of snow on top of the house.  It was time to invest in a rake and groom the roof.

Pete was ready for the job! Go Pete GO!

There was so much snow piled around the house it blocked the doggie door. Pete shoveled out a snow-lined path and Asher tested it out.

Asher way down the driveway.

 After securing the doggie door Asher was ready for another walk followed by a nap.

Ice Caves and an Ice Road

 

We drove up to Bayfield this morning. First a walk along the icy shore of Lake Superior for a look at the fabulous ice formations.

 

Then, a drive from Bayfield to Madeline Island across the lake on the Ice Road.

Super Sunday

Smoked Salmon for Breakfast on a Seattle Platter

Asher's prepared for any fallen food

Beautiful Sunny Morning, but -10 degrees

The snow piled high

As the snow piles rise, so has the price of propane - over $6.00 a gallon

Maddie Jo prepared for the Game with a Space Needle Scarf