>> WELCOME TO "IN WISCONSIN."
I'M PATTY LOEW.
THIS WEEK WE TRAVEL TO DEVIL'S
LAKE STATE PARK NEAR BARABOO
TO LOOK AT TURKEY VULTURES.
STURGEON BAY'S MICHIGAN STREET
BRIDGE WAS BUILT TO JOIN THE
COMMUNITY.
NOW A CONTROVERSY DIVIDES DOOR
COUNTY.
HEAD TO LINCOLN COUNTY WHERE
VIDEOGRAPHER FRANK BOLL WAS
THINKING SPRING BUT IT WAS ALL
WINTER AS HE HAD TO SKI INSTEAD
OF HIKE ALONG THE ICE AGE
NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL.
THOSE STORIES THIS WEEK "IN
WISCONSIN."
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN
WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY THE
PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY, WHO
BRING SAFE, RELIABLE AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY
TO KEEP HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS
AND LIFE IN WISCONSIN RUNNING
SMOOTHLY.
ALLIANT ENERGY, OFFERING
ENERGY-SAVING IDEAS ON THE WEB.
AND BY THE ANIMAL DENTAL CENTER
OF MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH.
A VETERINARY SPECIALIST WORKING
WITH PET OWNERS AND FAMILY
VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL
PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS.
>> BIRD WATCHING IN WISCONSIN
IS TAKING FLIGHT.
DURING THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS,
"IN WISCONSIN" HAS BEEN
REPORTING ON THE GREAT
WISCONSIN BIRDING AND NATURE
TRAIL.
IT OFFERS SOME OF THE BEST
WILDLIFE VIEWING IN THE STATE.
PRODUCER JO GARRETT IS ON THE
TRAIL AT DEVIL'S LAKE STATE
PARK TO SHOW YOU WHERE TO FIND
THE LARGEST GATHERING OF TURKEY
VULTURES IN THE MIDWEST.
>> DEVIL'S LAKE STATE PARK IS
ALWAYS A STUNNING PLACE.
AND ON AN 80 DEGREE DAY IN
OCTOBER, IT'S BUSTLING WITH
VISITORS.
IT'S A BIT OF A CLIMB UP THE
BOULDER FIELDS TO THE TOP OF
THE RIDGE BUT THE VIEW IS WORTH
THE WALK.
BUT LOOK AGAIN.
THERE IS SOMETHING MORE.
MANY MORE.
>> LOOK AT ALL OF THEM.
>> THIS MORNING WE SAW 250 AT
ONCE.
>> WOW.
>> COOL.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING AN ANNUAL
OCTOBER EVENT.
TURKEY VULTURES MASSING IN
DEVIL'S LAKE STATE PARK BEFORE
THEIR FALL MIGRATION.
>> DURING MIGRATION TIME WHEN
300 OR 400 BIRDS CONGREGATE
THERE.
>> MIKE MOSSMAN ORGANIZED THIS
FIELD TRIP, ALONG WITH HIS
WIFE, LISA HARTMAN.
MOSSMAN WORKS FOR WISCONSIN'S
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
YET IT'S ON THEIR OWN TIME THIS
COUPLE HAS SPENT DECADES
RESEARCHING THIS BIRD.
>> I MET MIKE IN 1981.
I GUESS IN 1983 IS WHEN I
STARTED GOING OUT TO DO TURKEY
VULTURE WORK WITH HIM SO I'VE
BEEN DOING IT FOR 25 YEARS.
I LOVE WATCHING THEM FLY IN.
>> IT WAS ABSOLUTELY MAGICAL.
STILL LIKE THAT FOR ME.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE AT ALL.
THEY'RE SO BEAUTIFUL TO WATCH
IN THE AIR.
THEY SEEM TO BE SO ADEPT AND
THEY CAN FLY LITERALLY FOR
HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS
WITHOUT FLAPPING THEIR WINGS.
THEY'RE ADEPT AT JUST SOARING.
I'M SURE THEY ARE AS RELAXED AS
THEY WOULD BE WHEN THEY WERE
STANDING AND THEY HAVE TO
FOLLOW THE CURRENTS.
THEIR WINGS ARE IN A SHALLOW V
ABOVE THE BODY.
THAT'S AN IDENTIFYING
CHARACTERISTIC OF THE BIRDS IN
FLIGHT.
FOR THIS COUPLE THEY STILL ARE
COMPELLING CLOSE UP.
>> I CAN'T STOP LOOKING AT THEM.
I'M SO TAKEN WITH THEM.
I COULD SPEND ALL MY DAYS JUST
STARING AT THAT BIRD WATCHING
THEM COMING INTO ROOST,
WATCHING THEM FLYING AND
SOCIALIZING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN
THE TREES IN THE MORNING.
THERE IS NOTHING THAT I DON'T
-- I'M NOT INTERESTED IN
KNOWING ABOUT THEM OR WATCHING
THEM.
>> IT IS THIS PASSION THAT HAS
FUELED THEIR DECADES OF
RESEARCH.
WE'VE PREVAILED UPON THOSE
YEARS OF KNOWLEDGE WHEN WE
ASKED THESE TWO TURKEY VULTURE
EXPERTS TO LOOK CLOSE, TO
ANALYZE SOME ROOSTING AND
FLYING FOOTAGE WE HAD SHOT.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE KNEW THAT THE
TURKEY VULTURES ARE STARS AT
SOARING.
THEY CAN FLOAT FOR HOURS.
BUT HOW DO THEY CHANGE
DIRECTIONS IF THEY DON'T FLAP
THEIR WINGS?
>> THEIR WING TIPS, THEY HAVE
MARGE NATEED PRIMARIES.
THERE IS A FINGER LENGTH SPACE
BETWEEN THE PRIMARIES.
THEY MANEUVER THOSE.
EACH FEATHER IS THE SHAPE OF A
WING IN ITSELF.
THEY USE JUST THE WING TIPS TO
MANEUVER ON THE CURRENT.
>> THEY TALKED ABOUT FEATHERS
AND BEHAVIORS, SUNNING AND THE
PREENING OF FEATHERS.
>> THEY DO A LOT OF THE SAME
THINGS HE'S DOING NOW.
>> THAT HE WITH HIS HEAD BURIED
IN HIS FEATHERS SITTING ON A
PERCH OVERLOOKING THEIR KITCHEN
TABLE IS THERE TURKEY VULTURE.
>> SO THIS IS OUR CAPTIVE
TURKEY VULTURE, UNCLE BUT ZEE.
I NAMED HIM AFTER AN UNCLE OF
MINE.
>> THE BIRD PROVIDES THE UP
CLOSE PORTION OF THEIR
EDUCATION PROGRAM.
>> WE HAVE LEARNED THAT OUR
BIRDS GO DOWN TO SOUTH AND
CENTRAL AMERICA FOR THE WINTER.
I WOULD DO SLIDE SHOWS,
EDUCATIONAL SLIDE SHOWS FOR
PEOPLE AND STILL PEOPLE WOULD
COME AWAY BUT THEY'RE UGLY AND
THEY STINK.
I STARTED TAKING A LIVE BIRD
WITH ME IT WAS AMAZING THE
DIFFERENCE TRYING TO CONVINCE
PEOPLE HOW BEAUTIFUL THE BIRD
WAS.
YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THEM CLOSE
UP.
THEY HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE
IRIDESCENCE IN THEIR FEATHERS,
IT'S SO ANEMICLY DESCRIBED IN
THE LITERATURE.
>> THEY BOTH FEEL THE TURKEY
VULTURE DOESN'T GET ITS DUE AND
IT'S UNDULY DISSED FOR EATING
ON DEAD THINGS.
ANOTHER BIRD THAT HAS BETTER PR
BUT THE SAME DIET.
>> BALD EAGLES ARE FEEDING
PRIMARILY ON DEAD THINGS THE
SAME WAY -- THE SAME FIELDS AND
TYPE OF CARCASSES TURKEY
VULTURES WOULD BE IN ON IN THE
SUMMER, BALD EAGLES ARE IN THE
WINTER.
>> DEATH IS EVER PRESENT AND
VULTURES PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE.
DUE IN PART THAT THEIR BIOLOGY.
>> THEY HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF
SMELL WHICH IS STRANGE FOR A
BIRD TO HAVE.
>> MAYBE IT HELPS TO WATCH THEM
FOR A WHILE.
TO GAIN AN APPRECIATION OF
THEIR PLACE.
JAN ASLAKSEN OF LAVALLE, ONE OF
THE TRIP PARTICIPANTS.
>> BEING ON A FARM AND SEEING
THEM AND WHEN SOMETHING DIES
IN THE FIELD OR WOODS THE
TURKEY VULTURES CLEAN IT UP.
>> FOR ME THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL
BECAUSE THEY'RE PART OF
CREATION, THEY HAVE A PLACE IN
NATURE.
WE LOOK UP AND THERE IS A WHOLE
BUNCH OF VULTURES FLYING AROUND
WE FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE
WORLD IS OKAY.
EVERYTHING IS WORKING,
EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL.
NOTHING COULD EXPRESS THAT MORE
THAN THAT BIRD.
>> HARTMAN HAS BEEN WRITING A
MEMOIR ABOUT HER TIME AS A
TURKEY VULTURE RESEARCHER.
HERE IS A LITTLE BIT TO LEAVE
YOU WITH.
>> IT'S JUST THAT SORT OF DAY
WHERE THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES
SENSE TO DO IS TO STAND ON THE
HIGHEST POINT POSSIBLE TO GREET
MIGRANT VULTURES COMING IN FROM
THE SOUTH, TO SEARCH AND WAIT
LIKE THE FAIR YOUNG MADEENS IN
THE OLD BALL ADDS.
I KNOW MY LOVE, THE VULTURES,
WILL RETURN.
FOR THE YOUNG MAIDENS IN THE
BALLADS THAT WASN'T ALWAYS THE
CASE.
>> PAINTED STROKE AFTER STROKE
ON THE SKY THERE IS AN OLD CALL.
THE CALL OF MIGRATION, THAT
ANCIENT COMING AND GOING
REMINDING US OF OUR OWN RISE
AND FALL.
>> THERE IS AN INTERESTING SIDE
NOTE.
THE TURKEY VULTURE HAS THE
LARGEST BREEDING RANGE OF ANY
BIRD IN NORTH AMERICA.
IT STRETCHES ALL THE WAY FROM
CENTRAL CANADA TO THE TIP OF
SOUTH AMERICA.
FOR MORE REPORTS ON THE GREAT
WISCONSIN BIRDING AND NATURE
TRAIL, YOU CAN GO TO OUR
WEBSITE AT wpt.org/inwisconsin.
YOU'LL ALSO FIND MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRAIL AND
THE FULL VERSION OF LISA
HARTMAN'S POEM, PLUS SOME
FASCINATING AND UNUSUAL WAYS
THE TURKEY VULTURE STAYS WARM
AND COOL.
AGAIN, THAT'S ON OUR WEBSITE AT
wpt.org/inwisconsin.
IN NORTHEAST WISCONSIN, A SHIP
CANAL CUT THROUGH STURGEON BAY
MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO.
TODAY YOU CAN'T GET TO THE
NORTHERN TIP OF DOOR COUNTY
WITHOUT CROSSING A BRIDGE.
THEY ARE THE LIFELINE OF THAT
COMMUNITY.
AND AS "IN WISCONSIN" REPORTER
ART HACKETT DISCOVERED, WHEN
YOU MESS WITH THEM YOU CREATE
CONTROVERSY.
>> BRIDGES ARE SUPPOSED TO JOIN
COMMUNITIES, BUT THERE ARE
TIMES AND PLACES WHERE THEY
DIVIDE THEM.
DOOR COUNTY, HOME OF STURGEON
BAY'S STEEL BRIDGE IS ONE OF
THOSE PLACES.
>> PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT
ISSUES IN DOOR COUNTY.
IT IS AN ARTISTIC AND WORKING
COMMUNITY.
ALL OF THIS DIVERSITY COMES
TOGETHER AND WHEN THERE IS AN
ISSUE, PEOPLE TAKE SIDES.
>> THE DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE AND
OPINIONS FORMER NEWSPAPER
REPORTER JOE KNAPPEN IS TALKING
ABOUT DIDN'T JUST COME TOGETHER.
THEY COLLIDED HEAD ON IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE STEEL BRIDGE.
>> TO APPRECIATE THE CONDITION
OF THE OLD BRIDGE, YOU HAVE TO
GET ON A BOAT AND GO UNDERNEATH
IT AND LOOK UP AND SEE THE
CONDITION OF THE BEAMS THAT
SUPPORT THE DECKS ON THE TWO
LIFT SECTIONS.
IT'S OFFICIAL NAME IS THE
MICHIGAN STREET BRIDGE DATING
TO 1932.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS BUILT WITH
AN ERECTOR SET.
>> THE BRIDGE IS A RARE
EXAMPLE, A SCHERZER TYPE
OVERHEAD BRIDGE.
IT IS ONE OF ONLY TWO IN THE
COUNTRY THAT EXIST.
>> HISTORIC PRESERVATIONIST
CHRISTIE WEBER IS PART OF THE
ARTISTIC COMMUNITY.
SHE NOTES THE BRIDGE'S CENTER
SECTIONS CAN LIFT TO CLEAR SHIP
TRAFFIC.
>> IT HAS 300 TON WEIGHTS ON
THE TOP THAT ACTUALLY SWING THE
DRAW SECTION UP.
YOU COULD ACTUALLY HAND CRANK
IT OPEN.
>> IT'S THE ICON OF SURGEON BAY.
>> WHICH IS WHY RETIRED YACHT
BUILDER BILL PARSONS IS HAPPY
TO SEE THE STATE TALKING ABOUT
FIXING UP THE STEEL BRIDGE AND
THE WORKING MAN'S COMMUNITY,
PERHAPS IT WAS REPRESENTED BY
THE GUY WHO DROVE BY DURING OUR
INTERVIEW.
>> YOU MIGHT GUESS WE'RE
PLEASED WITH GOVERNOR DOOR AND
SECRETARY FOR SUPPORTING OUR
TOWN.
>> THE DISCUSSION GOES BACK TO
1996.
WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT THE BRIDGE?
IT'S DETERIORATING.
IN THE 1990s IT WAS DECLARED
FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE.
THE STATE ENGINEER SAID WE HAVE
TO DO SOMETHING.
>> THERE BEGAN A PLAN ON THE
PART OF THE CITY TO TALK ABOUT
ITS REPLACEMENT.
WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE REALIZED
WHAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, THEY
SAID HEY, WAIT A MINUTE.
WE REALLY LOVE THIS OLD BRIDGE.
>> THEY HAVEN'T JUST WAITED A
MINUTE.
THEY'VE WAITED 12 YEARS.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE BRIDGE
HASN'T GOTTEN ANY YOUNGER.
IN SOME PLACES, THE SECTIONS
THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO OPEN LIKE
A SWISS ARMY KNIFE LOOK LIKE
SWISS CHEESE INSTEAD.
AS RUST ATE AWAY THE BEAMS,
CONTROVERSY ATE AWAY AT
PEOPLE'S EMOTIONS.
>> THE COMMUNITY WAS TORN APART.
PEOPLE BEING AFRAID OF THE OLD
BRIDGE AND PEOPLE WANTING TO
SAVE THE OLD BRIDGE.
>> IT IS PRETTY PECULIAR HOW
SOMETHING SO INAN MAT CAN--
>> MACDONALD IS A ROCK MUSICIAN
WHO LIVES IN STURGEON BAY AND
IS CHRISTIE WEBER'S BROTHER.
IN 2006 MACDONALD, WEBER AND
OTHERS ORGANIZED THE STEEL
BRIDGE SONG FEST.
EVERY YEAR MUSICIANS FROM ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY GATHER TO
WRITE AND PERFORM SONGS ABOUT,
AND RAISE CONSCIOUSNESS OF, THE
STEEL BRIDGE.
BUT BY 2008 IN THE COUNTY KNOWN
FOR FISH BOILS, THE BRIDGE
CONTROVERSY ALSO CAME TO A BOIL.
IN AUGUST OF THAT YEAR THE
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION SUDDENLY CLOSED
THE STEEL BRIDGE TO TRAFFIC.
THEY ALLOWED IT TO REOPEN ONLY
WITH POLICE OFFICERS AND OTHER
CITY AND COUNTY EMPLOYEES
STRICTLY ENFORCING THE FIVE-TON
WEIGHT LIMIT.
>> HAVE YOU HAD TO STOP ANY OF
THEM SO FAR?
>> JUST THE TRUCK WITH A HUGE
CAMPER, OTHERWISE NOT THAT MANY
PEOPLE.
>> AT NIGHT WHEN TRAFFIC DIDN'T
JUSTIFY THE GUARD'S EXPENSE THE
BRIDGE WAS BLOCKED OFF.
THE DETOUR WAS TEN MILES OUT OF
THE WAY ON A HIGHWAY THAT
BYPASSES THE CITY.
>> IF WE WEREN'T ABLE TO KEEP
THE WEIGHT LIMITS TO FIVE TONS
THERE COULD BE MORE DAMAGE,
KNOCKING THE BRIDGE OUT OF
ALIGNMENT.
IT MIGHT NOT OPEN OR CLOSE IN
THE FUTURE.
IT COULD HAVE TOTAL FAILURE.
>> IN OCTOBER OF 2008, STURGEON
BAY WAS RECONNECTED AMID MUCH
CELEBRATION, A NEW BRIDGE WAS
OPENED A BLOCK AWAY FROM THE
STEEL BRIDGE.
THE PLAN WAS OPEN THE NEW
BRIDGE, THEN REHAB THE STEEL
BRIDGE AT A COST OF $14 MILLION.
WHEN THE REPAIRS ARE DONE, THE
TWO BRIDGES WILL FUNCTION AS A
PAIR.
BUT EVEN BEFORE THE NEW BRIDGE
OPENED, SOME, INCLUDING DOOR
COUNTY BOARD CHAIR LEO ZIPPERER
WROTE THE GOVERNOR WITH A NEW
IDEA.
LIVE WITH JUST THE NEW BRIDGE
AND SPEND THE REPAIR MONEY
INTENDED FOR THE STEEL BRIDGE
SOMEWHERE ELSE.
>> AND I DO KNOW THAT OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAINTAIN OUR
COUNTY HIGHWAYS AT LEAST
REQUIRES $17 MILLION.
AND I'M SAYING I THINK $14 OF
THAT COULD GET US A LONG WAY
DOWN THE LINE.
>> ZIPPERER SUGGESTED JUST
REMOVING THE WEAKENED CENTER
PORTION OF THE STEEL BRIDGE.
>> IT COULD BE FOR FESTIVITIES
AND/OR A FISHING PIER ON THE
OTHER SIDE WOULD BE BETTER USE
FOR THE DOLLARS.
>> BUT IT WOULDN'T BE A BRIDGE
ANYMORE.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
>> WHICH WOULD LIKELY BE FINE
WITH THE GUY WHO DROVE BY
DURING OUR EARLY INTERVIEW.
>> THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR
TOWN.
>> IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
INTERVIEW SOMEBODY YELLED OUT
OF HIS CAR TEAR IT DOWN.
>> RIGHT.
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE LIKE THAT
ARE OUT THERE?
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM.
BUT THEY'RE NOT THE PEOPLE THAT
TAKE TIME TO WRITE LETTERS,
THEY'RE NOT THE PEOPLE THAT
TAKE TIME TO ORGANIZE THINGS.
THEY'RE THE PEOPLE THAT GO TO
WORK AND WHEN IT COMES TO VOTE
THEY VOTE FOR PEOPLE LIKE LEO
ZIPPERER.
>> ZIPPERER'S SUGGESTION TO
TURN THE STEEL BRIDGE INTO THE
STEEL FISHING PIER WENT NOWHERE.
THE CITY AND D.O.T. SAY WHEN
THE STATE TOOK FEDERAL MONEY TO
BUILD THE NEW BRIDGE, IT
COMMITTED ITSELF TO TWO BRIDGES.
>> I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT
PERHAPS THE REHAB WILL BE
DELAYED INDEFINITELY UNTIL SUCH
TIME THAT SOMEBODY FIGURES OUT
A WAY TO GET AROUND IT.
>> I DO THINK IT'S -- IT
REQUIRES A FRESH LOOK TO SEE IF
WE CAN BETTER SPEND THE DOLLARS.
>> I FEEL COMPLETELY CONFIDENT
ONCE WE HAVE TWO DOWNTOWN
BRIDGES PEOPLE WILL -- CAN'T
IMAGINE THEY COULD EVER HAVE
LIVED ANY OTHER WAY.
>> I DON'T THINK THIS IS EVER
PUT TO BED.
MY EXPERIENCE IS LIKE THIS.
IT'S VERY SIMPLE.
EVERY TIME I THINK I'VE WRITTEN
THE LAST STORY ABOUT A
POLITICAL ISSUE, IT SHOWS UP
AGAIN.
>> IT'S AS IF THERE IS STILL A
DIVIDE IN DOOR COUNTY THAT'S
YET TO BE BRIDGED.
>> THE CONTROVERSY HASN'T
DERAILED PLANS TO REHAB THE
MICHIGAN STREET BRIDGE.
THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION IS SCHEDULED TO
OPEN BIDS FOR THE PROJECT APRIL
14th.
BY MID APRIL, THE WEATHER IS
WARMING UP AND IT'S PRIME TIME
TO HIKE ALONG THE 1100 MILES OF
THE ICE AGE NATIONAL SCENIC
TRAIL.
BUT AS VIDEOGRAPHER FRANK BOLL
FOUND OUT, PLANS FOR A SPRING
HIKE CAN QUICKLY TURN INTO A
WINTER ADVENTURE IN WISCONSIN
AS HE EXPLORED THE EAST NEW
WOOD SEGMENT IN LINCOLN COUNTY.
>> THIS IS PRETTY LATE IN THE
YEAR.
IT'S APRIL.
WE HAVE THREE INCHES OF SNOW
LAST NIGHT ON A BASE OF EIGHT
TO TEN INCHES OF OLD SNOW THAT
WAS WET.
SKIING DID NOT WORK VERY WELL
TODAY.
IT WAS RIGHT AROUND FREEZING
ALL DAY.
THE SNOW WOULD STICK TO THE
BOTTOM OF THE SKIS.
THEN YOU WOULD GO THROUGH THE
NEW SNOW AND BOG DOWN IN THE
SNOW THAT WAS UNDERNEATH THAT
WAS STILL WET.
IT DIDN'T FREEZE.
SO IT WAS KIND OF LIKE SLUSHY
UNDERNEATH.
I DIDN'T MAKE VERY GOOD TIME
AND THE SLED WAS PRETTY HEAVY
WITH THE CAMERA EQUIPMENT SO I
SKIED OVER THERE TO THE PINES
AND TOOK SOME PICTURES OVER
THERE.
>> IT TAKES LONGER IN WINTER TO
DO ANYTHING.
I THINK IT TOOK TWO HOURS TO
SET UP CAMP HERE.
ONCE I FOUND A SPOT, I LEVELED
IT OFF AND I TIED THE FLY OFF
THE BRANCHES OFF TO THE SIDE
BECAUSE THE GROUND IS STILL
FROZEN SO YOU CAN'T GET STAKES
IN THE GROUND.
BECAUSE OF THE CAMPING YOU HAVE
TO GET OFF THE TRAIL AND FIND A
PLACE WHERE IT'S KIND OF OUT OF
THE WAY AND YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO BUILD CAMPFIRES.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A
BACKPACKING STOVE, DON'T CUT
ANY TREES.
DON'T CUT ANY BRANCHES.
THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO DO THAT.
THEY WANT YOU TO USE A GAS
STOVE.
THERE IS A SMALL CREEK DOWN
HERE AND IT'S GOT A METAL PLATE
AS A FORD.
THAT WAS UNDER WATER WHEN I GOT
HERE.
I NOTICED -- I LOOKED AT IT
ABOUT AN HOUR LATER AND THE
WATER WAS EVEN HIGHER.
I THINK BY TOMORROW MORNING IT
MIGHT BE COMPLETELY UNDER WATER.
ONE NICE THING ABOUT WINTER
CAMPING YOU DON'T HAVE ANY
MOSQUITOES TO WORRY ABOUT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THE NIGHT IS
GOING TO GO.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO GET ABOUT 25
TONIGHT.
I HAVE A DOWN SLEEPING BAG, A
PAD UNDERNEATH.
I'M PRETTY TIRED.
I'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.
IT REMINDS ME OF A SPEECH I
TAPED ONCE FOR GOVERNOR DREYFUS.
HE SAID, AT MY AGE A LITTLE
BACKPACKING GOES A LONG WAY.
I THINK I KNOW WHAT HE MEANT.
ONE PROBLEM WITH WINTER CAMPING
THAT I FORGOT ABOUT.
I TOOK OFF MY PANTS BECAUSE IT
WAS SO WET LAST NIGHT AND ONLY
SO MUCH YOU CAN TAKE IN THE
SLEEPING BAG.
I PUT THE BOOT INSERTS IN DRY.
THE PANTS ARE FROZEN SHUT THIS
MORNING AND I HAD TO OPEN THEM
UP TO GET THE LEG IN AND THEN
MY BOOTS ARE ALSO FROZEN SHUT
AND I HAD A HARD TIME GETTING
MY INSERTS IN BUT I FINALLY DID
AFTER BREATHING IN THE BOOTS
FOR A WHILE.
LOOKS LIKE IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
BLUE SKY, SUN IS ALREADY UP.
I SLEPT PRETTY GOOD.
WOKE UP ABOUT FOUR TIMES.
AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE MORNING
WAS HERE ALREADY.
IT'S ABOUT THREE OR FOUR INCHES
UNDER WATER YET.
TODAY IT'S A FOOT AND A HALF OR
MORE OF WATER GOING OVER IT.
I KNEW I COULDN'T WALK OVER IT
WITHOUT GETTING MY FEET WET.
I TOOK OUT THE LINERS AND SOCKS
AND PUT ON THE BOOTS AND PUT
THE GARBAGE BAGS AROUND THEM ON.
FIGURED IT WOULD KEEP ME FROM
GETTING COMPLETELY WET.
I CAME ACROSS WITH A TRIPOD IN
THE BACKPACK FIRST TO TEST IF
IT WOULD WORK AND IT WORKED
PRETTY GOOD.
I WENT BACK AND GOT THE CAMERA,
THE MOST EXPENSIVE PART OF ALL
THIS GEAR.
I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THAT FLOAT
DOWN THE CREEK.
I WENT BACK AND GOT MY SKIS
ACROSS AND BROUGHT THIS ACROSS
AND I THOUGHT FOR SURE AS I WAS
COMING ACROSS THERE WOULD BE A
BOAT EFFECT AND TRY TO PULL ME
OFF THE WALKWAY BUT IT FOLLOWED
ME PRETTY GOOD.
I GOT OUT WITH JUST A LITTLE
WET FEET.
NOT TOO BAD.
COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE.
IT'S BEEN 24 HOURS SINCE I
SKIED IN HERE WITH THE NEW WOOD
SEGMENT OF THE ICE AGE TRAIL
PULLING A 90 POUND PACK.
40 POUNDS OF CAMERA, TRIPOD AND
EXTRA BATTERIES.
I HAVEN'T DONE THIS FOR ABOUT
20 YEARS AND I FOUND OUT I
WASN'T IN AS GOOD A SHAPE AS I
THOUGHT I WAS.
I DROPPED THIS WATER AND FOOD
ALONG THE TRAIL.
I LEFT THE CAMERA HERE AND THE
GEAR AND I WENT BACK ALMOST TO
THE CREEK AGAIN AND I FOUND
THESE ITEMS AND CAME BACK.
IT TRULY WAS DELIGHTFUL.
A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
I HAD A VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE ON
THIS TRAIL.
IT'S A GREAT TRAIL.
I WOULD LOVE TO SKI IT WITHOUT
CAMERA EQUIPMENT.
>> YOU CAN CHECK OUT OTHER "IN
WISCONSIN" REPORTS FEATURING
THE ICE AGE TRAIL BY LOGGING
ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT
wpt.org/inwisconsin.
WE RETURN NEXT WEEK WITH THIS
WAUSAU TEACHER WHO IN HIS
RETIREMENT CLEARS UNEXPLODED
BOMBS IN LAOS.
SEE HOW HIS STUDENTS INSPIRED
THIS MISSION OF MERCY.
OUR WINTER WEATHER HAS HAD NO
MERCY ONRIVERS.
BUT IN BELOIT THEY'RE FIGHTING
BACK WITH BEET JUICE TO CLEAR
THE ICE AND SNOW.
PLUS WELL SOAR WITH THE EAGLES
BY SAUK PRAIRIE.
THOSE STORIES NEXT WEEK.
WITH A LOOK FORWARD TO SPRING
AND SCENES LIKE THESE NEAR
PORTAGE IN COLUMBIA COUNTY.
FOR "IN WISCONSIN" I'M PATTY
LOEW, HAVE A GREAT WEEK.
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN
WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY THE
PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY, WHO
BRING SAFE, RELIABLE AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY
TO KEEP HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS
AND LIFE IN WISCONSIN RUNNING
SMOOTHLY.
ALLIANT ENERGY, OFFERING
ENERGY-SAVING IDEAS ON THE WEB.
AND BY THE ANIMAL DENTAL CENTER
OF MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH, A
VETERINARY SPECIALIST WORKING
WITH PET OWNERS AND FAMILY
VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL
PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS.