Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Wildcat Mound

Hello and welcome back readers from holiday break.  I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year.  I know the weather was a real challenge for many of us and my heart goes out to all the families that lost loved ones.   The stories were just heart-breaking.  Our weather got super cold, but we never developed the winter storm that was forecast.  However, the cold weather really affected our holiday plans.  We weren't able to leave the house for a week, so we didn't make our annual trip to Irvine Park to see the holiday lights, nor did we attend any church service.  Our daughter and son-in-law's car had a major mechanical failure due to the extreme cold, so they were delayed in getting back home by a day and a half, and had to spend $1,400 for towing and repairs.  Yet, despite it all, it was a wonderful Christmas and we had a great time together.  The whole experience reminded me of the ending of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".  Even though a lot of things were taken from us,  it could not keep Christmas from coming.  Jesus was still born, and we as a family were still celebrating His birth together.

Now, onto this week's travel post.  After finishing my North Shore Travel Series, I have been going back and sharing some fall hiking adventures.  Right before break, I shared our stop at The Devil's Punchbowl, and this week I will show the amazing views of Wildcat Mound.


Wildcat Mound is a peak in Clark County, Wisconsin that is surrounded by thick forests and has plenty of rocky, sandstone cliffs.  You drive up to the second parking lot, and then take a long series of steps (about a 100 yards)  to the top of the mound.  


Once you reach the top, the trail forms a semi-circle on top of the mound.  There are so many other-worldly, amazing sandstone formations!





Unfortunately teens (or maybe adults, who knows) have ruined the natural beauty with graffiti.  It just makes me sick.  But, there are also some old, very weathered petroglyphs, so perhaps cultures really never change.  


There's some rock scrambling to be done on this trail, especially if you want to see unobstructed, panoramic views.


Fall is the best time of year to hike this trail!





Wildcat Mound got its namesake from the iron stains in the rocks which resemble leopard spots and tiger stripes.


This scenic trail is an easy 1.8 mile loop with an elevation gain of 272 feet.  It takes an average of 47 minutes to complete.  I think we took a good two hours because we kept stopping to gawk at those views!


There were times I couldn't believe I was still in Wisconsin, just a few hours from my house.  The place reminded me of the Black Hills of South Dakota.



And did I mention how incredible it was to be there during peak fall foliage?



The trail is one of Wisconsin's best kept secrets.  You will encounter very few people on this trail.   It is very poorly marked but it's hard to get lost as there is usually a clear path to see.  At one point, we had to rock scramble to get back down to the trail, so I'm not sure if we missed the trail somewhere, or that was just the way it was supposed to be.  It is also a dirt or sandy trail, so walking sticks really come in handy, especially for the rock scrambling!









The crazy boldness of this son of mine.  He scares me half to death every time we go hiking.  I told him he should take up rock climbing as a hobby, but he doesn't seem interested in that.






We were absolutely blown away by our visit to Wildcat Mound and we couldn't believe we lived in the area for 25 years and had never been there before.  But apparently, most people in my area had never been there before either, because when I posted the photos to Facebook, everyone asked "Where is that?"  I have no idea how they kept this magical place a secret for so long.

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!

24 comments:

  1. These photos are breathtaking! Love the colors and amazing rock formations. You are so right it does look a bit like the Black Hills (which I'd already love to go back to again!!)
    Glad you all had a nice Christmas despite the happenings.
    Happy New Year!!

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  2. You're so lucky Amy to have such beautiful scenery on the doorstep. So glad you had a lovely Christmas in spite of the weather. Thanks for linking.

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    1. Yes I am! Thanks for stopping by, and you're welcome.

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  3. That looks like such a beautiful place to hike! Those views are incredible.

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  4. I love rocks of all kinds. I like the layering in your sandstone pictures. Our rocks are granite, so they don't have all those beautiful colours. - Margy

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    1. Me too! I always find large rock formations so fascinating.

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  5. Looks like fall foliage at its best! Speaking of the cold weather, it got down to -5 here in AL. I've lived in a colder climate but people born and raised here were freaking out. They couldn't handle it. Thanks so much for linking up at the Unlimited Link Party 97. Shared.

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    1. Wow! That is cold for Alabama. I can imagine how it was freaking people out. Thanks so much!

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  6. Breathtaking views! Although it looks like a hard trail, it is worth the effort. Sad to see that some people have ruined the place with graffiti. I've seen this in other countries as well.

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    1. They sure are great views. The trail wasn't hard at all, just a few tricky spots. The graffiti makes me so sad.

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  7. CONGRATS Amy! Your post is FEATURED at the Unlimited Link Party 98!

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  8. Happy New Year and what a beautiful place. Such a great hike.

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    1. Happy New Year to you too. Yes! It was a great hike!

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  9. Sorry to hear about your daughter's car problems, but you're right, nothing can take Christmas from us. God is still with us. Those are wonderful photos. What a beautiful place! It was fun to scroll through the photos. This is my first time to link up at A Fresh Start, and I posted just after yours. Blessings to you!

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    1. Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. And you're right, nothing can take Christmas away from us. I don't remember linking up at "A Fresh Start", but I'll find you somehow.

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    2. The linkup was actually "Sweet Tea & Friends" and I mistakenly put the title of the post instead.

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    3. Oh, I figured that out and eventually found your blog. Alls good!

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  10. This looks like a wonderful place for hiking. The scenery is gorgeous, and the bright autumn foliage adds to the beauty. It always makes me mad and sad to see graffiti in a natural setting. Too bad some people are so disrespectful. Thank you for sharing this post in the Talent-Sharing Tuesdays Link-Up 48.
    Carol
    www.scribblingboomer.com

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    1. It sure is. Yes, the graffiti is so sad. I don't know why people do this.

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  11. Amy,
    Wildcat Mound is beautiful. You take such great pictures.
    Thank you for sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends this month sweet friend.

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    1. Thanks Paula! My husband is usually the photographer as I am usually using walking sticks and don't have my hands free to take photos.

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