A portrait of Wisconsin

group playing cards in a bar — Rain turned to snow today so it was time to take some shelter at the Bull Pen Bar and Grill for some chili. The traditional Monday morning game of screwy Louie was being played.

My goal of hiking the Ice Age Trail is to create a portrait of Wisconsin by photographing the people, culture, and landscapes of Wisconsin.

For me, this trek across Wisconsin is equally as much about the people I meet as it is about the natural landscape. The Ice Age Trail is not like wilderness trails out west. This National Scenic Trail connects segments of nature, rural farm roads, and travels through small towns. I see this as a plus. The experience is not only about nature, but it’s also about the unique midwestern culture of Wisconsin.

commercial fishing boat in the fog — Commercial fishermen Andy Lafond Jr. and his father Andy Lafond Sr. venture out on Lake Michigan from Kewaunee to gather up their nets and secure their catch for the day. Carrying on a tradition as old as civilization.

Wisconsin is a diverse state. The shore of Lake Michigan was the first leg of my westbound hike across Wisconsin. The communities along Lake Michigan are all about fishing. The middle of the state, where I will be hiking this fall, is largely about Agriculture. The Northwoods where I will be hiking next year will be about forestry and tourism. The Ice Age Trail connects all these unique communities and many more.

The Ice Age Trail always has something new in store for you around the corner in the next a few hours, or the coming days or even weeks. There are frequent changes of scenery as you travel the trail.

fisherman cleaning fish — Commercial fisherman Andy Lafond Sr. cleans today’s whitefish catch from the morning out on Lake Michigan in the bow of the Oliver. H Smith. A boat built two years before the 72-year-old was born.

A person rarely stops in small towns when traveling across the state at 65 mph in a car but these towns all have a lot of unique people and places when you stop and explore. As you would expect, almost all towns have small cafes, stores, or bars with interesting characters in them. But some towns hold some surprises as well. In the small town of St. Nazianz, there is a Catholic Byzantine Monastery. Something I didn’t expect to find when I started researching the towns along the way. I enjoyed spending the night with them and photographing their worship services.

Monk with incense — I spent the night in The Holy Resurrection Monastery along the Ice Age Trail in the small town of St. Nazianz. It is a Catholic Byzantine Monastery. Their icons and dress look much like Eastern Orthodox Christians but they are part of the Catholic Church. It was an amazing experience to spend the night at the monastery and to witness them worship. I have to say it’s one of the most interesting things I’ve ever photographed.

There are great stories I’ve come across. Like Lynn Lukes the third-generation barber who is still working out of the family barbershop on the main street in Kewaunee. The nearly 100-year-old business is like a small history museum.

Barber Lynne Lukes sitting in his barber chair — There’s been a Lukes barbershop in Kewaunee for nearly 100 years. Lynn Lukes is the third generation carrying on the tradition of cutting hair while conversing with the customers. The shop started by Lynn’s grandfather, and then taken over by his father, is part barbershop part museum.

I look forward to the rest of the journey and photographing the people along the way. I will be returning to the trail on September 2nd and continue the hike west from Lapham Peak Unit of the Kettle Moraine.

To join in the adventure and see what else I find you can follow my Instagram or Facebook Page.

A tree in a meadow — The Lapham Peak unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest is Milwaukee’s playground. There are many hiking, biking, and horse trails as well as the Ice Age Trail running through the park.

By Cameron Gillie