One of the new joys in my life has been meeting and hiking with a group of women in northern Wisconsin. As we arrive at our weekly hike meeting spot I am struck by how beautiful all the women look. They are like a gorgeous flock of birds, hair colors of silver, white, grey and brown all standing and chatting at the mouth of a boreal forest where we will all soon walk. They have lovely, radiant, healthy skin, smiles that reflect the joys and sorrows of rich lives and really great hiking shoes. These women are fit and they share a strong bond of love of the woods and water.

I have been coming to Long Lake Wisconsin my entire life, but we could never tear ourselves away from a day of swimming to go very far, but this new life provides time and so I have ventured to Hayward, Grand View, Seeley, Brule and Copper Falls. I didn’t know about the North Country Trail, a path that begins in North Dakota and takes a hiker all the way to New York. We walked several sections of the trail this summer and marveled at the views of a distant Lake Superior.   We hiked on shiny slippery stones and noticed bright red mushrooms, we walked on country roads past cows who gazed back with mild curiosity at this band of heavy breathing women making their way up a hilly ascent. We climbed up St. Peter’s Dome, the highest point in the Chequamegon National Forest, and tripped over rope-thick roots, slid down the hills of the Birkie ski trails on muddy grass rivers, we walked old railroad beds and roads dotted with summer homes, these were just some of our paths. It was a real treat for a mostly-city girl to hike breathlessly into the woods.

Lunch with a group of 40 plus woman is a sight to behold. A group of “regulars” at Marie’s in Stone Lake peeked in the door only to have to put their fingers in their ears to block the din. The lunchtime conversation is fun and necessary. Many women had previous lives of city life, workplace and neighbors, the camaraderie is vital. We often picnic in the woods or make our way to a local bar or patio for the lunchtime special. The hosts of the walk provide desserts and I will admit to smuggling a cookie home in a napkin like a rare jewel.

I await the winter and hope to take a few hikes with the group and I can only imagine the glory of the woods in winter. I’ll claim my Nordic roots and beef up my winter wardrobe and be ready to go where they lead.

“After stumbling a long time over impossible trails   

you are up on top.   

Hardship didn’t crush you, you trod it   

down, climbed higher.”

Olav Hauge