WALKING THE MORAINE

Most of the snowpack is gone in the Kettle Moraine State Forest near Glenbeulah, WI, U.S.A.  The moraine is nothing more than a very large pile of gravel (glacial drift) pushed up by the last glacial movement in this area about 10-12,000 year ago.

As the glacier retreated, large chunks of ice broke off and were buried in the drift. As temperatures warmed, the ice melted and left deep ravines or potholes in the gravel pile....they came to be known as "kettles" because of their kettle-like shape. Thus the Kettle Moraine area was named.

I have walked these trails for more than 50 years. My dog has personally peed on every tree between the village and Long Lake some 20 miles (32km) away. It's where my ashes will be scattered when I depart this life.