Frozen Mauthe Lake

Journal entry #1. My wife and I were in need of at least a small dose of nature so we took an opportunity provided by a sunny day to make our first visit to Kettle Moraine State Forest. 

Mauthe Lake (pronounced "moth-e") is a 70-some acre glacial lake with a two-mile loop trail surrounding it. The Milwaukee River, which also runs very near our house, feeds the lake from the north and exits in the south. 

We walked the trail, which normally would be a brief stroll, took us nearly two hours. This time of year, we are learning, trails can be at once frozen, slushy, snowy, and muddy.

Ice fisherman (an activity still new and bizarre to us) were still on the lake, but based on the forecast, their season is drawing to a close.