Added by: Pat
Travel to me is a chance to do what only some may have done before. Maybe you follow this blog and have started to read this story because you are one of those adventurists too. Overland Adventures are the ultimate in man and machine partnerships. You need a lot of confidence in yourself and the equipment with you. For this ride on the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail I had a 2014 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk and was pulling a modified Little Guy T@G teardrop trailer.
In the previous months, I lifted this trailer 6”, added off road tires, and a Lock N Roll hitch. All of which add up to a very capable soft overland. I used the word soft, because no rock crawling is involved–just mud and rough rocky roads. Water fording is not out of the question.
HOW TO GET THERE: Backcountry adventure trails are strewn all over the American landscape. For this trip I chose a portion of the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail. Situated in the Midwest, this trail is close to home and was perfect for my week long excursion. The Trans Wisconsin is a backcountry route that starts near the town of Sinsinawa, WI (N42.50.81.05°, W-90.54.47.35°) and travels some 660 miles north to Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands (N46.94.66.71°, W-90.89.10.65°).
I started my journey just west of Wausau (N44.59.35.78°, W-90.80.44.55°) and planned to continue north for 172 miles. A mixture of improved and unimproved gravel roads, sandy and muddy paths, and part of an unimproved fire roads system is the make up of this trip. Most noteworthy heavy rains washed out significant portions of the driving surface. Leaving me with long stretches of soft wet travel. The distance 172 miles on normal roads would only offer 3- 4 hours of driving. That day’s route was an exhausting 6.5 hours of equipment testing, heart throbbing, and at times white knuckle passage, which will lead you through breathtaking inland woods. Picturesque passages down tree covered tunnels of foliage with wildlife sightings a high possibility.
Ready for my nights stay. Sandy Bay campground offered a quiet non-crowded stay. With good neighbors from surrounding states.Yet all is welcome by the fire. Renting water transportation for a venture to the nearby Apostle Islands. With shoreline exploration of Lake Superior a welcome guest. Strewn from Red Cliff south.There are many an opportunity to absorb all the local flare offered by the region.
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