IOU Mars Under the Stars Haloween Party...

By, Michelle Duregger

Yellow Banks State Park, Oct. 30, 7:30:
Stars sparkled down on a fairy, a bunny rabbit, and many other of the Iowa Outdoors Unlimited rabble. Two telescopes pointed expectantly up at the night sky as members wandered back and forth alternating between sky search and grabbing a bite to eat around the various mini grills. A pack of four or five pet dogs, a couple with blinking collars, frolicked in the chilly night air.

Sitting around the roasting food, nibbling here and there, we exchanged scary stories. Some had noth’in (like me), but others had tales of haunted houses they’d stayed in, a haunted theatre that one works in.

The night was a success. After several members looked for Mars, suddenly one sleeping-bag clad blob shouted, “I found it!” I could not see who made the discovery, but quickly, others gathered around wrapped in various other blankets or toughing it with just jackets. The next few minutes were ones of “Ohhh cool…” and “It looks like a white dot…”
Wait...isn’t Mars supposed to be the red planet? Guess you can’t see that from here.

Next, Sara and Melissa flattened out on the dewy grass in their sleeping bags and most of the others followed suit. We stayed there for a while, staring at the sky, yelping in glee when we saw a shooting star. The night was so peaceful; the stars were like a glow-in-the-dark splatter painting…there were so many.

Next, four of us packed up our camping gear and started our trek to the camping site at about 10-ish. The path was eerily dark and after checking out a few sites, we settled on one that was well stocked with wood. Lighting a small fire we sat around its much appreciated warmth and chatted while the night sounds played around us. Coyotes sang uncomfortably close to camp (it was probably very far away, but on Halloween night everything is close by). My Rottwieler mix, Tipper, kept the night cheery by finding sticks (almost logs) and hitting Lee with them to entice him to throw them for her. Soon one by one our group trickled away from the fire and wandered to their tents.

The night passed quickly…at least for me. I awoke in my little blue lopsided pup tent (I didn't quite know how to put it up) and began packing my stuff, feeding the hungry dog, and getting hot cider water ready. Ken made the fire. The other two were last to wake but quickly set to packing their equipment as well. Hiking back to the cars was like rediscovering one's surroundings after waking from a kidnapping. The trail was new since we’d walked down it in the dark. :)

What a way to spend Halloween! The good company of IOU members and friends out in the chilly October night, gleefully picking out stars in the inky sky, was the way to go!

Members in attendance: Michelle, Sara, Amanda, Melissa, Emily, Ken, Lee, and Doug.

IOU Effigy Mounds National Momument and Wyalusing State Park...

By Sara Hollerich

October 7 - 9

Wyalusing State Park (http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/parks/specific/wyalusing/ ) and Effigy Mounds National Monument (http://www.nps.gov/efmo/ ) are both located near Prairie Du Chien Wisconsin. Wyalusing State Park is a beautiful little park located on the river bluffs of the Mississippi River on the Wisconsin side. It hosts a cadre of different activities for outdoor enthusiasts. It hosts a great trail system, camping, caving, and a star observatory.

We arrived late Friday night and played Trivial Pursuit by lamplight. It was very cold and we had to bundle up just to sit around the table. I even made Brody (my dog) sleep in my sleeping bag with me to help keep me warm that night. We were supposed to be visiting during the height of the fall color, but were about two weeks too early. I would have thought the chill in the air would have helped the leaf coloration process along a bit faster, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles. We will have to remember for next year.

The next day we went over to Effigy Mounds which is a great National Monument celebrating the ancient Native American society of mound builders. At one time most of eastern Iowa was peppered with these mounds. The mounds were either conical, linear, or shaped like animals. Over time farmers moved into the area and didn’t realize what a precious find they had right at their feet and dismantled most of the mounds. By the time Effigy Mounds was created most of the mounds had been destroyed.

We hiked along the river bluff and looked at several of the mounds. They were everywhere. It is amazing to think that the Native Americans moved these tons of dirt using baskets and digging with primitive shovels. I imagine that there are several rocks in the soil around there but I could be wrong. I just can’t imagine the struggle and the toil that went into each mound. It just amazes me. I went to Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Illinois a few years ago and the mounds there were huge (http://www.cahokiamounds.com/cahokia.html ). Effigy Mounds were not that large but they were still really cool. We only managed to make it to the north part of the park the first day before heading back to Wyalusing to meet up with the rest of the group who was arriving Saturday afternoon.

On the way back we stopped and tasted a bit of the local wine and took a quick tour of Cabela’s for a few creature comforts – namely some warmer gloves for the night for me.

There was a program that night at the star observatory at Wyalusing. It was probably one of my favorite parts of the trip. So after a wonderful dinner (if I do say do myself) of grilled chicken wrapped in roast beef with a bit of pesto we headed off to the program. I particularly enjoyed the star observatory. It was a clear night – not a cloud in the sky. We missed the indoor part of the presentation but who wants to be listening about stars inside when you can be looking at them outside. It was wonderful. The interpreters had these cool green lasers that would show a trail right up to the star. You could totally see the constellations that they were pointing out. Some of the constellations I had tried and tried to see but could never see before. I really would love to have one of those lasers. You must be careful with them however, they can blind people so you need to be careful.

They had several local astronomers there with their fancy telescopes. It was so cool! We got to look at some galaxies and planets – we saw Neptune, Uranus, and Mars. I think a couple even got lucky and got to see Venus. When you look through a telescope you start to see starts all over the place you couldn’t see before.

After star gazing a few of us took a walk around the bluff. The campground we stayed in was right on top of the bluff and you could see the town below. It was really pretty – all the lights. I would highly suggest camping at Wyalusing if you’re ever in the area. However, we had a few too many tents for our small campsite. If you want to put up more than two tents I would suggest getting more campsites.

Most people had to leave early the next morning but Doug, Ken and I stayed and played a bit longer. We slept in for a while then drove back over to Effigy Mounds and did the Marching Bears hike. That is the hike most people think of when they think of Effigy Mounds. It was a ways back and we got a bit lost on the trail system – which was cool because we got to see parts that not everyone would get to see (we were still on the trail but just went the wrong direction). It was the Marching Bears Trail. It was called the Marching Bears because there are several bears and some birds shaped mounds. The pattern they are laid out in reminds me the big dipper or ursa major. Just a coincidence. I don’t know…

Once the hike was completed we started back and made a quick side trip to Spook Cave. This little cave is owed by a local family. Many years ago a small hole was located in the side of a hill. Out of that hole they heard spooky sounds. The owner decided to take some dynamite, blow a hole in the wall and see where the sounds were coming from. Many sticks later and many tons of rock he had excavated a small cave. They then built a small dam and flooded the entrance of the cave and take visitors on tours. It is quite interesting but I was left the desire to explore the back of the cave – where the water didn’t reach on my own sometime.

There were some cool forms inside the cave – bacon stalactites, soda straws, and a “mud waterfall” I don’t remember what it is really called but it was pretty cool. We even got to see a few bats. How cool is that.

All in all it was a really fun trip.

Members in attendance: Anna W., Ken H., Sara H., Emily V., Doug P., Melissa R. and Carolyn S.