Wisconsin
Timms Hill
Elevation: 1,951 feet
Hiking Mileage (To Summit): 0.2 miles
Vertical Climb: 130 feet
Hiking Time to Summit: 2 minutes
7th State Completed
September 4, 1999
I really had no intentions to do Timms Hill until the next day. Having conquered Minnesota earlier in the day, I expected to be a little slower at making it into Wisconsin. Earlier in the afternoon I stopped and visited Split Rock Lighthouse on the north shore in Minnesota. Even a speeding ticket (warning, going 65 in a 55 zone) in northern Wisconsin didn't slow me much. The officer was surprised to see that my drivers license doesn't expire until 2025. But as I drove on, it became apparent that I might be able to reach Timms Hill before sundown.
The drive to Timms Hill from the north is pretty remote... Mostly farms and small villages. Finding Timms Hill County Park is very simple. There are signs pointing to Wisconsin's highpoint from State Route 13 as you approach Ogema from the north. The road into the park is a narrow, one-lane road that winds through the hills for not more than a half mile. There is a nice parking area with a picnic shelter and bathrooms. The short hike to the Timms Hill summit is a wide, wood-chip covered trail.
I ran up the trail to the summit, as I was racing to beat the setting of the sun. I arrived in time for having enough light to take pictures. There were several other families also visiting Wisconsin's highpoint. I climbed the tower for the nice view of the area. I also located the benchmark that is under the radio tower.
I couldn't believe that such couch potatoes exist in this world. There were people who were huffing and puffing just to make it up this very short trail.
When driving through Wisconsin, definitely avoid driving anywhere near Wisconsin Dells. It is a huge tourist trap and one major traffic jam. I made the mistake of exiting there to buy a bottle of Pepsi. I was stuck there for about an hour fighting my way through the traffic.
Definitely visit "House on the Rock" just north of Dodgeville. Admission was $16.25 and at least 3 hours minimum are required to adequately visit it. It's hard to explain what it is. Visit its website.
I wasn't very excited about the tour of Miller Brewing in Milwaukee. They don't show or tell you much.
If going to a Brewers' baseball game at County Stadium, purchase the ticket for Section 10, Row 5, Seat 7. In the first inning I got a foul ball off Steve Finley's bat. In the fifth inning, the guy in front of me also got a foul ball.
