Road Trip 2012: Monday 9/17

Cold and rainy.  That was the order for most of the day.  We were able to get a hike in the morning, but by noon, the cold and rain set in.  Compared to the 78 degree temperatures yesterday, today's high was about 55.  Yuk.

Back to the morning hike.  This area along the Mississippi is heavily forested with oak, hickory, and walnut hardwoods.  This region escaped glaciation from the last glacial period, so many of the high sandstone bluffs remain.

Trempealeau River in foreground with the Mississippi in the distance.

Native Americans lived here at least 7,000 years ago.  They were part of the Woodland Culture, and they participated in mound building.  There are several of the mounds still evident in the park.  It is not known what the exact purpose of the mounds were.  They could have been built for religious or ceremonial reasons.  Some contained burial remains, while other do not.  The mounds in Perrot State Park are not large, but they are obvious.  The Trempealeau area is rich in the Hopewell Mound Culture.

Hopewell type mounds

If you are really interested in the study of Mound Cultures, there is a great website hosted by the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse detailing the Archeology in Trempealeau.

Part of the morning hike was on a trail along a sandstone bluff through the hardwood forest.  I saw the largest Black Walnut tree I have ever seen, as well as rock shelters of eroded sandstone that the Woodland Indians used as temporary protection.

Black Walnut tree with a circumference over ten feet

Rock shelter in a sandstone bluff

The rain stopped and the sun came out about 3:00 in the afternoon.  Dave Wright took Ann fishing with him, so I decided to take a hike. Actually Ann wanted me to go with her husband, but I didn't have a Wisconsin license, and I didn't want to just sit in the canoe and paddle for Dave.  I told Ann she married him for better or worse.  I decided to climb Brady's Bluff.  The view of the Mississippi was fantastic.  It was well worth the two hour hike up and down.

Looking upstream on the Mississippi from Brady's Bluff.

Looking downstream on the Mississippi from Brady's Bluff.

The day ended with dinner at the Hotel Trempealeau with Dave's brother Jeff and best friend Dennis.  It was a great time.  Tomorrow we head upriver to Merrick State Park.

Later.........