Mornin' to everyone interested in satellite imagery of ice-coverage on Wisconsin lakes (and what it means for the future). This is the Wiscampsin Weekly - the email that gets you in the know on the Wisconsin outdoors in 5 minutes or less. New reader? Subscribe here.

This week’s weekly:

• Woman sets FKT on North Country Trail 🏃 

• Black bear spotted 🐻 

• Rare plant found 🌱 

Woman sets record time on North Country Trail

Remember Wiscampsin co-founder Kevin’s FKT (fastest known time) around Lake Winnebago last month? His calves sure do!

He wasn’t the only one setting records out ‘der—a Wisconsin woman just set the FKT on the Wisconsin segment of the North Country National Scenic Trail.

All gas, no brakes:

• Completed the 215-mile trail in 3 days, 3 hours, and 5 minutes, unsupported

• No prior record for a women's unsupported FKT on this trail

• Larson only slept 25 minutes total

Hike ‘til you drop

The North Country National Scenic Trail is the longest Scenic Trail in the country, spanning 4,800 miles across 8 states.

Wisconsin houses a 215-mile section, which just so happens to be close to ‘Scon native Andrea Larson’s home.

Larson, who is the executive director of IRONBULL, a non-profit that promotes outdoor adventure sports, was curious about the North Country’s women’s supported FKT.

But after setting her sights on the women’s supported record of 3 days, 9 hours, she thought: What they hey, I’ll just go for the whole enchilada.

Larson set out to not only beat the women’s supported record, but also beat the men’s supported AND unsupported record.

(Supported = others to carry your food, water, etc. Unsupported = self-supported; you’re carrying everything you need, and usually solo.)

Trouble on the trail

While on the trail, Larson faced a whole litany of troubles that threatened to slow her down.

Filtering muddy water. Navigating an active logging zone. Route finding.

But none was more challenging than sleep deprivation.

Larson decided it was “impractical” to sleep, so, she didn’t.

Carrying only the essentials, she nixed the tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad all together.

In all, she ran off of just 25 minutes of sleep for her whole attempt.

Her starting pack weight was a mere 18 pounds, prioritizing speed over comfort.

Raising the bar

In the end of her grueling march, Larson set a new FKT unsupported record of 3 days, 3 hours, and 5 minutes. Criminy cripes.

This beat the men’s supported record AND unsupported record.

As a woman, Larson highlighted the disparity women face in unsupported adventures such as this.

Though she was solo, she kept safety top of mind and had some means of communication in the event of trouble.

But this wasn’t even Larson’s first foray into FKTs—she also set an FKT on the 310-mile Superior Hiking Trail route in 6 days, 9 hours and 52 minutes.

In the future, she’d like to try some high-elevation trails in Colorado as well as our own Ice Age Trail and Vermont’s Long Trail.

Gettin’ out der

If you’re feeling inspired, check out some of these resources!

• FKTs—website for logging fastest known times (anyone can do ‘em!)

• IRONBULL—non-profit to help get you out ‘der in the great outdoors. Gravel biking, hiking, running events, and more.

• North Country National Scenic Trail—maps, resources, and everything you need to know about this beaut of a trail!

Now get out ‘der!

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Wiscampsin Weekly Poll

62% of you already have some camping reservations in the books - good stuff!

Nuts and Seeds 🌰 

🐻 Watch our for… bear?: The small town of Chenequa, WI had a big visitor stop by Sunday evening. A large black bear came meandering down a road, and a couple of Waukesha ‘Scons caught the fellar on video.

🦋 Moth’s incoming: This year could be another bad year for spongy moths. Last year’s breakout was a record year, with these invasive pests stripping more than 373,000 acres of forests of their foliage. Due to our mild winter, and last year’s dry spring, the moths could be bad again this year unless rains come to dampen their population.

🌱 Rare plant found from a century ago: A volunteer for the DNR's Rare Plant Monitoring Program and a biologist spotted a Maryland senna (Senna marilandica) in southwest Wisconsin recently. The plant has been seen since 1911. Of the 2,366 native plant species in Wisconsin, about 15% are considered rare, meaning they are endangered, threatened, or of special concern.

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Meme of the Week 😂

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