August 18, 2009

The view from Gibraltar.

Gibraltar, in Lodi, Wisconsin

Gibraltar, in Lodi, Wisconsin

Gibraltar, in Lodi, Wisconsin

In Lodi, Wisconsin, about 30 miles north of Madison, where we hiked today.

26 comments:

Rockeye said...

Its a great place for climbing, even though the signs say not to... I've spent many days there doing just that.

Ann Althouse said...

I was too afraid even to stand near the edge!

dave in boca said...

I once did the bike trail from Elroy n.w. through Camp Douglas and the Kickapoo Valley. Except for thirsty flyin' critters after my blood, the perfection of Wisconsin is the Garden of Eden this time of year. Even saw a whooping crane near Baraboo and I envy you up there in Badger Heaven as we await a hurricane down here in Boca.

JAL said...

Wow.

I never knew. I used to think just cows, cheese, and Althouse when I thoughtof Wisconsin.

wv - coaratio
the ratio of correlations

Wince said...

Gee, did Bob Wright prove my earlier comment or what?

EDH said...
I wouldn't be surprised if Mackey's most strident critics never got past the title and Thatcher quote at the top of his OpEd.


The true relevance of the Thatcher quote to Mackey's OpEd is that the Whole Foods approach has worker/consumers spending their own money out of funded, high deductible personal health savings accounts as a way to control costs. Not insurance boards or the government.

MamaM said...

Number three has my heart in this set...beautiful contrasts and composition.

Robert W. said...

Like paintings! Magnifique!!

rhhardin said...

Ohio mountains.

ricpic said...

Full To The Brim

Seen from any height
Peace and plenty
Declares --
It's not the west.

ricpic said...

Oy. Declare, not declares.

Bissage said...

Absolutely phenomenal photos. So much so that I find myself feeling somewhat ashamed that I was ever struck by the fleeting impulse to wish for the inclusion of Barbary Apes.

traditionalguy said...

C'est magnifique! What a great place to raise anything, including children. Thanks for sharing the views of your explorations.

KCFleming said...

When confronted by spectacular views of nature, the Amtrak Trails & Rails guide from the National Park Service is quick to silence your amazement and revery.

He does not hesitate to say something like:
"Gibraltar Rock is a flat-topped butte, an outlier of the Magnesian escarpment, with a thin Platteville-Galena dolomite cap over St. Peter sandstone. Soils are thin, glaciated sandy loams. On the south is a sheer rock face overlooking a large leather-leaf bog and scenic valley. A major portion of the site is a dry mesic forest dominated by red oak and basswood. Cliff communities are mostly open and harbor several species of ferns, pale corydalis, columbine, and cliff goldenrod."

And how rapidly do your eyes glaze over, no longer entranced by the sheer wow-ness of it all, murmuring the magic words of science to yourself, over and over, like a koan:

"A major portion of the site is a dry mesic forest dominated by red oak and basswood.
A major portion of the site is a dry mesic forest dominated by red oak and basswood.
A major portion of the site is a dry mesic forest dominated by red oak and basswood."

Shanna said...

Gorgeous! Makes me want to go check out Wisconsin.

chickelit said...

That was a major party spot in the '70s for locals. I hope that's changed.

I went canoeing on the Wisconsin river with the family on Monday. Despite warm pouring rain, it was still a superb adventure.
Yesterday we went to Milwaukee and visited the Discovery museum and then went out on the Denis Sullivan. It was a perfect day for sailing!

Tonight we're headed to La Crosse to stay with more family until Saturday.

It might be fun to get together for an Althouse meet-up in Madison this Saturday-you two never had a proper reception.

Michael Haz said...

Count me in for a Saturday meet-up in Madison.

@Chickenlittle - Glad to hear about your very cool vacation in Wisconsin.

Best route to LaCrosse is to head west to Prairie Du Chein, then north along the Mississippi River on the Great River Road. Very scenic. Kids can see barges going through locks.

Laura(southernxyl) said...

There are lots of Floridian Althousoids.

A concurrent meetup could be had.

I'm just sayin.

(Hey, maybe we could get Rush to come!)

wv: laters. See you guys laters.

Triangle Man said...

Oh jeeze Althouse, the really nice stuff is supposed to be a secret. You might attract attention to the state. Whatever you do, if you go to the Apostle Islands don't post pics!

Lyle said...

I thought Wisconsin was flatter than that. Huh.

Chip Ahoy said...

Jump!

Original Mike said...

Showing Meade the sights, eh?

Did you visit Suzy the Duck?

Original Mike said...

"Gibraltar Rock is a flat-topped butte, an outlier of the Magnesian escarpment, with a thin Platteville-Galena dolomite cap over St. Peter sandstone. Soils are thin, glaciated sandy loams. On the south is a sheer rock face overlooking a large leather-leaf bog and scenic valley. A major portion of the site is a dry mesic forest dominated by red oak and basswood. Cliff communities are mostly open and harbor several species of ferns, pale corydalis, columbine, and cliff goldenrod.".

Boy, Pogo, I don't even know what to say to someone who rolls his eyes at the sheer majesty that is deep time and what it has produced {ducks}.

KCFleming said...

Sorry for being unclear.

The monotone of delivery and the absence of wonder and joy in the views I found rather funny, and incongruous with the sheer beauty we were viewing.

It was like trying to explain a joke, a 6th grade filmstrip narration to things-beyond-words.

David said...

Ah, Wisconsin in the summer. No better place.

Ann Althouse said...

Email me if you're interested in getting in on the Saturday Madison meetup.

Rockeye said...

Gibralter Rock was more of a party place at one time, but people kept getting drunk and falling from the cliff that Althouse didn't want to go near. Yikes. Its about a 150' drop or so and not even especially good climbing there. I know everyone has Tom-Tom now but its still quite hard to find unless you've already been there. I'm interested in the Saturday meetup, but all I have to wear are shorts...