2012 Fall Hike

On October 6, 2012, thirty members of the Friends of Van Vliet Hemlocks and of the North Lakeland Discovery Center participated in a classroom discussion and a field trip focusing on glacial geology of Vilas County and of the Van Vliet Hemlocks. Jay Gallagher, DNR Brule Area Forester, provided a very educational classroom presentation on the glacial geology of the area that generated many questions from the interested group. The focus was on the glacial forces that created the unique area of lakes and terrain that is Vilas County and particularly the area in Presque Isle Township. That was followed by a two hour field trip to Van Vliet Hemlocks where the group saw the impact of the glaciation and learned about the impacts on soils that created the hemlock-yellow birch-sugar maple forest and the bogs of Van Vliet Hemlocks. A very light early snowfall helped to make this a fun event. Thanks to Steve Petersen, DNR Forest Superintendent of the NHAL State Forest, for arranging Mr. Gallagher’s participation.