Lost in the woods — over lunch

In an attempt to squash a pretty serious case of cabin fever, I’ve been looking for opportunities to get outside and do something active besides shoveling snow. In the warmer months I try to go running or bicycling over my lunch hour when my schedule permits, so I started to wonder — what could I do outside in the winter time?

Fortunately for me, Bader Rutter’s Brookfield offices sit in a rather unique campus called Bishop’s Woods. Bishop’s Woods is a true dichotomy — a suburban location set against an urban backdrop with a rural feel to it. I’ve often wondered, what’s in those woods lying so ominously to our east (ironically the same direction as downtown Milwaukee, only twelve or so miles away)?

So one day after a recent snow storm, I dusted off my snowshoes and decided to use my lunch hour to get some exercise and go exploring. Heading outside, I could hear the freeway (I-94) to my right, so I headed left. I shuffled down a gulley between two neighboring buildings and over a frozen creek and then stopped. As I looked around, all I could see was trees and snow. I could have been in a forest in the middle of Alaska as far as I was concerned.

Turns out, Bishop’s Woods actually is in the woods. I saw some deer tracks to my right and decided I would follow them. Grinding my way up-hill, I saw another building off in the distance.  The building looked familiar and as I approached I realized it was the building that Bader Rutter used to occupy before moving across the way a few years back. 

I plunged back down through a small valley and over a fallen tree, still following the deer tracks and hoping to find another sign of life in this desolate winter playground. Looking at my watch, I realized that my hour was almost up so I decided that I should probably head back. Figuring I could find a quicker return route than the way I’d came I meandered on.

Unfortunately my plan did not go as I had intended. Reminiscent of a scene from the Blair Witch Project, I found myself walking aimlessly through the woods not really knowing exactly how to get back to my starting point. Eventually I found my original set of tracks and started to follow my own path back. 

Then suddenly, about a quarter of a mile from our building, I looked over and saw my friend the deer, about fifty yards away and looking directly at me. We gave each other a quick glance then both went our separate ways.

After a quick shower in the locker room I was back at my desk tired but refreshed and only a few minutes late. I snapped a few pictures along the way just to prove I’m not really an overzealous copywriter trying to fabricate a story.