A Look At Student Turnover Rates Nationally, Former Wisconsinite Returns Home For 500-Mile Journey, When Politicians' Claims Are Inaccurate

A former Wisconsinite has just finished a 500-mile journey by a combination of biking, kayaking and hiking from St. Croix Falls in Western Wisconsin to Milwaukee. We hear how his “WisconsATHON” went and what it was like to see his home state through a different lens. We take a broader look at the problem of high student turnover rates by exploring nationwide trends. We also discuss how the public handles misleading claims made by candidates and elected officials.

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9 Days And 500 Miles, Wisconsin Native Encourages Finding Adventure In Own Backyard

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Adventure is everywhere, says Wisconsin native and adventurer Eric Larsen, and you don’t need to travel to extreme places to find compelling experiences.

“People just need a little bit of a reminder that, hey, there are some pretty unique opportunities right in your own backyard,” he said.

Photo courtesy of Eric Larsen.

Larsen recently completed a 500-mile journey hiking, biking and kayaking from St. Croix Falls to Milwaukee in what he’s deemed a “WisconsATHON.”

The trip had three rules:
1. It must be human-powered.
2. It must include three different means of travel.
3. It must go border to border.
Beginning Oct. 16 in the northwest corner of the state, Larsen hiked the Ice Age Trail until he reached Rice Lake.

“The Ice Age Trail was pretty incredible,” Larsen said. “Peak fall colors, leaves falling as I was hiking through, so many leaves on the ground that I couldn’t even see the trail in certain areas, that was pretty amazing.”

After Rice Lake, Larsen switched to biking. Central Wisconsin has some of the best road biking in the country, even considering the bad weather and snowstorm encountered along the way, Larsen said.

“All the paved county highways and farm roads and just beautiful areas, rolling through farm fields and woodlots and small towns, it’s pretty amazing,” he said.

Eric Larsen biking in central Wisconsin. Photo courtesy of Eric Larsen.

In West Bend, Larsen transitioned to a kayak for the remainder of the journey to Lake Michigan by way of the Milwaukee River.

“It’s really interesting to be on the river and be surrounded by trees and hear sirens in the background, but still be in this really isolated area,” he said. “I have to say paddling right through downtown Milwaukee was incredible.”

And he did it all in nine days. Alone.

While the solitude could be trying, it also brought a fresh perspective, Larsen said.

“The thing about adventure and getting outside, it gives you an opportunity to kind of disconnect from the hectic pace of our world,” he said. “Being able to focus on one goal and one objective for an entire day and let my thoughts wander, I think was a really incredible thing.”

Eric Larsen kayaking in Milwaukee. Photo courtesy of Eric Larsen.

Larsen, an expedition guide based in Colorado, has traveled to some of the most extreme places around the world, including Mt. Everest and the North and South poles. While those experiences have changed him, they have also given him a greater appreciation for his roots and the community he grew up in, he said.

Photo courtesy of Eric Larsen.

Larsen lives by a basic motto: Have fun and do good.

His trip across Wisconsin wasn’t only to challenge himself physically, but to raise money and awareness for the Riveredge Nature Center’s summer programs, an experience that left a lasting impact on his life when he was growing up.

“Adventure has given me a lot of really great gifts in life, from my perspective and skills and the knowledge that I have learned — and a big part of that was at Riveredge,” he said. “We’re still actively raising money … to help others have the opportunity to go to Riveredge Nature Center summer camps.”

He also hopes his journey will inspire others to seek out adventures.

“There are a million things that you can do basically anywhere and it just takes a little bit of creativity or extra thought or planning, or quite honestly not a lot of planning whatsoever,” he said.

Photo courtesy of Eric Larsen.
A Colorado resident and expedition guide returned to his original state to complete what he’s deemed a “WisconsATHON” adventure. The 500-mile journey has three rules: must be human-powered, include three different ‘sports’, and go border to border. We hear from the adventurer about his journey on foot, by kayak and by bike.