They have done something 9.86 million or so people do each year, visit at least one of Minnesota’s state parks. But four women have been to all of them, and along the way, they enjoyed memories they’ll likely cherish the rest of their lives.
Brenda Petsch, Barb Kroyer, Ellie Smith and Mary Waldschmidt finished up visiting Minnesota’s 68 parks and seven recreational areas this past summer, completing a well-planned series of visits dating back to Jan. 30, 2021. They completed their journey July 20. They range in vintage from 63 to 72 and are all retired from their professional endeavors. Their journeys took them from Lake Bronson State Park in the state’s northwest corner to Beaver Creek Valley State Park near Caledonia. They’ve been to Blue Mounds State Park just north of Luverne to Grand Portage State Park, home of the tallest waterfalls in Minnesota. They climbed 588 steps for a breathtaking view of the Mississippi River Valley.
“Our goal was to hike them all in five years before she (Waldschmidt) turned 75,” Smith said.
Petsch is a New Prague resident and Kroyer resides in Lonsdale. Their cousins, Smith lives in Savage and Waldschmidt is from Randolph. They made a pact to complete the trips together. If one of the quartet didn’t feel up to the trip, the trip was rescheduled.
The women visited 15 state parks in the first year and then took a break. It was during the break, they collectively realized they missed the travel and the time together, Petsch said.
Their aim was to see the...
To see more on this story pick up the October 26, 2023 print edition of The New Prague Times.
Minnesota’s parks: Four women have seen them all
