My lunch at the Feldtmann Tower is short, but sweet. The late start due to my extensive visit of Rainbow Cove, and its associated moose encounters, made certain of that. Since it is mid-afternoon already, and there are more than five miles to Siskiwit Bay, I cannot afford to take my time. The constant chirps
Isle Royale Trip: Climbing to an Outstanding View from Feldtmann Tower
Spending nearly the entire morning evading moose on Rainbow Cove has cost me a considerable amount of available daylight. Making up that amount of time is nearly impossible, but my choices are few as it is imperative I reach Siskiwit Bay campground before the veil of darkness falls. No matter how you cut it, I
Isle Royale Trip: Moose of a morning at Rainbow Cove
It is a cold and foggy morning at Feldtmann Lake. Despite the less than ideal conditions, I am overjoyed the bone-chilling cold of the previous morning at Washington Creek campground does not make a reappearance. Hopefully, the weather gets warm enough to finally drink down that Foster’s beer stuck in my backpack since leaving Windigo
Isle Royale Trip: Exploring Rainbow Cove While Staying at Feldtmann Lake Campground
Finally, after walking through seemingly endless forest, I arrive at the Feldtmann Lake Campground. Instead of diving right in and following the spur trail to the campground, I continue along the main trail until I reach the farthest end of the campground. I plan to work myself back, examining each campsite as I go, instead
Isle Royale Trip: Arriving at Feldtmann Lake
The expansive coniferous forest in Isle Royale‘s southwestern corner, uninterrupted except for a wetland surrounding Grace Creek, is my destination for the remainder of the day as I journey to Feldtmann Lake. Grace Creek Outlook’s view reminds me of just how far I need to travel before the day is finally done. And, as impressive
Isle Royale Trip: The Climb to Grace Creek Outlook Along the Feldtmann Lake Trail
Brrrr! C-c-c-old, very c-c-c-old. The morning of my eighth day on Isle Royale is absolutely freezing. Or, at least, very close to it. Sometime in the night, I put on nearly all my clothes, just as I did the night before. Even fully ensconced in the typically warm-enough Highlite sleeping bag, with almost every piece
Isle Royale Trip: A Wrinkle in My Plans and Other Events at Windigo Ranger Station
Good-byes are always difficult. My rest day at Windigo is full of good-byes. Good-bye to the Minong Ridge, good-bye to the cohort I hiked with from McCargoe Cove, and good-bye to half of my opportunities to see a moose and/or wolf. I think about these things while I wolf down my lunch back at my
Isle Royale Trip: Rest Day at Windigo Ranger Station, Part One
Rest days are for rest. And, plenty of it. Unfortunately, they are for chores too. And I have plenty of those too on my only rest day at Washington Creek Campground. The morning of the only rest day on my journey across the Isle Royale is bitterly cold. Or, at the very least, well below
Isle Royale Trip: My First Night at Washington Creek Campground
The Minong Ridge Trail is over. Completed. Done. Kaput. Now only the Feldtmann and Greenstone Ridge Trails are left for the final week of my Isle Royale Trip. After a morning of ascents and descents, followed by an afternoon of repeated ridges overlooking beaver-created wetlands, I finally make it to the Washington Creek Campground. It
Isle Royale Trip: Inching My Way Towards Washington Creek along the Minong Ridge Trail
The constant ups-and-downs of the Minong Ridge Trail works up quite an appetite. And with a resupply package soon to arrive in Windigo (or so I surely hope), almost anything in my rapidly shrinking food bag is fair game. First up is a peanut butter and blackberry jelly sandwich, on a piece of multigrain round
