A description of the first part of three for the twelth day of my adventure to Isle Royale National Park during late summer 2011. A sharp pain in my left groin made for an interesting morning at Hatchet Lake Campground, not to mention the arduous climb back to the Greenstone Ridge Trail.
Isle Royale Trip: Alone at Hatchet Lake Campground
Quiet on Isle Royale is rare thing, a treasure to savor when it occurs. Typically, there is always something breaking the silence, be it natural or not. Either the wind is blowing, the waves crashing on the shoreline, the birds singing, the crickets chirping, the mosquitoes buzzing or people chatting. Although the natural sounds are
Isle Royale Trip: Climbing to Ishpeming Point Along the Greenstone Ridge Trail
Typically, fire towers provide spectacular views of the surrounding area, that being the reason for their construction, after all. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the Ishpeming Point tower despite being located at the second highest point on Isle Royale, at least according to the Isle Royale National Park: Foot Trails & Water Routes
Isle Royale Trip: A Restless Night at South Lake Desor
Sleeping in the outdoors can often be a challenge. Strange sounds, things unknown racing/jumping/slithering near your shelter and roots or rocks jutting into the small of your back are just a few things that can prevent a good night’s sleep. None of these issues contributes to my restless early morning at South Lake Desor Campground
Isle Royale Trip: Almost Alone at South Lake Desor Campground
Often the urgency of taking a crap compels one forward along the trail. Although I am quite capable of digging myself a hole somewhere off trail, if a toilet is available within a mile or so, I shall do my best to hold it and put off the sweet relief until the comfort of a
Isle Royale Trip: Some Company While Hiking to the Greenstone Ridge and Beyond
As I look back at Siskiwit Bay for the last time, a hiker suddenly appears hiking along the trail and heading toward the Greenstone Ridge. I fall in line behind him and we start chatting as the trail starts to climb away from the bay. Just a short ways from the bay, the middle-aged couple,
Isle Royale Trip: Beaches of Siskiwit Bay
A headache greets me at the start of my tenth day on the island, ushering in the end of the two-thirds mark of my Isle Royale National Park adventure. Is it possible for a single Foster’s Lager beer to give someone a hangover the next day? How can that be? It is before seven in
Isle Royale Trip: Descending from the Feldtmann Tower to Siskiwit Bay
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
Gear Review: National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map for Isle Royale National Park
A good map is hard to find. Even more difficult sometimes than finding an exceptional woman, dog or automobile mechanic. Luckily, the National Geographic Society is making it a lot easier for backcountry enthusiasts exploring National Parks, National Forests and other popular recreational areas in the United States. Through their Trails Illustrated Maps series, National
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
