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Isle Royale - Day 23

7/31/2022

Baby loons on Isle Royale, the image is a little fuzzy, don't want to get too close loons like their space, Tobin Harbor, Isle Royale

Key statistics:
Total miles hiked: 125.5
Total miles paddled: 10.9
Total moose seen: 20
Total foxes seen: 5
Total days with no cell service: 22

After working through the emotional brick wall I hit, today we awoke to a fresh start and tried to think of this as a phase four of the last stage of our month long adventure. We had cloudy skies and took off for Lookout Louise for the 3rd time this month. Once on a rest day, once with our son, and now once with our friends. The third time was the charm for wildlife on this day trip.

Isle Royale - Day 22

7/30/2022

Checking out one of the sea planes from the water, Tobin Harbor, Isle Royale

Key statistics:
Total miles hiked: 123.5
Total miles Paddled: 6.6
Total moose seen: 19
Total foxes seen: 5
Total days with no cell service: 21

Today, we sadly had to put our son back on the ferry back to the main land and home to grandpa. We spent the morning showing him the burnout of Lookout Louise and doing a little bit of paddling on Tobin Harbor.

Isle Royale - Day 21

7/29/2022

View of Rock Harbor from the Rock Harbor Trail, Isle Royale

Key statistics:
Total miles hiked: 121.5
Total miles paddled: 4.6
Total moose seen: 18
Total foxes seen: 5
Total days with no cell service: 20

Today was the best of the best that Isle Royale has to offer. Both of our hikes today covered the rocky terrain that borders the big lake and offers the epic views and cool breezes.

Isle Royale - Day 20

7/28/2022

Key statistics:
Total miles hiked: 113.7
Total miles paddled: 4.6
Total moose seen: 14
Total foxes seen: 4
Total days with no cell service: 19

Today was a light hike and fortunately and the weather had returned to a more expected cooler temperature. We packed up from Daisy Farm and began the flat, sloggy, muddy section. While not a difficulty section, it can be a frustrating section at times. The fun part of today was recreating a picture that we took between father and son six years before when our son was 8.

Isle Royale - Day 19

7/27/2022

The Mount Ojibway fire tower, Isle Royale

Key statistics:
Total miles hiked: 109.3
Total miles paddled: 4.6
Total moose seen: 14
Total foxes seen: 4
Total days with no cell service: 18

Talk about a scorcher! After a morning of moose viewing during breakfast and coffee hour, we took off for a short hike of Daisy Farm. However, with hardly any wind and full sun, the day ended up being the sweatiest, hottest day we’ve ever had on Isle Royale, making the hike much more challenging than it had to be.

Isle Royale - Day 18

7/26/2022

Our family reunited, looking over Rock Harbor from Moskey Basin, Isle Royale

Key statistics:
Total miles hiked: 102
Total Miles paddled: 4.6
Total moose seen: 13
Total foxes seen: 4
Total days with no cell service: 17

Maybe the hardest part of this journey and decision to be gone a month was the separation from our son and family. As always in life, there is never a “good time” to walk out of your routine for a month.

Isle Royale - Day 17

7/25/2022

A young bull moose feeding near sunset, Isle Royale National Park

Key statistics:
Total miles hiked: 102
Total miles Paddled: 4.6
Total moose seen: 14
Total foxes seen: 4
Total days with no cell service: 16

We awoke to absolute downpours and thunderstorms that brought frigid air and continued well into the afternoon. We were thankful for our little cabin and watched frustrated backpackers arrive on the float plane, some arrived with completely overwhelmed looks on their faces. We are sure they did not plan on starting their backpacking adventure during a gully washer rain storm.

Isle Royale - Day 16

7/24/2022

Floating in Rock Harbor, Isle Royale

Key statistics:
Total miles hiked: 102
Total miles paddled: 4.6
Total moose seen: 13
Total foxes seen: 4
Total days with no cell service: 15

Today was a perfect day for Lake Superior paddling. We woke up to a light breeze, blue skies, and gentle water forecasted all day. We immediately decided today was a day for boats. We loaded our gear into the boats and put into Snug Harbor by 9 a.m.

Isle Royale - Day 15

7/23/2022

Our last morning at Malone Bay was a great one, Isle Royale

Key statistics:
Total miles hiked: 99
Total miles paddled: 0
Total moose seen: 13
Total foxes seen: 4
Total days with no cell service: 14

We awoke to a blue sky, full sun day and were anxious to see if our water taxi would arrive as schedule. The precious day had actually experienced gale force winds and the Isle Royal Queen IV had canceled services to the island due to 8 foot swells.

Isle Royale - Day 14

7/22/2022

Watching the surf at Malone Bay, Isle Royale National Park

Key statistics:
Total miles hiked: 99
Total miles paddled: 0
Total moose seen: 13
Total foxes seen: 4
Total days with no cell service: 13

Malone Bay was extremely foggy and cold when we arrived, but the next day brought a bit of sunshine and extremely windy gusts all afternoon. (Later we discovered it had a gale warning and the Queen ferry even canceled.) After a thunderstorm at night and heavy, heavy rain, we were cuddled cozily in our sleeping bags thankful for our foresight to bust our asses to get here to avoid it all.