Isle Royale - Day 6

Beaver dam on the Minong Trail, Isle Royale National Park

Key statistics:
Total miles hiked: 48.2
Total miles Paddled: 0
Total moose seen: 7
​Total foxes seen: 2
Total days with no cell service: 5

The long awaited day to end all days had finally arrived. Even now, I am writing about the hike 24 hours later, as all I wanted to do upon arrival to Windigo was shower, eat, and sleep. This chunk of the Minong is the final push into Windigo and there are no stopping points from Lake Desor to Windigo, leaving an enormous 12.6 miles after a week of hard hiking. The beginning of the hike follows a similar pattern to the day before, with rocky outcropping and up and downs that start you off in a disheartening fashion. Thinking of 12 miles of the same slog as the day before put me in a frustrated mindset. But even so, knowing we had so much distance to cover, we began at a quick pace, pushing the envelope of comfort with a shower and cold drink in Windigo on our minds.

​This last section of the Minong is certainly not as challenging as the Little Todd to North Desor push, but it is also not as quick as the miles in other flatter sections. The day was a combination of everything the island offers: steep craggily ridges that go up and down and put a hurting on your feet, low marshy areas with mud, beaver dams and rock hops, birch and aspen groves with towering white trunks and quick, flat hiking, and wandering meanders around creek beds. The last three miles the trail does not classify as typical Minong and tired hikers just pound out the smooth, clear trail with showers in mind.

With all the hoopla and worry about what this day would bring, I’ll say this... it was everything we expected and doable. However, it will be a long time before I ever want to tackle it again. I would love to go back and tell the park ranger who said not to do it that it was worth the effort at least one time in life. I would like to go and tell all the forums online that it is safe for experienced hikers, but heed the physicality and come prepared for a hurting.

The one and only board walk on the Minong saves you from wading 100's of feet through muck, Isle Royale