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I present you an invitation to slow down, relax, and enjoy. I have had 13 hiking trips on Isle Royale. It wasn't until near the end of my fourth trip that I finally realized that I probably needed to "slow down"--hike fewer miles --and "surrender" myself to the pace and the "rhythms" of nature and the pace and rhythms of the Island. As I slowed down, I started to become more "in tune" with everything that was going on around me at Isle Royale. I also started to relax more and enjoy more. Some people have (whimsically) called this experience "living on Island time".
I stopped pushing myself to hike "big mileage" and to see as much of the Island as possible on each trip. I became more comfortable with low mileage days and days with no significant hiking at all. (Now, I have times when I stay at the same campground for three consecutive nights--and I enjoy it). I stopped rushing down the trail to grab a shelter or to secure a better campsite. I stopped racing against the clock and stopped racing against my fellow hikers. I became more content with the philosophy of "I get there when I get there". As I slowed down--as I relaxed--and as I became more "in tune" with the Island and my surroundings--I started to see more, hear more, experience more, and enjoy more. I started seeing more wildlife. I started to see more flowers and plants. I became better able to "sense" when wildlife was around or when the weather was going change. I enjoyed the solitude more. I enjoyed the company of other people more. I enjoyed the Island more. I would invite you to consider slowing down when you are at Isle Royale. I would invite you to hike fewer miles and stop racing to your destination. I would invite you see fewer places per trip--but to experience infinitely more when you are at those fewer places. Consider turning off the music (or podcast). Perhaps chat less with your hiking partners as you go down the trail. Allow yourself to relax and become more "in tune" with your surroundings and with the "pace" of the Island. Ultimately, everyone is entitled to "Hike Your Own Hike". You can hike as far and as fast as you want. You can talk all day and listen to as many electronic devices as you choose. You can try to see the whole Island in one week. All of that is is your right. Yet, I would still invite you to at least slow down for a day or two on Isle Royale--and "see what happens" when you slow down. Enjoy--whatever you chose to do.
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A STORY: I was walking across this bridge on the way down to Chippewa Harbor. (This is a photo of only part of the bridge.) I was about a third of the way across the bridge (about the point shown in the middle of this photo) and a bull moose (that I didn't know was feeding there)--raised up out of the water about 75-100 feet in front of me (past where the bridge disappears in this photo). He was on the viewer's RIGHT hand side of the bridge. BOTH I (and he moose) were extremely startled by the unexpected encounter. First, he started to run away (to the viewer's right)--but apparently didn't like his escape route. So, he then ran back toward the bridge (the viewer's left). Then, he ran about 25 feet TOWARD me (not charging--just looking for escape). Then, he spun around and ran away toward the top of the photo (beyond the view shown in this photo--and finally ran off to the viewer's right)--- and he was gone . Nothing is more "exciting" than standing (and trying to keep one's balance) on a bridge like this one and watching a startled moose look for an escape route (and you might be in his way). If ever I needed "Depend" undergarments on a hike--this was probably it.  |
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Jon Prain ("The Isle Royale Guy") has made 18 trips to Isle Royale. He shares his insights and opinions in this blog. Archives
March 2024
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