TRIP REPORT: August 2021 (Part 3 of 5)

TRIP REPORT 2021 (Part # 3): "THE ART OF THE NAP".

For many people, (including myself), a typical Isle Royale day looks something like this: 1) Wake up. 2) Eat food and hydrate. 3) Pack up the stuff at the shelter or campsite. 4) Hike or paddle until late afternoon or early evening. 5) Set up camp. Get water. Cook a meal. 6) Go to sleep. 7) Repeat the same thing tomorrow (and the day after that--and the day after that).

I had every intention of following that pattern for my 2021 sixteen-day hiking trip to Isle Royale. I planned to hike about 150+ total miles and see every trail accessible campground on the Island in one trip. (This was my 15th trip to Isle Royale). There were many planned 10 to 16 mile hiking days. HOWEVER, I experienced some significant gastro-intestinal problems on my first full day on the Island (and some symptoms lasted a least a week).

So, I changed my plans and hiked only about 40 total miles in 16 days. My typical hiking day was just 4-6 miles in length. At four of the campgrounds, I spent 2-3 nights instead of just one. On many hiking days, I was in camp by late morning or early afternoon.

Thus, on this trip, I perfected -- "The Art of the Nap". I also became much more skilled at just "hanging out" and "relaxing". I would invite others to also consider perfecting these wonderful (but seldom utilized) skills.

In 2021, utilizing these skills was essentially forced upon me. I felt very ill on my first full day of Isle Royale backpacking in 2021 (The second day of my trip). It took me nearly 9.5 hours to hike the 6.7 miles from McCargoe Cove to Todd Harbor. I was losing bodily fluids in a significant manner (due to my gastro-intestinal challenges). Almost anytime that I sat down to take a break--I ultimately would fall asleep and take an unplanned nap. I probably took about 5-6 unplanned short naps on that first full day (Day # 2 of this year's trip).

I made it to Todd Harbor in the late afternoon or early evening, and I felt a bit better than I had felt while on the trail. However, I decided to stay an extra day at Todd Harbor in order to rest, recuperate, and rehydrate. The first night in Todd Harbor, I spent the night sleeping in my camping hammock. The next morning, I moved into a shelter at Todd Harbor. I also got in two naps (2-3 hours in length). I was starting to perfect the "Art of the Nap". It is also amazing how having occasional diarrhea can motivate you to stay close to camp and just "hang out" and "relax". While I DID take some small hikes around the greater Todd Harbor campground (and I did chat with some wonderful people)--I was usually no more than a few minutes away from an outhouse. (In case the diarrhea resumed).

The next day, I hiked 4.1 miles to Hatchet Lake. I was there by about midday. I was set up early and had my water filtered. I got inside my camping hammock to test if I had it set up correctly and that it wouldn't slip or fall. I fell asleep during the hammock test--and experienced a couple-hour afternoon nap. Overall, I was starting to feel better, so I hung out and chatted with people a bit more today. For the third day in a row--I was napping, "hanging out", and relaxing. A pattern was developing.

The next day, I hiked to West Chickenbone. It was approximately an 8-mile hike (my longest of the trip). It was hot. There were blue-green algae problems at Chickenbone (so I got water at a creek between Hatchet and Chicknbone). I took long breaks and chatted with people along the way--and as I filtered water. I got to West Chickenbone mid-evening. So, no nap happened on that day.

The next day, I hiked to Lake Richie. I was there by early afternoon. I was set up fairly early. I chatted with groups and individuals. I took a brief nap--but mostly hung out and relaxed.

The next day, I traveled to Chippewa Harbor for a two-day stay. (See Trip Report --Part # 2). I hung out and relaxed with lots of people. I took 2-3 naps.

I next spent three wonderful days in a shelter at Moskey Basin. I pretty much relaxed for much of my time there. I chatted with many interesting people. I even accepted a dinner invitation from a wonderful family in the shelter next door. I got in 2-3 naps per day--except on day # 1 at Moskey. On Day # 1, I only had one nap. (After all, I did hike 6.2 miles that first day. I initially set up my hammock at a tent site--and then moved to a shelter and set up again when someone left their shelter in the late afternoon. I only had time for one nap on that first day! )

At Moskey Basin, it was so relaxing being in a shelter by the lakeshore (listening to the waves and wildlife) as I drifted in and out of sleep throughout the three days. I would get up early, watch the sunrise and then eat a light breakfast. I would then go back to sleep. I would get up a couple of hours later and have a second light breakfast or brunch (as I watched beavers and mergansers)--and then I would nap again. I would wander around and talk to people in the middle of the day--then nap once more in the middle or late afternoon. I was becoming a napping machine!

Next, I spent two days at Daisy Farm. I had a shelter both nights. I chatted with lots of people at Daisy Farm. I hung out and relaxed for much of the two days. One day, I hiked to Mt. Ojibway. Yet, I managed to squeeze in one nap per day while at Daisy Farm. Napping was now a firmly entrenched habit!

On Day # 14 of the trip (full day # 13), I hiked to Three Mile Campground. Once again, I had a shelter. It was a cold and windy day--with some light mist or light rain at times. What could be better on a cold, damp, and dreary day than getting all snug under a down quilt and sleeping for much of the mid to late afternoon? I had finally perfected "The Art of the Nap"!

On Day 15 (full Day # 14), I hiked to Rock Harbor early in the morning and was in a Rock Harbor shelter by 8:55 a.m. I hung out and chatted with many people in my nearly 24 hours at Rock Harbor. I had not showered in 15 days. So, I purchased TWO shower tokens. I had the water set about as hot as it would go. So, I had a very HOT and relaxing 10-minute shower. I put on clean clothes and some very comfortable "camp shoes". I had THREE hot meals at the Greenstone Grill. (A great change from my 15 days of trail food). While at Rock Harbor, I had some of the best conversations of my trip. I didn't get a nap that day--but I was now earning my Ph.D. in relaxation and "hanging out". I left the Island the next morning.

MORAL OF THE STORY: It is perfectly O.K. to not hike or paddle all day --every day when you are at Isle Royale. Napping, relaxing, and "hanging out" can be some really great Isle Royale pastimes. (Pastimes which are enjoyed by far too few visitors to the Island--because we typically want to stay awake, keep moving, and see as many things as we possibly can in our Isle Royale trips). Frankly, anyone can hike or paddle all day--every day. That is the easy part. It is much more difficult to force oneself to NOT travel all day -- and to just hang out, relax, and nap.

I am glad that I perfected those skills at Isle Royale in August 2021.