TRIP REPORT: June/July 2022 (Part 2 of 4)

TRIP REPORT--Part 2 of 4.  (Day # 1 and Day # 2 of my 2022 Hiking Trip): I am "proud" to perhaps be the world's slowest hiker. Although I hike EXTREMELY slow--I have no problem hiking very long hiking days. So, that means than I can still cover "long" distances in a single (VERY LONG) day. I have a goal of (in my 60s) hiking across the Island (Windigo to Rock Harbor) in a single day--with a full pack. I have had that goal since 2009. I finally made the attempt this year--at age 60--but (for a variety of reasons) I fell short. I made it only to Daisy Farm from Windigo in a single day (34 miles). I will try again in future years.

However, the key thing is that I had a good time with the attempt. The thing that was the most interesting aspect of the attempt, was the fact that I started my hike (using a headlamp) at 1:30 a.m. and hiked through the night. I was hiking in the dark until I caught the first rays of the sun from the Mt. Desor area.

I wouldn't recommend solo night hikes (on isle Royale) for most people. However, this particular section of trail (Windigo to S. Desor) is fairly easy to follow. It is relatively smooth with limited trip hazards. I have hiked all (or most) of this section of trail probably 10 times before. I also had my phone's GPS running.

Solo night hiking on Isle Royale is extremely serene and peaceful. There are almost zero human-made noises or lights during the overnight hours. Sometimes, I turned my headlamp off--stood still--and just tried to "take it all in". It was exhilarating. It felt like I had Isle Royale all to myself. I heard only a little bit of animal movement overnight (perhaps a wolf in the general Island Mine area). However, I did hear many other types of animal sounds (especially various birds). Most of the time, my mind was focused on "(Oh cool!) I'm all alone in the middle of the night on Isle Royale!". However, I must admit, that there were a few times when my overactive imagination caused me to think, "(Oh CRAP!) I'm all alone in the middle of the night on Isle Royale!".

As I approached South Lake Desor Campground --and was in the general Mount Desor area-- I started to see orange and gold shafts of sunlight poking through the darkness and the trees. For approximately an hour (or more) before dawn, the singing and chirping of the birds started slowly and softly and eventually reached a fairly loud level of activity. It was fun watching (and listening to) the woods transition from darkness to full daylight.

I don't think that I encountered any humans until I reached the general area of the Ishpeming fire tower. It had been a tremendous night and early morning of solitude hiking on Isle Royale.

I continued Day # 1 of my hike as the day unfolded. I hiked past Hatchet Lake junction. I gathered water at a creek past Hatchet Lake (previously marked by me on my GPS on an earlier trip). I continued on past Lake Chickenbone--and continued on the Greenstone Ridge until late evening--when I decided to bring my attempt (to cross the Island in one day) to an early close. (I was having some minor equipment and physical issues and I refused to take any unnecessary risks). So, I slowly dropped down off of the Greenstone Ridge--and came to Daisy Farm as the shadows started to fall. I spent the night at Daisy Farm. I went to Rock Harbor the next morning. I spent the day at Rock Harbor "resetting" and recharging myself and my electronic devices.

The next morning, i set out from Rock Harbor-- just before dawn--with the goal of crossing the island (via the Minong Ridge Trail) in just two days at age 60. (It actually took me three days to travel from Rock Harbor to Windigo via the Minong-- primarily because of rain and slippery trail conditions).