July 30 - August 2, 2009 - Isle Royale National Park

We welcomed friends Tamara and Andy Byerly today, in Rock Harbor, the 12-mile long channel that runs parallel to the island’s southeastern side. They arrived on the Isle Royale Queen from Copper Harbor for a few days of wilderness experience.










We loaded their gear aboard and headed past Rock Harbor Lodge, the island’s only accommodation other than camping sites. A loon was fishing just offshore. Isle Royale is home to 100 nesting pairs of loons. Normally solitary creatures, we saw a flock of ten swimming together.







Most of Andy’s gear was fancy photo equipment, which he quickly set up on deck in Tobin Harbor. This area has been a favorite of visitors since the early 1900s, when this all-weather harbor was the site of many summer homes. Visitors would come by steamer from Duluth for the summer, and we could see some remaining cottages, whose occupants have been granted life leases from the Park Service.











That afternoon, we dinghied to shore for the hike uphill to Lookout Louise, about 800 feet above the lake level.

















The beautiful rocky outcroppings made for good exercise and photo opportunities, this photo taken by Andy.


















At the top, we looked out on one of the most spectacular vistas in all of Isle Royale.











We could see all the way to Ontario, Canada from here. Way below was a powerboat that had worked its way into the bay to anchor.











The trail featured many interesting flora and these mushrooms.


















The next day, it was up anchor and off to one of the area’s most beautiful harbors, Chippewa Harbor, on the south shore of Isle Royale. Its only access is through a narrow channel from the greater lake, which makes it well protected in its variety of anchorages.









We worked our way to the most inner harbor through a narrow, rock-walled channel. We anchored inside, all by ourselves for the night.











Of course, we had fine dining on the aft deck.











The wind died, and we enjoyed the view of perfectly mirrored shoreline, followed by a quiet night’s sleep.

The next day, the winds had picked up, and we hurried to get under way to miss the high waves that were predicted. We were a bit too late, and once more were surfing down 7-8 footers on our way back to Rock Harbor. We docked once again at Caribou Island, and the next morning dropped our friends Tam and Andy back at Rock Harbor dock, for their ferry ride back to Copper Harbor. A good time was had by all!