Isle Royale 2014

 A few weeks ago Super Y and I did a father/son trip to Isle Royale National Park. This trip was similar to the one G Man and I did two years ago but took place on the opposite side of the island. This time we started our short backpack trip from the northeast end at Rock Harbor. Unlike the south end, the north is quite a bit more "settled" with a lodge, store, and restaurant, which we took full advantage of before we headed out on our second day of the trip.

The Sleeping Giant ...Canada

Marsh Marigold is really pretty this time of year

One of the buildings in Rock Harbor was labeled "guest house, public welcome" so we went in and built a fire

 

3 sided shelters on the island are awesome 

U R Here

  The boat ride from Grand Portage to Rock Harbor takes so long we planned to stay the night there and spend the remainder of our day having a look around. We had a good time exploring around all the buildings, the visitor center, and did short loop hike in search of a moose or wolf. For dinner we ate at one of the two restaurants both under the same roof but divided by a wall with an open entryway. To the left was burger and fries, on the right was fish and steak. We chose the burger and fries side, and enjoyed or last non-dehydrated meal for the next few days. The first night was damn cold somewhere in the high 30's F. I was glad to have my down jacket that I was thinking would just be dead weight while I prepared the for the trip days earlier. I was also glad Super Y's sleeping bag kept him warm enough that I didn't have to give up the jacket in the middle of the night so he could stay warm. My bag was only rated to about 50deg F and I slept with every piece of clothing I had, minus a rain jacket and 1 extra pair of socks and underwear and was still cold.

side trip to Suzi's cave

Fishin' on the big lake at Daisy Farm

strange bugle shaped moss stuff

The sun finally came out before it went down 

 Day 2 was cold and the skies threatened us with rain all day. Somehow we manged to miss all but a few drops about mid day. After talking with others later in the day about how they were drenched with large downpours,  it seams we lucked out. My original plan was to do short hikes between camps, making it easier on my young lad. From Rock Harbor the plan was to camp at Three Mile located right next to Lake Superior the second night. As the name suggests it's only 3 miles from Rock Harbor but when we got there it didn't have a lot to offer other than a shelter and a nice view of the lake along with a stiff wind. Y was really amped to do some fishing on an inland lake but no trail would get us close enough for him to access a lake on this day. He decided  he wanted to keep going to our day three endpoint another 4+ miles down the trail at Daisy Farm so he would have the time to go fishing the next day. I was impressed, two years ago when I went with G Man at age 9, three to four miles was the most he would do for the whole day with a lot of urging on my part. Super Y on the other hand (almost 9) knocked out almost 8 miles like it was nothing, and had the drive to do an additional 2 after dinner the same day.

Lunch on the Green Stone Ridge with a view of The Sleeping Giant 

This area looked so perfect for a moose.....we didn't see any the whole trip

Carnivorous plants  

It was warm out side but the lake was absolutely freezing 

   Day three made all the cold and rain from the previous days a distant memory. It was  picture perfect with a light wind, tons of sun, temps in the high 70's and low humidity. That day we headed north to the Green Stone Ridge and some inland lakes armed with lunch and fishing poles. Unfortunately the fishing did not work out. The lakes we had in mind were either too shallow for fish or surrounded by swamps making access very difficult unless you're a moose. We still had a good time tromping around the woods following moose trails, relaxing on the Green Stone Ridge with a bowl of macaroni and cheese and taking in an amazing view from a fire tower.

Back handspring 

Was running super low on fuel....used candle and pop can to heat up dinner...it worked 

Home Sweet  Home

  Day 4 was time to head back to Grand Portage. The boat picked us up at about 8:30 am leaving us no time to enjoy what was going to be another perfect day on the island. The boat ride back was nice and smooth and could be enjoyed from the open deck at the stern and bow. We spent the next 5 hours relaxing and talking with others about their experiences on the island before getting in the van and driving home. I have one more father/son trip like this planned for Big D next year when he turns 9 .....looking forward to it.

   

Best Laid Plans

Last Friday I headed north for a long weekend on the shore of Lake Superior. Long story short...

Vandy and I stopped to ride the beach at Park Point. This would be the only ride of the weekend due to a large amount of snow that would come a few hours later

Does this look cold? That was rhetorical , fuck yeah it's cold

Several hours of white knuckle diving in a snow storm and we were at our hotel in Grand Marais 

Yeah we're wimps for not camping.

We met Boney and Mr Ness the following morning....They are NOT wimps

Inside of their tent

Cooking breakfast .....for a while... stove issues :-( 

If you can get past the brutal cold and wind this time of year it's beautiful

Devil Track..  via snowshoe....classic

Due to a late start, we rappelled  Barrier Falls at night....A first for me

Almost back to the vehicles.   4.5 hours of snowshoeing.  Time for pizza at Sven and Oles, another north shore classic

     By Sunday morning the temps were brutally cold. Boney and Mr Ness shared our room instead of suffering outside. Vandy and I packed up early and headed home while the other guys did one more hike. Sometimes things don't go as planned, I would have preferred to camp out, ride my bike more and not be so flippin' cold.                          Until next time...............    D Rider out

Gravel Conspiracy , Laurential Divide

At the last minute I chose to ride the Krampus, it/I did very well at keeping a good pace and was a joy to ride the whole weekend.....especially for what I had planned 

 A couple weeks back I headed to Minnesota's far north for the forth time in four weeks to participate in The Garvel Conspiracy's  Laurential Divide  race/ride. To say I was a little burned out on traveling is an understatement. It's not being away and in the moment that is hard, it's the unpacking and packing during the week that's a bitch. If I could, I'd just stay up there for an extended period with my wife and kids and play, but work, bills, and chores demand that I come home in between the fun.

rolling out of town

Flat, a bunch of us decided to wait for him to change it and take a little break

 September 2013 was the second running of the three day stage race that pivoted on the small town of Grand Marais Minnesota. Last year was such a great experience I knew I would be back for more if Mr Stamper was so inclined to host the event again. This year was a week earlier which can make a big difference in weather (cold) when you go that far north.  It was also the same weekend as the Chequamegon 40, which pales in comparison in difficulty, scenery, and solitude. Like last year the race started and ended in Grand Marais, but that would be the only thing that stayed the same. The routes were different and thankfully shorter at  52,85, and 62 miles as opposed to 47, 125,and 115 miles.

One of many overlooks on the way

  The first overnight was spent at the hotel/casino in Grand Portage. The second night was back in Grand Marais with most of the group staying at the municipal campground. Each night after the ride the whole group of 20 something gathered for dinner. Due to a broken pipe or something of the like, our first dinner was outside at the casino RV campground. Most of us were a little pissed after descended upon the restaurant, mouths drooling with visions of heaping plates of food filled from an endlessly supplied buffet line, only too see the RESTAURANT CLOSED sign. Plan "B", everyone go to the only other food source in town, and stock up on anything and everything for a gas station pot luck. This turned out to be one those times when we metaphorically made chicken soup out of chicken shit, it was perfect. We had every manor of junk food, 3-2 beer, energy drinks, steaks,carrots, hot dogs, and a nice camp fire.

Gas station pot-luck

Just my bike and shadow to keep me company the rest of day 2

 The next day was set for a nice 85 miler. I rode with the group for the first 10-12 miles and flatted. This is right where I wanted to be, alone. I like riding with old, new and potential friends but sometimes it's nice to be by yourself, undistracted, free from chatter, outside thoughts and gossip. I typically ride by myself, not by choice but situation, (family life... you take what's available). This solitude for me is about reflecting on life, rejuvenation, and letting my mind run free to plan and create new ideas I would like to accomplish. I not only cherish this time I need it or I get grumpy. Enough with all the deep thoughts shit....  At the point of the last rider passing me is where I took my detour from the written route. I was not going to complete the Gravel Conspiracy ride this year and I knew it from the start. I've been nursing a back injury/sciatica all summer, as a result I have not ridden any long rides and have done the shorter ones with a great deal of pain before, during, and after. When I signed up for the GC in May or whatever, I completely thought my back and leg would be good to go, I was wrong. Just a few days before the ride I could barely walk without shooting pain in my leg after I got done with a shake down ride. I really hate bailing on a free race when I know the guys putting them on bend over backwards to do so. After that ride I knew I would still head north and take the line but with plan "B" tucked neatly into my drop bag. In the back of Mr Stamper's truck, was a packraft headed for Grand Portage. The DETOUR will be covered later, but I did end up with 68 miles for the day and returned to Grand Marais long after the last rider was in. Strangely, my leg and back were a non-issue the day before and I was only feeling a little pain start to build towards the end of my ride the second day. I popped a few Advil for good measure and decided not to ride the next day at all for fear of sending my healing progress backward. That evening we all met up at the Gunflint Tavern for the most expensive (19$) burrito I've ever had the displeasure of waiting an hour and a half  for. I was in good company so it was a little easier to take.

sneak peak at The Detour

Lake Superior in site

 The next day was a little chilly at the start and I was feeling even better about my decision not to ride. After watching the group ride away I was off to my second detour of plan B. This one didn't go as well as the day before and I had to get back to GM to pick up my friend and car pool-ee by 2 pm. Before we headed home a few good-bye's and hand shakes were in order, as well as buying Mr Stamper lunch as a thank you and just because he's an overall good guy. Check this out for next year, as I know the gears are already turning for the planning and evolution of this great event.

Day 3, the group getting ready to go,  I decided to sit it out and take it easy

               

The Week Before... part 2

That's the new 4 man tent I had to buy on account of someone not returning the 4 man tent I thought I had in my gear room. I don't know who I lent it too, but I'd like it back please 

 Before too much time passes, I wanted to finish my story about our adventure on the north shore the week before school started. On Wednesday morning we awoke to clear skies and warm temps. First on the adventure agenda was to ride our bikes back to the van at Gooseberry Falls SP. We got side tracked on Ellingson Island at Split Rock Light House SP looking for tadpoles and going for a swim. We weren't on a real schedule of any kind so it was a good way to start the day.

Lots of tadpoles to be found here

Frog with a tail

This was cold, I know because I was first

 

Urban exploration on the north shore 

 After finishing the ride, another swim was in order at the mouth of the Gooseberry River to cool off. Heading north, we stopped at another creek I have not had the pleasure exploring. It turned out to be our favorite one of the weekend. The boys were excited to catch frogs, crayfish, and more tadpoles along our route upstream. I was excited to see one waterfall after another and lots of small swimming holes. Usually I like to go upstream until things flatten out and become an average looking creek, just not today. Several hours had already elapsed when I decided leave the mystery of what lay ahead for another time.

  

Turned around here, but not before some swimming

Gene O

 Wednesday night we were camped at Temperance River SP. By strange coincidence our neighbors were none other than Jenifer and Gene O of One on One Bicycle Studio and their three children. Our kids got along great and they all enjoyed searching for tadpoles together as us adults relaxed and talked about the usual bike things. The next morning our two families all headed down to the mouth of the Temperance River for some swimming and cliff jumping for a couple hours before biding farewell. It started raining shortly after so most of the remainder of the day was spent dodging the drops in the van, eating lunch and window shopping in Grand Marais. That night we camped at Devil Track Lake NF campground and endured a major storm with non stop lightning that looked more like a strobe light going off in the tent.

This is Big D . He scares the shit out of me, he didn't even hesitate when he jumped off this. I hesitated when I did it, it's freakin' high. The only thing he had me do is count to three so he knew when to jump, this boy's got some balls. 

Devil Track

Pic is out of order, but this is the trail we took to access the river

 The next day, Friday, was nice and sunny again. My plan for the day would turn out to be one I would regret just a little. We were to hike up the Superior Hiking Trail to the point that it intersects the Devil Track River and then hike up-stream to our bicycles we had cached in the woods the day before. I did this route less than a year before going the other direction. I thought it would be suitable for the boys since we didn't have to rappel the waterfall at the end. The part I was wrong about was the never ending, slippery, boulder  field which makes up the creek bed on the last part of the route. It seemed to go on forever. As an adult it was a bitch, for the kids with shorter legs having to pick their way through the whole mess, it was hell. By the time we reached the bikes G Man was crying and cursing my name, I was carrying Big D for quite some time, and Super Y was way ahead chilling out at the bikes like it was no big deal. I gave them all permission to swear out loud if it would make them feel better. Big D was the only one to take me up on the offer.

Not sure what the mane is on these falls but they are pretty amazing

Hand-line to get up and around the falls on the previous pic

I believe the falls just over their shoulder is called The Admiral

Lets go home

 After the swearing and laughter ceased, we all refueled on water and snacks, consisting mostly of Starburst. Soon spirits were up and we were rolling the last few miles down a large hill to the end of our totally freakin' awesome weekend.

The final decent