Denver, Co.
7/10 - 18/2021, 9 days on IR including ferry.
A very Minong 1st trip to IR!
My main goals were to see moose and hear loons!
We were not disappointed!
Pics are at:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LEuyNmqvri9iW1jv5
Click through individual pics to see captions.
Day 1:
Voyager II ferry from GP to Windigo.
Windigo to WC the long way!
Hiked 2.5 mi out/back, 5 mi RT, towards IM.
Found out there was no good water at IM from
other hikers who had just come from there.
So we turned around and went back to WC.
Loon calls heard: 1 at WC.
Day 2:
Packed from WC to HC via HCW Tr.
4 mi.
Met a Conservation Crew doing trail work, trimming brush along the HCW trail.
Thanks!!!!
Loon calls heard: 1 in Washington Harbor area from HCW TR.
Day 3
Lk S dead calm in AM at HC. Beautiful morning.
Packed back to WC via HCE Tr. 5 mi.
Did 1.2 mi nature trail at Windigo.
6 mi total.
Loon calls heard: 2 at WC far in the distance.
M: Watched 1 bull at WC late in evening grazing right out in front of our site.
Day 4:
Hung out at Windigo.
Toured ranger station, store, went to Moose Bones talk by ranger.
M: Watched same bull grazing again in AM for 30+ min
right out in front of our cs. Great view!!
Day 5:
Voyager II ferry from W to McC:
Packed to CBW CS, 2.5 mi. Got site #4, right on the water. Great views.
M: 1 Cow at far N end of CB Lk West arm in marsh
L: Saw 1 land in lake in evening and heard numerous call, near and far,
into the night till heard one fly away making calls along the way getting further and further away.
Saw 2 adult and 2 cygnets
Day 6:
Day hiked to CBE CG and back, stopping at
Livermore Lake and CB Lk Portage to Livermore Lake on the way back.
~4 mi RT.
On the hike to CBE, saw cow moose grazing in the brush less than 50' off the North side of the Greenstone trail,
~1/4 mi East of CBW Jct. She was gone on our way back.
Saw another cow moose at water access point for CBE CS at
far East end of CB Lk grazing at the edge of the water.
Back at camp we watched a cow and calf swim all the way
across middle of CB Lk from elbow to the West shore and disappear into the woods.
Calf was bleating, complaining, most of the way but
the cow kept the calf going and they made it fine.
Very Minong!
Heard more Loon calls near and far on CB Lk.
Saw 2 loons feeding on Livermore lake.
Saw 2 loons and 2 chicks on CB Lk at portage to Livermore Lk.
Saw Beaver swim right in front of our campsite. Twice.
Saw swan again.
Saw garter snake, twice, and small turtle in water in front of camp.
Heard a few more loon calls in the distance.
Rabbits in our campsite.
This day was the highlight of our trip.
Day 7:
Packed 9 mi from CBW to CH, past Lake Richie which
had an algae bloom so it was recommended to not camp there.
Left at 7:40 AM, at CH by 2PM.
Tired but happy.
Hike went smooth and steady.
Hot by the time we got to CH.
Several other boaters docked there. No other hikers/backpackers.
Heard a few more Loons.
No Moose sightings.
Day 8:
Hung out at CH resting, reading.
Swam in the harbor a little.
Saw leaches and snails in the water.
Not as hot as yesterday.
Saw 2 cranes fly overhead in the evening.
Day 9:
Voyager II 6 hour ferry ride from CH to Windigo to GP.
Ride went smoothly, weather was nice and water was fairly calm.
Got great views of the SW end of IR shore.
Summary:
Great, Minong, 1st trip to IR.
Feeling a bit gipped though.
I promised Sue at least 1 day of sitting out rain in the tent but
we did 8 days on IR and not a drop of rain!!
What's with that???
Summer heat and drought in MN is hitting the North Woods hard.
Over all bugs/squeeters were not too bad.
Especially by BWCA/North Woods standards.
Didn't even use our head nets.
Sue used a lot of Citronela bug spray and
didn't get 1 mosquito bite.
1 bee sting and maybe a couple fly bites is all.
I didn't use any bug spray and got about a dozen bites total so that's not too bad.
We were often already in bed when the evening swams came out so
we didn't have much problem with that.
We did treat our clothes with Premethrin but I'm not sure how well that worked.
I could stop for a break on the trail and watch squeeters land on my treated pants and
poke around numerous times trying to get through the fabric.
Then finally give up and fly away.
Saw
- 6 moose total. A couple could have been dups but don't know. Didn't check their DNA.
- Numerous Loons including 2 chicks.
- Heard several dozen Loon calls, day and night, near and far.
- A beaver
- Swans and cygnets
- Eagle at CH
- 2 cranes
- Lots of other birds
- 2 different types of garter snakes
- 1 turtle
- 2 Rabbits
- Many Chipmunks of course
- Small fish
- Leaches
- Snails
If I get to go back it would be great to see RH and the east end and
more inland lakes: Desor, Hatchet, Richie, etc.
I will also bring a real camera.
The camera on my phone was marginally adequate at best.
My super light FireFly alcohol stove worked fine.
It's a bit delicate but works fine in summer.
