All posts by Troy

Climbing Grand–Climbing Day

Waking up to the darkness on the mountain, there are other climbers moving around getting ready to hike out of camp. I begin to imagine what this day will be like and all the work put in to get here. All of those early mornings of getting up when I really didn’t want to for a run before heading to work. Running is not my thing but it was the best way I could think of for preparing for the altitude of these mountains. Putting training packs on for Saturday hikes to begin to acclimate our bodies to this extra weight. Exercising to build strength needed for climbing. What seemed like endless stairs with a backpack  that continued to get heavier and heavier as the climb got closer. Accumulating the needed gear over the past 9 months and using it so we would be more use to it in the mountain. This day is why I pushed through all of this preparation and here it is. Would it all be worth it? Was it enough? I couldn’t tell which was more dominate – my excitement to do this or my anxiety over preparedness. It didn’t matter now. The only thing that I needed to focus on was spending this experience with my family and keeping us all safe while trying to enjoy every piece I could. This may be the last opportunity to climb a mountain for me.

The day begins in the dark

The gear for this day was packed, my layers where on, and I was exiting my tent. The only light besides my headlamp were the houses residing over a mile below. Unfortunately it was cloudy so not even the stars where shining. Rain was forecast for later in the day capping how much time we had to climb. I was the first of our group to reach the main tent housing our kitchen here on the mountain. Water was being warmed for my tea and breakfast burritos being steamed for a little energy to tackle the rigorous trail ahead. A few minutes to use the outdoor bathroom and more of our group had arrived ready to go. We all grabbed something to drink, topped off our water bottles, and mentally prepared to achieve our goals for this day. Each of us had different goals and needed to work together to accomplish them. Our time had arrived to hoist the daypacks upon our shoulders and hit the trail. Every step required careful placement being illuminated only by the lights on our head. This first part was what I looked forward to least as it was maneuvering on loose rocks making up a gravel trail. Surprisingly we covered a large amount of ground and were at our first climbing point fairly quickly.

Sunrise from the saddle

We connected our ropes and one by one climbed up this first wall of stone. Once above this spot we noticed something floating through our beams of light. Was that snow? It was at this point I first realized how cold it was and that I was shivering. I really didn’t think much about being cold as I knew we would soon be warming up from the hard work yet to come. With all of our climbers off the ropes we continued on the trail to the saddle between Middle Teton and Grand where another base camp existed along with a ranger tent. Reaching this camp a short time later, we all agreed that the views here were incredible but so was the wind. That would be a little more miserable to deal with all of the time. Our base camp was better protected making the environment more enjoyable we determined. From here we continued on the trail as it continued steeply higher to a series of rock walls to the top. Keeping one foot in front of the other we arrived at larger boulders signaling the base of the peak for Grand.

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This marked the goal of some of our group and they had reached it as daylight continued to illuminate the landscape around us highlighting the path we had taken. After a few minutes of discussion we decided to split into two groups. One would continue the climb while the other made the journey to camp invigorated by reaching their objective on this morning. While I continued on with my cousin, each group kept in touch over radio so they could know how the other group was doing.

For me, the fun part of this adventure was about to begin. The trail steepened and boulder scrambling started putting my physical abilities to the test. Soon the scrambling was complete and it was time to put on the ropes for more serious rock climbing. This seemed like a good time to take off a layer or two as the sun was now shining and the temperatures rising.  I never knew until now how much I enjoy scaling rock walls. Maneuvering from hand hold to foot hold kept a huge smile on my face. Well, until I reached a spot requiring me to climb out, away from the mountain creating the sensation of going to fall off. While it took some time, we made it over this section with a big sigh of relief and continued up. There was no option in our minds of quitting and turning back at this point. Word had reached us that the other group was nearing camp by this time while they had heard we were continuing to climb.

On the climb

Every piece of the climb seemed easier after this as we successfully navigated these vertical rocks continuing to increase our elevation. I finally relaxed a little feeling great and that all of my work preparing was paying off. Breathing was easier than I expected and remembered from my climb on Longs Peak in Colorado. Higher and higher we climbed and I realized as I looked over at Middle Teton, we had reached an altitude above its’ peak. The only peak higher than we were now was Grand.

Word had come over the radio that the other group was now safely back in camp recovering and preparing for the descent the next day. Unfortunately time was not on our side now. It would be unlikely for us to reach the summit this day as we were about 30 minutes from the time we would need to turn around and head back towards camp before storms once again were predicted to engulf the area. Still we continued higher just enjoying the experience and the scenery surrounding us. By this time our other group was beginning to get a little nervous that something happened as they hadn’t heard anything from us for awhile. We were just trying to keep going and not in a great spot for communication to go through surrounded by stone walls.

Reaching a nice plateau, we decided this would be as far as we would go and took some time to sit and reflect on our surroundings and our climb that morning. We radioed back to the other group our location and the return back was about to begin. They sighed with a little relief hearing all was going well and we were ok.

Getting above Middle Teton

Taking some time to get a little to eat, something to drink, and taking a few photos from this place on the mountain, we heading back towards the ledge we had just climbed to get here. What seemed like just a few minutes earlier we climbed up this ledge and now we would begin our descent from here. The trip down always seems to be faster and in a short time we were making our way back over the rocks we climbed and were back at the saddle where we split into two groups.

In just over an hour we would be back in camp, finishing our day of climbing on Grand Teton. While we may not have made it all the way to the top of Grand, I felt fortunate to have this experience and share it with my daughters, cousin and his daughter. Adventures like this have a lasting impact for the rest of our lives and just getting this far is an achievement.

Back at camp a guide asked how our climb was. I responded with it being a great experience with lots of beautiful sights. We may have been the least able climbers on the mountain that day but at least we were on it doing what we could. I was glad to be reunited with our group and begin sharing this experience with each other at camp while grabbing some nourishment and rehydrating, waiting for storms that never formed.

Enjoying the views of the landscape around us

Enjoying a Beautiful Fall Sunrise

The trees may not have been showing their vibrant colors for the first weekend of fall but the sunrise did. The night before local forecasters were hinting at morning fog under partly cloudy skies. Waking up this first Saturday morning of fall I hesitated going out to a nearby lake, but the fog had blanketed calm waters several days earlier in the week so this would be my opportunity to capture a few pictures of an amazing fall morning. Deciding to get dressed and grab the camera gear, I began heading towards a nearby lake. On the way, I soon realized the wind was blowing telling me there’s no chance of a foggy early morning sunrise.

Beautiful sunrise coloras reflecting off of a calm lake

Soon after arriving on this cool fall morning, I headed towards the spot I wanted to photograph from and began looking for just the right place to set up the tripod and camera. There were ducks and geese swimming back and forth watching as I explored the shoreline. Within a few minutes the clouds began to turn from a gray to pink with increasing light on the horizon. Clouds streaked across the morning sky making for a spectacular view welcoming in another day. Their reflections bouncing off the waters surface only enhanced this kaleidoscope of colors creating a beautiful landscape. Ducks began lifting from the water flying across this colorful scene to begin their day of searching for food. Then an eagle came out of nowhere and began circling the lake. All of this was happening with too little light to capture good photos. The only thing that showed up on any picture was a blur as they flew by.

A pair of geese taking in the sunrise

As the sun rose higher, silhouettes of geese started to break up the golden reflections from the mornings rising sun. While trying to both capture this beautiful scene and take it in, the light continued to change minute by minute from pinks and purples to reds, and then amber with the sun peaking above tree tops bringing a finale to the days colorful sunrise.

At this point I changed my attention to some of the still blooming native flowers trying to find a composition using this nice early morning glow. While snapping a couple of pictures of the asters used as a foreground in the top photo, I noticed a bumblebee clinging to the underside of one of the leaves waiting for the suns warmth. At this time I needed to return home and begin my day of activities so I finished with another photo or two and it was back to the car to end my sunrise adventure.

Bumblebee hiding among the asters

Monopoly Traveler Reflections–Our First Encounter With a Bull Elk

It was the fourth National Park in our first week of our Monopoly Traveler Adventures. We had just entered Rocky Mountain National Park and had been there less then an hour before coming upon a huge traffic jam. What was this we wondered? Not having experienced one of these before we had no idea what to expect. Everyone was getting out of their cars after attempting to park them on the side of the road and walking towards a spot in the forest. Eventually we saw what had caused this sudden parking lot, it was a pair of Bull Elk laying down not far from the road. We decided to join in with the rest of the crowd, grabbing a spot recently vacated on the side of the road and walk to see these magnificent creatures.

Bull Elk wanting to be left alone

We couldn’t fully believe what we were seeing. Right next to the road with all of these people around are a pair of elks just resting as if all of this commotion was of no concern. This was the first time any of us had ever seen an elk and spent some time gazing as they would turn their heads swinging their huge, velvety anthers showing us just how large they were. What an introduction to this beautiful park! As if the mountainous landscape wasn’t enough of a reason to be here, now we had some great wildlife to add to the experience. Like many of those around us, I was snapping away with the camera unsure if we would have another opportunity to view another elk in this vast space.

The kids in the Rocky Mountains with a Bull Elk resting in the background

After photographing and watching these wild animals for awhile, I decided to have my two daughters stand with these elk in the background to highlight how close they actually were. Trying to stay the recommended distance away and making sure there was an easy escape should one of these elk stand up and threaten anyone, I continued taking pictures. Unfortunately others decided to approach the wildlife to see how close they could get and take a picture causing this pair of bulls to stand up and meander on through the forest.  This seemed so disrespectful and disappointing because now other visitors didn’t have the chance to see these wild animals. We returned to our vehicle to continue our journey exploring this amazing and beautiful park. By the end of our time in Rocky Mountain National Park, spotting elk would become a little more mundane and almost expected as we would continue to see these large deer in several areas along our adventure here.

The elk was disturbed enough it finally got up to move

Pollinators Flying Around as Fall Approaches

On a beautiful summer afternoon the last weekend in August, I took some time to go out wandering at a nearby park. We had just returned home after moving our youngest daughter into her college apartment. Staying home seemed like a challenge so I grabbed the camera and off I went. Unsure of what I would see, being prepared is something I’ve learned time and time again otherwise you could miss a great photo op. This day definitely provided some great subjects, especially pollinators out searching for as much nectar as possible. Capturing a few late summer wildflowers or maybe a mushroom or two was my expectation but thankfully there was more.

Fall colors beginning to enter the landscape

Meandering on a familiar trail, which was a little less familiar as I haven’t been out nearly as frequently as other years, I came across some wildflowers and snapped a few pics. Continuing on I came to some tall yellow daisies in bloom with a Monarch butterfly flitting from flower to flower. Thankfully it would spend some time at each one allowing me to capture some great photos like the one above.

Unfortunately I was confronted with a few brilliantly colored leaves along the trail confirming what time of year it was and seasons would soon be changing. This was a fact I had been trying to ignore as I wanted more summer to enjoy. If time would only slow down. Since there were some nice red leaves I decided to take the opportunity to start practicing for the possible explosion of color to come with the a simple turn of a page on the calendar. After a brief time with these leaves, it was back to those late season flowers still blooming with all of their energy.

Goldenrod covered in little beetles taking in its nectar

A lot of Goldenrod was in full bloom with the occasional bee or butterfly visiting their flowers. There were a few that were loaded with tiny beetles. A quick search indicates these are called Shining Flower Beetles which eat the pollen. While it seems that Goldenrod should be a great pollinator plant with as prolific they can be, I don’t often see a mass of insects around them like I do other plants such as late season hydrangeas. They must not release a lot of nectar for them to feed on. Continuing on my journey I came across more large yellow daisies with a bee here and there dancing around these beautiful flowers occasionally landing on one.  A couple of pictures and I moved on.

Bumble Bee examining each flower

Another opportunity during my journey was an Ichneumon Wasp. I’ve been trying to capture some nice shots of these for several years and here finally was my chance. I snapped a few poor photos and it was gone. Deciding to sit down for awhile, I was rewarded with another chance as the wasp returned to a leaf fairly close to me allowing for some nice shots. These wasps don’t sting as their long tails are used to deposit eggs when the time arrives. If there was nothing else to photograph, I was happy with these alone but thankfully there were others. After a few more shots it was time to head home and take care of some things before the day was over. I really enjoyed this time watching and photographing these pollinators before August transitioned to September.

Ichneumon Wasp

Climbing Grand–Training Day

It was Saturday morning, the day after hiking 7 miles and gaining around 5,000 feet in elevation. The rain and wind had been pounding at our tents for much of the night but now had settled down. This was to be our training day in the mountains with breakfast starting us off at 8am. We were all tired and quite stiff, unsure of how much energy our bodies still had for climbing activities but we were here and wanted to climb Grand. With this motivation we got dressed and collected near the Kitchen – a larger tent with a rounded roof for hot breakfast burritos to start the day. It was cloudy and cool but at least the rain wasn’t falling. For how long we weren’t sure as the forecast called for more storms to develop as the afternoon continued so we needed to take advantage of the dry morning.

Getting our climbing gear fitted and put on

The first step was getting climbing gear fitted and put on which included day packs, helmet, harness, and carabineers to attach ropes to. Everything we would bring with the next day for our main climb. My expectation for this day was to fit our gear and an introduction on how to use it including attaching ropes, terminology, and climbing techniques on rocks or boulders nearby. Once the gear was on and tightened correctly we headed for a few boulders just above us to begin to learn how to use and trust our approach shoes. These were new to all of us so I didn’t realize the bottoms of these shoes have different tread for different climbing uses. Our guide showed us what these different treads were for and then headed for a rock slab to put them to use. None of us were ready to work on this slab as it was still wet from rain the night before. There’s no way we would get up it without slipping and injuring something. After a lot of convincing from our trusted guides, we began to move up and down the slab using techniques and body position to move up and down this slab sticking to it with our rubber bottomed shoes even though it was wet. From here we moved on to a boulder which had a square corner and again used climbing techniques with body position to locate hand and foot holds which at first didn’t appear to be there. Amazing how we learned to move up and down this rock also!

About to attempt our first class 5 climb

Soon we were on a trail to the peaks in the top photo. Arriving at the base, our guides began to pull out ropes and remove a few layers of clothing in preparation for teaching us how to go up the mountain. Taking this lead, we also began to remove a few layers as we would begin working more and getting quite warm. At this time it was a good opportunity to drink some water and eat something. You burn a lot of calories while climbing and require more water to remain hydrated in the dry mountain air. In a few minutes we were all attached to ropes and instructed on the path to take up this steep rock. From a distance these peaks appear to be straight up and down and quite intimidating. Once you begin to study them up close you can often find paths using ledges and crevices and begin to figure out how to move towards the top. Again, trusting our guides, we tried to follow their paths and all worked together to locate places to put our hands and feet that were secure in order to push ourselves up the rock. Even though we were attached by ropes, none of us was interested in seeing how well they were holding us and relied solely on our hand and foot holds. I didn’t really expect to get into this level of training. It almost felt as though we were thrown right into some major mountaineering.

Getting near the top

In what seemed like a very short time we had climbed a significant distance and having fun doing it. I was so concerned the altitude would prevent me from climbing at a reasonable speed and was pleasantly shocked to find it wasn’t much of a factor in my ability to keep a good pace. Keep in mind were were above 11,000 feet. This wouldn’t seem all that difficult except we normally live at 1,000 feet in elevation. For those that haven’t experience higher altitudes before, this is a huge change and really affects getting adequate oxygen into your body. I’ve been told it’s a good comparison for people with asthma because it feels like you’re constantly gasping for air while exerting energy at this elevation. At least until you adjust to it.

Learning to trust the ropes and harnesses

Becoming more comfortable with our gear and climbing abilities, we moved up the rock reaching higher ledges with more spectacular views. As I was really starting to have a lot of fun I reached up for the next ledge to climb, bringing myself on top of it only to realize this was the summit. There was no where else to climb up. We sat on top enjoying the view of the mountains and valleys around us while other members of our group worked their way up. At first I couldn’t believe we did it and now I was amazed at how quickly we seemed to make it to the summit. Unfortunately it meant we were also done with this part of the training. I wanted to do more! As the rest of our group made it to the top, we began to make preparations for the descent.

Getting re-hooked back up to the mountain on different ropes, we were instructed that this was the part designed to learn how to trust our equipment. The guide told us to move towards the ledge and lean over putting all of our weight on the harness and ropes. For those of you who haven’t tried this, looking over a ledge that is essentially straight up and down for hundreds of feet below with nothing but sharp boulders to land on, putting all of your trust into a single rope is not easy. Eventually, while hanging out over this ledge, we managed to put our full weight on this single rope and began to repel down the mountain we had just climbed up.  Getting more comfortable repelling, it became fun to move down the rock quickly using less effort and soon we were back on the lowest ledge needing to hike to the next area on which to descend. In a short time we were back hiking towards camp reflecting on this mountaineering we had learned and achieved. What a fantastic experience which was now over all to quickly! It was time to rest up and re-energize for our main goal of climbing on Grand Teton the next day.

Successfully made it to the top of this one

Lobelia cardinalis Beginning to Flower

One of my favorite late season perennial flowers has begun to bloom. Lobelia cardinalis is such a unique color for this time of year compared to the whites and yellows that are typical. I also enjoy the Great Blue Lobelia along with the annual species but the red version is so vibrant and stands out against the landscape.

Lobelia cardinalis in flower

As a nice bonus, the red Lobelia – also known as the Cardinal flower, is a great pollinator plant attracting hummingbirds to its sweet nectar. This is not a real common plant, at least in the upper Midwest as it needs certain conditions to do well. It likes to have at least partial sunlight but also needs a moist spot to grow without being kept continually soaked.

New flowers getting ready to open

There are those who adapt this plant to aquariums keeping them submerged which shows there adaptability. I don’t know if they can be sustained for long periods of time underwater but they can tolerate it for an amount of time with very specific conditions. Keeping them outside in the landscape in an area that doesn’t get too dry can provide a lot of success with beautiful flowers for Lobelia cardinalis. The only thing I really don’t like about these flowers is that fall is not far behind when they begin to bloom.

Lobelia flower progression

Climbing Grand– The Hike Up

After several years of planning, our most challenging adventure yet had arrived – climbing Grand Teton. I shared this adventure with my two daughters along with a cousin and his daughter. We were all very nervous about whether or not we were physically able to do this but also excited for a chance to climb this challenging mountain. While it may not be as tall as many in Colorado, it’s every bit as demanding. If not more so. My biggest concern was the altitude and what effects it would have on everyone including myself. The last time I climbed a mountain (Longs Peak) I found I would begin to black out if I moved too fast at the higher elevations and I knew this time I would need to keep a good pace in order to be successful. My training had been more intense for this adventure so hopefully that would make a difference in my abilities at the top of the mountain.

On the Trail

We began our journey to our camping location about 8am uncertain about what was ahead of us besides 7 miles of up hill climbs in order to reach our camping destination. Leaving from the Lupine Meadows trailhead, the ground was flat but soon turned up. The first mile went by quickly and seemed rather tolerable. The second mile was more of the same keeping our pace at a nice clip towards our destination. Between here and mile three there was a surprise. A black bear was gorging on berries near the trail. It really didn’t appear to have much interest in us other than wanting us to continue moving on so it could eat in peace. We cautiously continued up the hill after watching this bear for a short time without incident. Several other hikers ahead and behind us did the same. The bear became a topic of conversation for a brief moment at camp with other climbers as it seemed to stay there for some time.

A bear near the trail feeding heavily

Over the next couple of miles we began to hike above the tree line where the terrain became more rocky but the incline was still manageable allowing us to continue moving higher. As the halfway point came and went, altitude began to show its impact as our breathing became more labored and our legs became more fatigued. The scenery was a great distraction of these discomforts with beautiful mountain vistas surrounding us and water running downhill from the melting glaciers above filling the air with calming sounds. Middle Teton could be seen above us now but no sign of our destination near Grand Teton. After a short break we began to climb large boulders which I enjoyed more than the typical trail. These didn’t last long and soon we had reached Lupine Meadows which was incredibly beautiful Mountain scene with flowers, waterfalls, and Grand Teton in the background.

The trail begins to get more rocky as we hike higher up

Pulling off the trail and finding a boulder to sit on, we took a break to eat and re-fill water containers from the mountain stream after filtering it first. I could have stayed here for hours just enjoying the sights and sounds but time was going by quickly and clouds were beginning to build. Storms appeared to be on there way and staying dry was preferred for the last portion of our trail. Repacking our food into our backpacks, we once again grabbed trekking poles and continued putting one foot in front of the other. Only a few miles left to go. Unknown to us at this moment but our trail was about to get quite a bit more difficult as the hills steepened. Our incline became more difficult, the altitude was having a more intense effect on our breathing, and the clouds continued to get darker motivating us to keep hiking up this hill towards camp. Our legs were really wearing out now feeling as though the could just collapse. We had to stop to catch our breath and regain some balance often going up these last few miles but tried to keep moving as much as possible. Finally another mile had passed with only one more to go. Could we make it the rest of the way up this steep hill?

Scenery continues to get more spectacular as the hike progresses

I began to accept that we were going to get wet as thunder could be heard behind us. While this provided some motivation, was it enough to keep our weary bodies moving? Still climbing one step at a time, we continued on our journey wondering if this will ever come to an end. Continuing to slowly move higher, it felt like a snail would move faster up these switchbacks. Each breath became precious trying push energy into our legs which now seemed to have the consistency of Jello. I noticed a few drops starting to fall and tried to climb faster on a seemingly endless trail. When if felt as though our trail would not end it leveled out. Finally some mercy for our legs! A short hike later and we had reached our destination of Corbet High Camp. Thankfully the tents were already set up so all we had to do was race inside with our packs to stay mostly dry. The last hiker entered their tent and zipped it shut before the storms, which had chased us up the mountain, let loose.

The mountain had been kind to us allowing us to reach shelter just in time. We collapsed onto the sleeping mats allowing our aching legs to begin their recovery while bright flashes penetrated the tent walls followed by the loud, humbling cracks of thunder and intense rain smashing all around us outside. Filled with relief for getting here we began to feel the satisfaction of accomplishment for pushing so hard on this difficult trail. But what have we gotten ourselves into?

The most challenging part of the hike is at the end

Monopoly Traveler Reflections–Grandpa Was Told to Keep His Leg Elevated

Just before our first Monopoly adventure, my father had surgery on his knee. A few weeks had passed but he was still healing and wanted to come along with my wife and two daughters to explore some of the American West. His doctor told him he needed to keep his knee elevated at times to help in the healing. What better way to keep it elevated than to explore the Rocky Mountains? Our journey had taken us through the Badlands of South Dakota on to Mt. Rushmore before ascending into Estes, Colorado which resides at over 7,500 feet in elevation. At times we went to heights of over 12,000 feet elevation. We kept wondering if that was enough elevation for his knee. I’m not sure the doctor would see the humor in such an adventure.

Hiking to Flattop

During our time of elevating my dad’s knee we hiked a number of trails to see mountains, wildlife, flowers in bloom, and waterfalls. He continued on with us much more than I ever expected, walking through the pain as though it wasn’t really there. Knowing who he is I’m confident there were some challenging moments, which he never let on to the rest of us for fear of holding us back. At the time he likely would have preferred a little less exploring to rest his knee but is happy he pushed through his soreness for all of the great experiences we shared during a 10 day road trip. I’m grateful to have had this time to share with him out exploring such an amazing landscape which we continue to talk about to this day, even though it happened over a decade ago. When the time comes for me to have work done on my knees I know exactly how I want to keep it elevated as it heals!

Taking in a Waterfall

A Little R & R in Northern Wisconsin

The summer solstice had arrived. A day I’ve come to celebrate when possible by heading to a place to camp and take in the sunrise and sunset trying to enjoy the entire day outdoors enjoying the most sunlight of any day of the year. It can be a bit challenging with sunrise at 5:30am and sunset lasting until 9pm. This year it occurred on Father’s Day as well so I started out the morning traveling to see my dad for breakfast not being able to see the sun rise as clouds covered the skies. Just before lunch I said goodbye to my father wishing him one last Happy Fathers Day and continued my journey to Northern Wisconsin where I would meet up with an old college friend for a few days of camping at Lost Lake. A place we had met a few times before and were beginning to get very familiar with. Arriving in the late afternoon, rain was falling. According to my friend, it had begun to fall 45 minutes earlier. It would last throughout most of the night hiding the setting sun. We cooked our evening meal under the cover of umbrella and moved indoors to eat. This was the first time I could remember that clouds covered the sky during both the sunrise and sunset for the summer solstice. Certainly a unique year but I still enjoyed this solstice.

A boreal forest arrangement

Getting up the next morning rain was falling periodically but slowing down. Once I could no longer her drops hitting the trees above I decided to venture outside to the water soaked landscape. The wind was blowing quite strongly now and continued that way throughout much of the day. This seemed like a good day to explore more of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest by car. We needed a few supplies also so found a store to get our items. Along the way there was an ice cream shop which looked very appetizing. With so many flavors to choose from it took extra time before deciding on the perfect one to sit and enjoy. This also seemed like a great opportunity to explore the National Forest Visitor’s Center to learn more about the area we were in. Mid afternoon had quickly moved upon us as we began to work our way back to Lost Lake. Along the way there was a State Natural Area which we decided to explore some. This was a tree filled area blocking much of the wind making it more comfortable as we wandered around ferns and fallen logs to see what plants may be growing here. We found mint, irises in peak bloom, and birch covered in beautiful mosses and lichens typical of a northern forest. Before wandering too far and getting lost we headed back towards the car making our way to the lake and cabin to begin a campfire and our evening meal. I couldn’t believe how quickly the day went for this first day of summer. Not that it felt anything like summer with temperatures in the 50’s F with strong winds blowing out of the north requiring sweatshirts and jackets.

Wild Iris in bloom

The next morning was met with calmer winds and colder temperatures. Thankfully I had brought a heater with expecting some cold which kept the cabin at a more comfortable sleeping temperature. Opening the door I was hit by a cold blast as I entered the forested campground. Quickly a cup of hot tea was brewed to help take some of this chill out of the air. With less wind I decided to try a little fishing with some success but not enough to make a meal out of. Soon I returned to the cabin to cook a warm meal. This needed to be eaten quickly as the cold swiftly stole any heat. With a full stomach we began driving the gravel roads of this National Forest in search of a place out of the increasing wind to try our luck at fishing. There was some luck but nothing extremely exciting. After awhile I modified my fishing line and attached my GoPro camera to it. The water was pretty clear so I decided to see how tossing a camera in the water would work. This became quite fun flinging the little action camera out into the lake and bringing it back. Unfortunately the video really wasn’t very good or interesting but it was fun to try. Having had our fill of fishing we headed back to our shelter to begin a campfire and cook a stew over the open flame. As darkness began to arrive, a sliver of sun shown through the clouds. I grabbed the camera in hopes of a beautiful sunset but all I could capture was trickle of pinks near the horizon which reflected beautifully in the water.

Sun rising over the calm lake with a light fog floating across

On our last morning at Lost Lake, I got up for the sunrise knowing the clouds were beginning to break up overnight and went to the shore to enjoy the calm water. There was alight fog floating over the water making this a beautiful beginning to this day. As I gazed over the lake I watched and Eagle hovering and soaring to the waters surface looking to snag its first meal of the day. Soon after an Osprey smashed into the water quickly retreating with its morning meal. Life was returning as the sun continued it’s steady journey across the sky. I wandered along the shoreline taking in the early morning landscape with the fog covered water and irises in bloom before heading back to our cabin to grab a pole and get in a few more casts. Again I had a little success but then had to pack up as it would be along day of driving. Before exiting the National Forest I decided to make a quick stop at a wildlife viewing location to discover this small, secluded pond created by an earthen dam built over a small creek. It was a beautiful spot that I’ll have to come back to if I ever return to this area again. Back on the road I continued towards busier roads signaling my return home. It wasn’t the camping experience I was hoping for but I did enjoy the time to catch up on some rest and spend a little time out in nature.

Secluded Lake perfect for enjoying some R & R

Training for the Mountain

In just a few short weeks I’ll be in Grand Teton National Park with my family preparing to climb Grand Teton. To prepare we’ve been doing a number of things such as strength training, cardio, and hiking. Recently we were up on the North Shore of Minnesota and stopped at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park to do some hiking. To help in our preparation we carry backpacks weighted down so our bodies can adjust to the additional weight before going on our 7 mile journey up a mountain where we’ll camp for 3 nights. Another piece to these training hikes it the opportunity to test different gear and food. Most of the equipment is stuff we’ve used before but a few items, such as our approach shoes, are new for this adventure. It’s these times we can really put them to the test and see how they perform. Food presents some different challenges when up in the mountains. It just tastes different at higher elevations and we need to make sure we really like what we’re eating. Otherwise it gets considerably more difficult to eat anything when you don’t really feel hungry and are not motivated by what tastes good.

On top of Corundum Point

During my last time camping in Split Rock, I explored some trails with my wife and found Corundum Point out over the bay from where I was on Lake Superior. At that point I knew some day I wanted to hike on top of the massive rocky point. You can view a of the photo from a distance by clicking on this link: Corundum Point. This seemed like a good opportunity to both get in some hiking and explore this granite cliff.

We arrived at the trailhead parking lot mid afternoon on a partly cloudy, cool late spring day on the North Shore. Climbing out of the car we began to prepare for the hike. Changing shoes, getting our backpacks ready to go, and using the bathrooms. As soon as we were ready it began to rain. We knew this was a possibility and made sure our rain gear was also with us. Showers were popping up but stayed pretty spotty so we decided to get back in the car and wait it out. Ten minutes later we were on the trail for a short 3 mile hike enjoying the northwoods views, sounds, and smells while remaining close to the shores of Lake Superior.

Coral Root orchid in bloom

During our trip the terrain was varied going up and down while staying pretty flat at other times. It’s used heavily enough that it’s fairly easy to follow but still requires navigation around rocks, tree roots, and uneven ground. At one point the rain began to lightly fall again so I brought out an umbrella. Had it been a heavier rain we could have used the rain coats and pants currently tucked inside each pack.

Before I knew it we were at Corundum point beginning the ascent to the top for a grand view of this large lake. Once on top we took some time to relax and enjoy our surroundings while grabbing a snack. Doing a little exploring on this interesting rock formation, a Peregrine Falcon made its presence known letting us know it knew we were there. I enjoyed watching as it flew back and forth over Lake Superior eventually settling back into the top of a tree. Soon it was time to throw the packs back on and return to the car.

View from Corundum Point

Shortly after hitting the trail back, I spotted an orchid just beginning to bloom. It was a large clustered Coral Root orchid beautifully starting to display its small flowers. I had hoped to spot a native orchid during our hike but expected to see Ladyslippers as they tend to be a lot easier to see and should be in bloom. The hike was already enjoyable but adding a hardy orchid makes it even more fun.

At one point on the trail there are steps assisting people to climb from the shoreline up the steep granite cliff, which seem to continue on forever. You get near the top and these steps take a turn continuing up through the trees which are effective at hiding the top. It’s probably good that the top is so well hidden otherwise it could be a challenge to keep motivated to climb them. Soon we were back at the trailhead and our time here was quickly disappearing. While I wasn’t ready to leave, I had a great afternoon with my daughters and a few memories to take with.

The stairs of health and fitness climbing up from the lake to the nearby ridge