Altivo

We flew in and out from Houghton because one of our party insisted he would die of seasickness. But it had the advantage that we could get to Windigo on the day the park opened in the spring, before the ferry was running to that end. We did, fortunately, have good weather except for heavy fog and drizzle on the last day. Took six days to go end to end, which would have been more leisurely except we made side trips. I'd have to look at a map to tell you the whole route, but most of the distance hiking after the first day was on the ridge. We'd climb down at night and go north or south, mostly camping in regular campgrounds, though we spent one night at Hatchet Lake all by ourselves as I recall. Managed to visit both the north and south shores, and never saw anyone except in the larger campgrounds nearer to Rock Harbor.

Gosh, now when was that? I hate to admit how long ago it was... spring of 1981 sounds right. I know about black flies and mosquitoes, but not from Isle Royale. We were so early in the year they weren't out yet. On the other hand, the concern and paranoia over liver flukes did make drinking water a real nuisance. Boil, filter, iodize. When you mix iodized water with powdered milk it turns blue...