Beaver Basin Wilderness

I ended up back in the woods over 4th of July weekend, backpacking with F.Y.S. and Sir S. We (I) had grand plans for how many miles we would put on over the 4 days and our hope was that we would be able to have campsites along the beach. How cool would that be?

Uh, no. It being a holiday weekend, the area was busy with other backpackers and many of the beach sites were unavailable. Only slightly disappointed, we went with our back-up plan, which was Trappers Lake, a 6.5 mile hike down the lake shore and a half mile inland; not our ideal, but not so bad. Also, because it was predicted to be hot and humid we opted to stay all three nights at the same campsite and day trip from there. We had no idea how fortunate that change of plans was and how wonderfully quiet, beautiful and private our site would be. My goodness...

I actually didn't take many pictures of Trappers Lake, but trust me when I say it was beautiful. Heavily forested right up to the lake shore and our site had trees that were leaning out over the water, a great place to sit and eat our meals while dangling our feet in the water. We commented many times on our good fortune.

This is Beaver Creek and it flows into Lake Superior. We spent an afternoon playing in here and on the beach, but the flies, oh, they were relentless. We either had to wear long pants while we played on the beach or else we were laying in the water of the stream with our head nets on so the flies couldn't bite us. But the thing is, there were no flies at Trappers Lake. If we had gotten the beach sites that we wanted, we wouldn't have been able to enjoy our time because of the flies. What a great change of plans that turned out to be.

I thought this was a Loon from a distance, but it's a Merganser, with 24 babies. Look at the ones on her back. I'm guessing she adopted some of these, perhaps the other mother died? I can't imagine that she would have hatched all of them herself. But how stinking cute is this???

My companions enjoying one of the many beautiful vistas we found.

Write this one up as another successful trip.

I said...

this was my final hike on this trail and then I was going to retire it...find a new trail...

But I just don't think I can. It's just too beautiful. I knew Sir S would love it too, so we went out this past weekend with a few friends and backpacked both Loda Lake and the stretch from Nichols Lake to Highbanks Lake again. My gosh is this place pretty.


Pitcher Plant


Swollen Bladderwort

Pink Lady Slipper



Wild Lupine

Blue Flag

Then, after hiking nearly 9 miles on Saturday, this boy still had energy enough to dance with the wolves.

 

I just know I'll hike it again...

Loda Lake Wildflower Sanctuary

I ran across Loda Lake by accident a few years ago while traveling home via the back roads after kayaking. I marked it on my map, came home and looked it up, but disregarded it for hiking because the trail is only 1.5 miles. I guess I didn't do my research very well because it has a connector to the North Country Trail and it's easy to plan a trip with as many miles as you would like. Fortunately, my hiking group planned a weekend trip to include Loda Lake and, of course, I joined in. Please, enjoy the photos...I certainly enjoyed my hike.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica

Hepatica - note the 3 bracts surrounding the partially open flower

Trout Lily

Spring Beauty

Marsh Marigold, Cowslip

Ostrich Fern fiddle heads, edible - note the groove running down the inside of the stem. This signifies that it is Ostrich and not Cinnamon or Interrupted, neither of which should be eaten.

Cutleaf Toothwort

Trout Lily

Mayapple

Woodland Terrarium - wishing I had picked this up because it would look gorgeous in my garden

Fairy Castle

Hepatica

Partridgeberry

Lesser Scaup

Tree Groundpine

Northern Pitcher Plant, carnivorous

Tree Swallow

Tree Swallow

Serviceberry

Lesson learned: if I happen across someplace that appeals to me, I darned well better get in there and explore it. I could have easily ignored this place for years and never known what a gem it is.