Sunrise on Isle Royale begins with a glow on the horizon, then a wash of color.
It spreads and builds as the sun creeps up over the horizon.
This sunrise was reflected in Feldtmann Lake on the island's SW corner. I could hear a moose splashing along the edge of the trees in the distance. And a beaver swam past taking inventory of his trees.
Next year, I will lead an all-women team of hikers searching for moose bones and gathering scientific data on the island. If you are interested, please email me at: LakeTrek@gmail.com
My time on Isle Royale was spent in search of bones...
MOOSE BONES.
Many of these moose died years ago and their skeletons have become part of the island...
covered in moss and leaves....
Ancient moose skull (Photo courtesy of Jason Duetsch {Shiras Photography})
Wayne Shannon with unearthed skull (Photo courtesy of Jason Duetsch {Shiras Photography})
Our team found many bones.
Swampy skeleton (Photo courtesy of Jason Duetsch {Shiras Photography})
Woman power! Ifi and I haul moose bones (Photo courtesy of Jason Duetsch {Shiras Photography})
Moose bones strapped to my pack (Photo courtesy of Jason Duetsch {Shiras Photography})
Our team brought back five moose skulls! (L>R: Me, Bob, Wayne, Ifi, and Jason) (Photo courtesy of Jason Duetsch {Shiras Photography})
This study has been going on for 56 years now and almost 5,000 skulls have been collected.
Researcher's collection of moose skulls (photo courtesy of Cathy More)
Many scientific papers have been published using information from these gathered bones.
Find links to these publications here. And a recent article on the plight of the wolves on Isle Royale here. {Thanks to my fellow hikers for these photos!}
in search of moose bones was an amazing experience! I was on a team of five hikers led by Wayne and Jason (see photo below).
Go TEAM! [L>R: Bob, Ifi, Me, and leaders Wayne & Jason]
It was a new experience for me to hike with a group. With the rough terrain, cold conditions, and an occasional missing bridge, it was essential that we watch out for each other in this wilderness.
The bridge was washed out, so we crossed on this log
Our team found many moose bones (I'll blog about that part of the adventure later).
Jason, Wayne, and Bob look over the map
And we worked well as a team. I'd like to thank Wayne and Jason for their able leadership.
Last year I completed about half of my current adventure exploring the ISLANDS of the Great Lakes.
I am currently working on this portion of the manuscript so I can send it to my publisher.
If you've read either of my first two books, you'll know that they are much more than an adventure journal. I do interviews with experts and interesting people I meet along the way.
And I do a lot of reading.
A LOT.
Part of My Great Lakes Library
I track down rare books with the help of great Indie Booksellers (thanks, especially, to Dog Ears Books in Northport, MI, Black River Books in South Haven, MI, and Novel Ideas in Baileys Harbor, WI). I buy textbooks to help me more fully understand subjects like geology and natural history.
Books and notes and research
I collect biographies of unique people associated with the Great Lakes. Recently, I acquired a new book about C.H. Thordarson. This man was born in Iceland, then his family came to America when he was quite young. Thordarson was a fascinating figure -- an inventor, a Chicago businessman -- connected to the Great Lakes Islands. He owned Rock Island which is located near Washington Island in western Lake Michigan.
All of this research allows me to bring fascinating information and stories and people to my books and to share the very best of what I learn with YOU.
This year, I'll complete the second half of this adventure. I'll explore islands in Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Lake Ontario.
I'll also help with the Moosewatch Expedition on Isle Royale this May! Connecting with research going on these islands is a big part of this current adventure and will add a new dimension to the book.
A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure
will be released in 2015.
Until then, follow my adventures here and sign up for occasional e-mail updates:
The National Park Service is holding public meetings around the Great Lakes to get input about what -- if anything -- should be done to save the population of wolves on Isle Royale.
I attended one of these meetings in Chelsea, Michigan.
The ranger talks about Isle Royale
There is one pack of wolves currently on Isle Royale with 11 adults. This year they had at least 2 pups.
The pack has lost genetic diversity over time, and there is a genetic skeletal deformation that has become prevalent in the wolves there.
These are three alternatives the NPS is considering:
1. No action
2. Bring a new pack to the island once current pack dies out
3. Bringing a few individual wolves to the island to increase genetic diversity and health of pack
The Lansing State Journal did an amazing special report with gorgeous photos on this topic. It can be found HERE. I have applied to assist with the moose-wolf study in May of 2014 as part of my current adventure exploring many of the islands of the Great Lakes. Isle Royale is a special place in the lakes, a jewel of a park and home to the longest predator-prey study ever done. Data for The Moose-Wolf Project has now been collected for over 50 years. Input from the public is welcome. E-mail your comments to: ISRO_wildlife@NPS.org
Just as my first hike around Lake Michigan gave rise to my second journey touching all five Great Lakes,
the later journey gave rise to my newest adventure:
Exploring the ISLANDS of the
GREAT LAKES
Did you know that there are over 30,000 islands in the Great Lakes and connecting waterways?
It would take several lifetimes to explore them all! So, I will explore a thousand miles of these islands by hiking, kayaking, and even bicycling.
I also plan to explore and even help with some of the research projects on the islands:
The moose/wolf study on Isle Royal in Lake Superior
The study of the piping plover on South Manitou Island in Lake Michigan
The Lake Erie water snake research on South Bass Island
I have been weaving this island adventure in with my current book tour. I'm having a blast exploring and researching some our fascinating Great Lakes islands and will blog about them soon!
This adventure will span two years, 2013-14. It is: A 1000-MILE GREAT LAKES ISLAND ADVENTURE
