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Isle Royale end-to-end solo loop hike part 11: Headed for Windigo on the Minong Ridge Trail
This is the second half of day 6 of backpacking Isle Royale. I have two more beaver dam crossings, and I get to Windigo where I have the lowest moment of the trip.
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Beaver dam #2 on the Minong Ridge Trail
I had made it through the first beaver dam – the one I’d heard it was easy to lose the trail – but I still had two more to go. There was a long climb that left me winded, but it was doable. I continued on, reaching a very long stretch of planks over water. It was a good thing I didn’t cross paths with anyone going the opposite direction – it wouldn’t be easy to get around someone – and their pack – on the narrow planks.
There were wild iries, and so many butterflies. My boots had some time to dry out before I reached the second beaver dam. This one was a lot less muddy than the first, and had some sticks laid down in the mud to make it easier.
It was easy to follow, and not very long. It was slow-going, but I got through it without issue.
Minong Ridge beaver dam #3
I reached beaver dam #3, expecting it to be the longest and most challenging. It was less muddy than the first, and had logs and planks scattered along the way to make it easier. I think when I read that the third was the most difficult, it was written by hikers traveling from Windigo – meaning I had crossed the hardest one first. It was muddy in spots and slow-going like the second one, but nowhere near as challenging as the first.
Minong Ridge overlook
It was a big climb to get the top of the Minong Ridge overlook, and I arrived there very winded. Maybe that’s why I didn’t manage to take a picture of it. Instead, enjoy a not-great-but-it’s-something screenshot from my GoPro video. (Trust me – it’s better in person anyway!)
Only a few more miles to Windigo – and there’s a moose on the trail
The trail had become more wooded, and for the last section I spent some time high on the ridge, walking on fragrant pine needles. It was peaceful and quiet, and a great way to end my time on the Minong Ridge trail before getting back to civilization (after a week on the trail I can refer to Windigo as civilization!)
As I neared Windigo, there was a cow moose on the trail ahead of me. We stood (a good distance apart – don’t worry!) watching each other for a while, then she wandered farther up the trail. She went a short ways and stopped. It was so great to see another moose, but I was also very ready to be off my feet at Windigo. I went a little closer and she wandered off into the woods.
Arriving in Windigo – and discovering I’d lost my first-aid kit
Before long I came upon a trail marker – only 1.8 miles to Windigo. Then there was a bridge and the water station I’d seen on the map. And then I was in Washington Creek – the campground for Windigo – at last! My feet were hurting so bad I cold barely move. I was definitely ready to be done, and I really needed Advil.
I grabbed the first shelter I came to, number 15. It didn’t have a great view, but I saw 14 was taken and didn’t have the energy to wander around looking to see which ones were open. I went in the shelter and went straight for my first-aid kit to get some Advil. But my first-aid kit wasn’t there. I dumped everything out of my backpack, frantically searching for it. I even looked in my tent thinking maybe I had dropped it in there in the morning, and rolled it up inside. But no luck there, either. I kept the kit in the “brain” of my backpack near my water kit, and realized I may have lost it when I stopped at lunch time.
My first aid-kit had Advil, BandAids, moleskin, small scissors, tweezers, and toenail clippers. I had a different one with more ‘serious’ first-aid items; this was my basic, everyday kit with the things I use the most. And now I didn’t have them. I would have to see what I could buy at the camp store.
The camp store at Windigo
I limped the very long .3 miles to Windigo (okay, it’s not far – but it felt far!), stopping first at the ranger station to collect the food box I’d mailed to myself on the way to Houghton. Then I went up to the store – which was unfortunately up a hill – to see what I could get. (There was a new store being built while I was there – and it’s not at the top of the hill!)
I got some BandAids and molefoam, and a small sewing kit that had a tiny pair of scissors. They wouldn’t be as good as what I had, but I would make do. The biggest issue, though, was the Advil. They sold it in packs of 2. There were 4 of those – 8 total Advil in the store. That might get me through a day – but I still had another week of hiking. I bought 3 of the packs because I didn’t want to take all of them in case some other poor desperate soul came in looking for the same thing.
I wandered around the store but I was hurting so bad and feeling so low that nothing looked good. They had beer, bagels, fresh fruit, yogurt – but I wanted none of it. I bought an apple juice – and also a shower – got cleaned up and went back to my shelter. I sat in my chair for a bit, trying to get my legs to stop aching. (If you didn’t read it in the earlier post – I discovered later that there was an issue with my boots. They made my legs ache. I later took them back to REI and got new boots – no more issues.)
Back at shelter 15 at Washington Creek campground
My shelter was a mess where I had thrown everything about trying to find the first-aid kit. I took two Advil – leaving myself with 4 for the rest of the trip. I felt miserable and I was starting to get cold (wet hair always does that to me). I gave up – I was going to take a nap. I didn’t have the energy to do anything else. I picked up my air mattress and blew it up. Then I picked up my sleeping bag and wondered if my first-aid kit could be inside. I shook it out, and there it was – I had my first-aid kit! I was beyond excited – I may have even cried a little. And then I took two more Advil. I had patched up my feet in the morning before the sun came up, sitting in my tent. The kit ended up inside my sleeping bag.
I made a video after I found the Advil and it was funny to watch it later. I had my arms wrapped around myself and was rocking back and forth through part of it. I was definitely looking rough!
Choosing a shelter at Washington Creek campground
I chose shelter 15 because it was the first one I came to. I did not have a great view of the water – some of them have amazing views – and it is closest to the group sites. Group sites can be noisy. It may be worthwhile to look at other options before choosing #15 – if your feet can manage it!
Start from the beginning with Backpacking Isle Royale Part 1: Planning & Training.
