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Isle Royale end-to-end solo loop hike part 9 – On the Minong Ridge Trail
This is the 9th post on my end-to-end solo backpacking trip on Isle Royale, and my 5th day on the island. I am on the Minong Ridge Trail headed to N. Lake Desor.
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Hiking on the Minong Ridge Trail
The hike had been enjoyable so far – a sunny day on the ridge, carefully picking my way over the rocks while looking for cairns. I came across another solo woman hiker going the opposite direction. She had just seen a cow moose, but it was already gone when I went through.
My biggest struggle of the hike was that once again I let my mind get ahead of my feet. I thought I was nearly to the campground, but found I was just coming up to the toughest two miles of the hike. There were a lot of ups and downs which left me winded. It still wasn’t bad though – it reminded me of the hike to McCargoe Cove, but with more rocky ridges.
There were some steep climbs that got me re-thinking my life choices, but nothing too terrible. The ridges were getting hotter as the sun rose higher in the day, though they often had stronger breezes which helped.
The lower parts down in the woods were shady and cool, and a nice change. Some sections were heavily overgrown, often with ferns nearly as tall as I am. The variation kept it interesting.
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Get the Isle Royale guidebookSome sections in the woods were muddy and swampy and filled with mosquitos. Those were still interesting, but less fun – especially the part with mosquitos!
Eventually I reached the spur to N. Lake Desor. It was a gentle stroll through a birch forest – a much easier hike than the trek to Little Todd Harbor. I went 6.3 miles in 4 hours 39 minutes. That’s 1.35 miles per hour – yikes! That’s very slow, even for me!
North Lake Desor Campground on Isle Royale
N. Lake Desor Campground is tents only, no shelters. The campsite was spacious and wooded. There were two other women at the campground, and that was it. It was peaceful and quiet.
I was in campsite #1, and had my own trail down to the lake. N. Lake Desor does not have a view of the setting sun, but I still sat down by the water to watch the sky change color.
Missed the beginning of the series? Read Isle Royale part 1: Planning & Training
