The Greenstone Ridge Trail

Trail Notes

I hiked Isle Royale from end to end. I heard a wolf howling at night. I saw my first osprey flying with a fish. I saw rare caterpillar moths and tree fungus. I heard loons on every lake, and I saw two moose. What is special about Isle Royale is that it continually surprised me with things rarely seen on the mainland.

My second day, going from Daisy Farm Campground to Chicken Bone Lake, I saw an osprey. It was holding a fish by its dorsal fin facing forward. The osprey had swooped down and pulled the fish out from behind as it was swimming. The bird hovered flying sideways while making a loud excited chirp. I was taking a break on a rock eating a pouch of tuna. It seemed as if the bird was showing off his fish while making fun of mine.

My first moose encounter was in a swamp near Mt. Franklin. I was gingerly walking along a narrow plank bridge. The splashing to my right let me know without a doubt there was a moose. I turned my head and there he was looking at me with his ears up. I tried to turn to take a picture. My hiking bag almost pulled me into the water, and I missed my shot. The moose shook his head at me and turned back the way he came.

About three miles from Windigo I came across fresh wolf scat. I had heard a rustling in the forest just minutes earlier. She was probably out there watching me. When I reached Windigo I told a ranger about my scat sighting. She notified some Wolf researchers who went out to retrieve a sample. So I guess I can kinda say I participated in the wolf study.

Critter List

• Moose – 2
• Loons – 4
• Osprey
• Bald Eagle
• Luna Moth
• Garter Snake – 5
• Common Merganser – 2
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Blue Jay – 2
• Dragon Fly – 6