Day 4 - Moskey Basin to Daisy Farm - Raining

This morning felt different. The pressure was low. The air was cool, and despite us being a feast for the mosquitos the past days, few were waiting for us as we unzipped our tent flap and rose out of our tent. We chose to have breakfast out on the dock free from the pestilence. The clouds this morning were dark, and the sun sat low on in the horizon. The days were long on Isle Royale during this time of the year, making our tired bodies be attached to alert minds. We enjoyed the breakfast, deciding today that we will head north, with the single purpose of sleeping in a beautiful shelter.

Moskey Basin

After breakfast, we passed over the rickety bridge heading back north again. Shortly underway the temperature and pressure dropped further. We heard thunder roll in one uninterrupted eruption, echoing across Lake Superior. The downpour began.

Storm on Isle Royale

We felt the individual drops through the canopy and heard the pattern envelope us. We halted, donned our rain flies, and placed our rain covers over our backpacks. Temperatures kept dropping, as the storm thickened. The rain flooded the trail. After several miles, we met our first campsite of the day - Daisy Farm - and decided to wait out the storm in a shelter. We brushed past thick vegetation, looking at multiple sites as we made our way across the spider web of the larger campground. We settled on one that bordered Lake Superior. We saw the power of the rain as it blurred the bay with thousands of droplets and waves from those droplets. Visibility went from about a mile to well less than that.

View from Our Shelter

Rain, Rain Here to Stay

We took our wet clothes and hung them up, unfolded our sleeping bags, and went through the process of drying out our equipment. At this point, the temperature dropped so much that we went into our sleeping bags.

We were entertained by the surrealistic graffiti on the walls of the shelter. “Moose Wanted” posters, death by mosquitos, and tales of previous trips - possibly also written during downpour. We passed the time huddled for warmth and going through conversation starters on a phone. The rain became more violent as we sat and watched, grateful that we were not a ridge, but here instead.

Shelter de Daisy Farm

Plenty of Time to Get Artsy

By midafternoon, the rain had slowed to a threat as dove-grey clouds passed across the sky. We chose to go rock hunting on the beach, looking for greenstones and animals. Near dinner, the sun began to change the clouds from charcoal to ash. After days on non-stop movement, we went back to the dock, sat, and watched for loons.

Cove Walk

More Time to Get Artsy

Daisy Farm Dock

Summary

• From: Moskey Basin
• To: Daisy Farm
• Miles: 3.9