We Are New Reporters

Hello, we are new reporters. We are hired to do news for Park Service, we are, how you say, excited. The Dengate girl tell us we are last resort, which she tell us is good thing.

Now a little for us. We are Vladimir Verstratski and Boris Johnstokev, here for cultural learnings in America for short time and for reporting journal training. Our government, they are pleased with our involvement in American media.

Now for first, how you say? Headliner.

The Queen Boat, she is not running, and the Ranger Boat, she is delayed-
Isle Royale Queen Boat is not running for August 15, 16, and 17 except for 17 at evening for one trip, which makes distress in visitors. Boris though, he tell me visitors on boat, they are more distressed, like sick moose. My sources, they tell me the Queen Boat she is going twice today which will get visitors catch up.

Searching and Rescuing for visitor at Daisy's Farm-
Boris and I we are called out from rest to searching for missing man at Daisy's Farm. After long searching time, he is not found that night but in morning. We are glad he is found.

Boris and I, we are here til next time. Take easy.

Leaving the Isle

I'm writing this post from my dining room in a little suburb of Detroit. I drove a car today. I went out for breakfast. A truck just drove by, the pavement is hot, at night the streetlights turn on and the streets fill up with partiers, and when I want to go jump in the lake, I have absolutely zero options.

It's pretty weird.

I left the island on the Ranger III Saturday morning, and already I wouldn't mind going back. My last week was pretty rad, what with cliff-jumping at Conglomerate (if anyone has yet to go there, getcho butt in a boat NOW), causing a grease fire at the Ben East (you know how I do), and a rather wild water balloon fight. We had our interp farewell party, complete with awesome thermoses and delicious brats. There was swimming and jumping and boating and stargazing.

I hear you guys have had some wild weather out there; I shudder to think about the crowds that I'm sure are filling up Rock Harbor and Three Mile campgrounds. Beyond the weather, I'm not sure what's going on there right now - and thus, I leave you, and say farewell, because reporters with zip idea about what's going down tend to be pretty sucky reporters (not that there is any lack of them in our media, probably.) It's been fun to be your reporter. I'd love to be back. In the meantime, stay strong, live loud, treat the island well, leave some splash traces, and be nice to my fearsome foursome (now a threesome...ooh, that sounds exciting) and our fearless leader. Give Steve a high five for me.

With love from the mad bad streets of Deeeetroit -
Liz,
Your Snug Harbor Reporter

P.S. Oh, and you didn't think I'd leave you news-free, did you? My replacement should be starting shortly. His name is Vladimir Verstratski, and he just arrived from Russia. I know we're all looking forward to his posts.

The Seaplane is Out of Service...

Remember how the seaplane showed up last week suffering mechanical problems, forcing a few passengers to hightail it onto the Ranger to get home? A cylinder was misfiring, and the pilot had to return to the mainland carrying only himself, keeping the weight down. As it turns out, the engine requires a new part (frankly, it seems rather lucky to me, with all this going down, that the seaplane isn't floating/sinking somewhere in the middle of Lake Superior at the moment.) The said part is being Fed-Exed from the East Coast, and the seaplane service predicts they won't be up and flying before Wednesday. In the meantime, we'll be importing Windigoans (as it turns out, we have a very friendly immigrant policy in Rock Harbor) and trying to fit everybody on the Queen and Ranger.

Speaking of "in service" and "out of service," I actually heard Dispatch on the radio today, their volume being, for the first time, slightly louder than that of an ant whispering lullabies. Is this here to stay? No predictions can yet be made.

Lastly, and of top importance here in Snug Harbor, ripe thimbleberries are finally everywhere to be found. This marks a new and delicious era of summer!

Stay tuned for some awesome action shots of line catching, taken by our very own Andrea Tavegia...

A Typical August Saturday

We've been getting busy in Snug Harbor, with over 200 in the V.C. every day and full loads on the Queen and Ranger, but there remains a very small number of Incidents. Of course, we have our aviators, which helps us reign justice. There are the swarms of day-trippers requesting the spots to "find wildlife - well, I mean, moose", and the occasional people missing their rides home (just this morning, the artist-in-residence has been stranded, having never been picked up from the cabin), inflatable kayakers getting buffeted around the harbor, and the assorted blisters, sprains, and sore throats. But nothing, happily, too very taxing. Or, in fact, taxing at all.

Pete has left us yet again for another stint at another NPS destination. Oh, and last night I did my last ever evening program on bugs, complete with a musical introduction and announcer voice compliments of Casey, which came, as few introductions ever do, at the very end of my program. (Andrea saved the day, as she has a tendency to do.) It's a long story; Casey, I again apologize for making you hide behind the podium for the program's entire duration. :)

The Ranger III left this morning slightly later than usual, loaded down with several boxes and a display case from us for Houghton. The seaplane, apparently, suffered some kind of engine problem on the way over - they told the passengers as they landed, "Wow, just made that one - I never did get up to the proper altitude." Reassuring. The couple scheduled to return to Houghton purchased two last minute Ranger tickets and hopped on as the whistle blew.

The sky is blue, the sun is shining, and the harbor's calm - it's another happy weekend in Snug Harbor.

Aurora Borealis

Last night the northern lights came to Isle Royale, and it was too beautiful and amazing and otherworldly for me to even attempt making some kind of trying-to-be-witty comment about it. People gathered on the docks; we laid out in the cool night, and simply watched the sky. The view was perfect in Tobin Harbor - we could see the towering beams of light dancing to the north for a long while. At one point, a perfect shooting star blazed right across the middle of one. It was absolutely ridiculous how perfect it all was.

Extreme thank yous to those in Houghton who gave us a heads up. We tried passing the word on to a bunch of visitors here, and those who headed out late last night pass on their gratitude as well.

In other news, Casey killed a mouse on the Ben East West kitchen counter last night using only a half-full Planter's peanut jar and his bare hands. He wasn't even wearing his aviators. Stay tuned for news on possible hantavirus outbreaks in the interp population...

Huntin' Zebras, IsRo Style

Remember that giant pirate ship that sailed in several days back? Two masts? More lines than a Shakespeare play? Possibly the only group of people in the world ready and able to compete with the population of Mott Island at rowdiness?

Well, they also had a hull covered in more zebra mussels than we like to see in Lake Superior, and as you might remember from a previous post, several of our diving finest went down to scrape those buggers off. I now present, compliments of Cherie and Pete (many, many thanks to their fine photography) some photos of the ship and the diving expedition...

Views of Chrismoose

Thanks to Cherie, I bring you some pictures of Chrismoose; whether you were there or not, you can now live vicariously through these shots of company and cheer...

Folks gather outside the rec hall for conversation and recreational fly-swatting:
Food, drink, and uproarious laughter are enjoyed by all:
And Levi good-naturedly appears to fail at the ol' butt darts (although it's hard to tell in this photo - he might be making an amazing shot here, and chuckling delightedly at his great skill and fortune; as the old Ojibwe saying goes, a man who succeeds at dropping quarters into jars using only his rear end will go far in life)

Major, Major Updates

I have a lot of big news for you guys today, so hold onto your seats and get ready to learn many both exciting and melancholic updates.

NUMBER ONE: Our amazing, fearless, and super-skilled leader, Andrea/Mama, has returned from her training in Wisconsin. She arrived on the seaplane yesterday afternoon, startling Andrew as she excitedly hollered from the plane's window. She came bearing a large box of donuts, and was thus very eagerly greeted by all. We can all breathe easily and laugh happily now that she's back. (Although Casey did do an absolutely stellar job as acting lead in her absence.) As far as the training went, it sounds like the hotel room lamps were decorated with small moose, and most people from other parks think that our own Isle Royale is very "weird." But in a good way. Regardless, Welcome home, Andrea!!


NUMBER TWO: Chrismoose, as it should have been, was a blurry conglomerate of Rock Harbor sunset and tequila sunrises, hot food and ice-cold KBC, starlight and firelight, hugs and whoops, games and gifts. Photos (from Cherie on Mott) are forthcoming. Games included the ever-popular "butt darts" (many congratulations to Ranger III's Paul for his exquisite marksmanship); there was also a white elephant gift exchange that began with 28 strangely shaped presents under the festive Chrismoose tree. I am proud to say that, as number four, I walked away with a delicious Tootsie Pop and a sizable chunk of bubble wrap.

It was a warm, moist night, and Mott truly came alive with good company, even though I understand that there wasn't quite as much pre-planning done as in previous years. ("There wasn't that much food," is what I heard from the Col Plumer, who, granted, is a thirteen year old boy with, presumably, the appetite of one.) I must admit, I was previously unaware that so many people existed at this end of the island. Like moths to a bright light, we clustered around this glowing, fictitious holiday - and instead of zapped to death, just got - ahem - zapped? And spent a merry night with friends new and old. Merry Chrismoose!!

NUMBER THREE: Our interp ranger Wanda, our very own native Californian, has left us. She left the island Saturday morning on the Ranger III - a sudden departure, and one that means a lack of Wanda and all that she brings with her (botanical knowledge to mammal stories) for the rest of the season. Her departure was due to a family emergency, and required haste. We'll make do in her absence, now down to just five interp rangers in the Snug, but Wanda, we'll miss you!

In honor of her leaving, and as a manner of goodbye, I'd like to share an excerpt from something she wrote about the island:

What I loved about it right off was the wildness, the wind, the waves, even the steady, cold rain. And now that I reflect, also the remoteness. After six hours on a boat, you know you've gone someplace. It's like going to Antarctica...remote. Wild.
Michigan has a special kind of greenness. It's a mixed green of dark spruce and the spring green of aspen and paper birch. It's a lighter, merrier green than our redwoods. It is a smilier, warmer green than the somber, dreary coast trees.
I loved the rocks right away, and the waves and the spruces, and the off-shore islands. I, like everyone else, wanted to see wolves and moose. Just the possibility of seeing them in tantalizing, a primeval challenge.
The hugeness of Lake Superior is sobering, but it wasn't until the orientation tour to Passage Island that I started to be enthralled by shipwrecks and lighthouses. The lighthouses are a natural extension of rocks and waves, rising up from their rocky islets...The shipwrecks, too, are an extension of wind, waves, and rock, but an extension based not on physical proximitiy, but on cause and effect. In this case not blue skies, but steel gray, with flurries of snow and roaring winds.
...
I've always been charmed by water, since I was a small child and wanted to go "wimming" in every small puddle. Now I am enchanted by the shades of blue and aqua, the waves splashing, the ducks with their ducklings in tow, and perhaps above all, by the prospect of paddling my own small kayak on those blue waves.

We and the island will miss you, Wanda - know that wherever you sit as you read this, in the dry, foriegn place of northern California, we're thinking of you. Snug Harbor will most certainly not be the same.
Goodbye, Wanda!!

In order to leave this post on a slightly merrier note, I'd like to conclude with this perfectly delightful poem, given me by Paul of the Ranger III (the very same excellent marksman from Chrismoose):

About Mosquitos

Someone once asked me

What good are mosquitos?

I told them I'd find out,

Since I really don't know.

One thing that's for sure

Is their appetite for blood -

Their annoyance is much easier

To hate than to love.

So what on earth possessed nature

To include them in her plan?

Was it so gear stores

Could sell "Off" in a can?

If we look a little deeper

Into the overall scheme of things,

There's much more to the picture

Than their itchy little stings.

Have you ever watched a warbler

Dancing through the trees?

Picking them off one by one,

When he gets to feeling hungry?

Frogs, snakes, and dragonflies

Think they're great for lunch

And bats feast on them regularly

When they come out at dusk.

So in fact they do serve a purpose

In Nature's circle of life.

So don't think too badly of them

When you scratch their little bite.

P.S. I would also like to add a Happy Birthday to my dad, who turns fifty today!!!

Tonight:

chris∙moose (krĭs'-mōōs)n.
1. An annual afternoon and evening of revelry, food and drink, games, socializing, costumes, and occasional debauchery, as occurs in late July in the wilderness National Park of Isle Royale, and is widely attended by Park Service employees, friends, and family members. A celebration of summer nights, cameraderie, and the bliss of the liquid-smoked sky.
2. An elusive moose-like creature that roams Isle Royale, dressed in tinsel, with bells on his antlers and stockings on his hooves. He prefers to be called Christopher.

Let's live this word to the fullest - see you on Mott!

PIRATES IN ROCK HARBOR!!!

Okay, they weren't exactly pirates, per se, but the tall ship that sailed in last Sunday generated so much excitement, they might as well have been. The beautiful brig Niagara, and her 41 passengers/crew, graced us with her presence from about 3:30 pm Sunday until sunset Monday evening. They were greeted on the Ranger III dock at Snug Harbor by pretty much our entire population, and the captain, Wesley, generously allowed everyone to swarm aboard and check it out. (They even had a real, gen-u-ine gangplank. It was awesome.) The Niagara's home is Erie, PA - they were en route to Duluth, MN.


The night was spent docked at Mott Island, where they avoided "the fishbowl" and got a warm night of much merrymaking in its stead, complete with fiddles, guitars, dancing, a bonfire, and enough spirits that if they HAD been pirates, they probably still would have been satisfied.


They're gone now, but I think the lovely image of their masts and lines towering over the spruce tops lingers on in everyone's mind.

They did, however, bring something not quite as nice as beautiful views and gangplanks with them - a whole hoard of zebra mussels. Our very own Pete, Marshall Plumer, Paul Brown, and Dan Pontbriand spent much of Monday morning/afternoon diving on the Niagara, scraping the nasty buggers into buckets. Apparently whoever cleaned the hull before they entered the park didn't really do a top-notch sort of job. Hopefully none of the mussel-y vacationers decided to take up permanent residence in our little island paradise.


(A second tall ship was scheduled to arrive Monday afternoon, but they never showed - no word on what's up with that. Very curious.)



In other news, Paul Brown has reported a confirmed find of a deer tick. The tick was found on the arm of a Rock Harbor employee and brought to Brown for identification. (See photo - really gorgeous critter, eh?) Brown emphasized that this is "most likely an isolated incident," but if anyone finds a tick, they should bring it to him to check exactly what sort of tick it is.

Pics From the Snug

I promised you photos, and I shall deliver. Let's take a look at Rock Harbor through the lens of the digital camera...

Firstly, I owe you pictures of the epic Independence Day canoe race, featuring Beth and Katie as the first canoeists (canoers?) back...well, at least of the two NPS teams.

The shabby (but oh so chic) Ben East is looking lovely in the summer haze:

Has anyone ever noticed how funkily beautiful the trees are on the way up to Mt. Franklin?(That's right. These trees are funky.)

I've been hanging out with some pretty rad fungis lately, including this particularly delicious lookin dude (seen on the way up to Lookout Louise), and this gorgeous yellow buddy who posed well with my leg (on the Tobin Harbor trail.)

And as always, we are ENJOYING ourselves here in the Snug, as seen by this delightful Ranger III-Interp Potluck spread:

One last thing - and this photo (of the Fearsome Foursome) goes out to our dear lead interp Andrea, who has left us for ten days to St. Croix. (But not the tropical island one.) Mama, the badasses miss you.

Til next time -

This has been the Snug Harbor Reporter.

Summer Study

It finally feels like summer to me: wicked hot and blaringly sunny. I'm sure that if I dragged someone up here from Missouri right now and told them this was "wicked hot" they'd say, "why the heck are you using 'wicked' as an adjective?", but they'd also probably think this was delightfully cool weather. Regardless, it feels awesome to me.

Huts (I apologize if this is not the correct spelling) informs me that water temperatures 300' out from Mott and 18' down are now at SEVENTEEN DEGREES CELSIUS, which, I know, I know, we're American here, is about 62 degrees Fahrenheit. Ridiculous. That's like, bathtub temperature after you've been sitting in it for hours because you just wanted to read a FEW MORE PAGES. We've been jumping in at least once every day.

As the distinguished Sean Curry pointed out in his delightful Windigo Weekly, the island's social life is ripening with the summer berries, and every week brings more events. Last weekend we had Thor's party, a fish fry, and the jump off the Ranger dock (coordinated with the one at Windigo). (In really poor reporter fashion, I missed every single one of these events, but I hear they were a blast.) Tomorrow is the Lodge's "Chrismoose" AND the annual summer party at the Plumers', and then next week is the Park Service "Chrismoose." SO MANY CHRISMOOSES. I think I just might not order groceries for a couple weeks here. Ooh, and in a few weeks - South Shore Ranger Challenge, anyone???

I've been slacking on uploading photos, but I promise to get some more up here soon. In the meantime, keep on livin' life to the fullest, and don't give any snacks to that lucky ol' fox. :)

Yours,
the Snug Harbor Reporter

Hey there y'all,
We're here til fall,
And we've never been more alive!
We're having a ball -
Listen to the loon call -
KQC-705!
- from a genius country song I just wrote, entitled "The Interp Saga"

High Season

Let's take a look at some numbers:

130: max number of passengers on the Ranger III, including 2 admin. holds
130: number of passengers scheduled for Tuesday's Ranger

220: number of visitors in the visitor center yesterday (Friday, July 16)
55: number we've had in the V.C. so far today, after fewer than two hours of being open

31: number of people on group permits alone on today's Queen

65: number of people at Tom Gale's evening program last night

Basically, we're getting pretty darn busy in here. It's very exciting. I have my answer to "Where do we see the moose?" down pat. With Thor's party, the Boater's Association shindig, and Lake Superior Day's leap off the Ranger dock this weekend, things promise to remain exciting for a good while yet.

Keepin' you posted,
the Snug Harbor Reporter

Sunny Days in the Snug

A'ight, folks, let's hop into the beautiful, glamorous, could-totally-kick-the-Lorelei's-butt-in-some-awesome-alternate-universe Cisco, and pull into Snug Harbor for a look-see around. How's the ol' Snug doing in this hot and brilliant weather?



We've got a few good stories this week. Also, I just realized that the above photo is not actually taken from within the Cisco, but shhhh, let's just pretend it is, okay?

Numero Uno, our auditorium is just about ready for its grand opening. After nail pounding and saw running for a few hot summer weeks, the guys have unveiled to us their creation: a big, clean, gorgeous building flooded with light and the probably toxic scent of the carpet. We are in love. I never even saw the auditorium last year, and I know this renovation has got to be way better, because this is pretty much the Best Auditorium in the World. You should see the stars in her eyes when Andrea looks at the huge new windows. Our first program in there will be tomorrow, Friday evening, with a special program on island history from life leasee/author Tom Gale. We'll begin holding ranger programs in there next week.


Otter!


Numero Dos, the weather has been exceedingly interesting lately, as have been the generators. Picture this: It's last Sunday. The World Cup Final. Spain and the Netherlands are playing for the cup, in the hugest sports event of the year, and the game ends zero to zero. Half of the interp staff is glued to our hideous Ben East sofas, eyes on the television, as the game moves into thirty minutes of overtime. And then - the power goes. The house drops into darkness.

"Noooo!" someone screams.

Our radios go wild - but then, you all heard the traffic. 230, 238, 801 - they're back and forth, working out the issue. The little generator gets turned on. The game leaps back into view: still 0:0, Spain has the ball - and bam, it all goes dark again. Our radios kick into gear again, but this time, along with the debate over what to do about the power, we have warnings coming in: "Attention all Isle Royale units: we have a massive thunderstorm moving in from the northeast."

Approximately thirty seconds later, the sky opens in a deluge of icy water.

They did eventually get the power back on, with the assistance of everyone from the Mott mechanics to Marshall's sons, and, after running through the rain, we turned the TV back on just in time to see Spain get handed the cup.

Other than the thunderstorms, anyway, the weather has been absurdly hot and sunny. I'm a fan.

And numero tres (because all good things come in threes), we've had an inordinate number of visitors tumbling off docks into Snug Harbor lately, including, in an odd twist of events, the old dean of Andrew's high school. We haven't determined yet if this is an omen or not, but it has provided lots of fun upper body workouts for our staff, and so far, everyone has come out in tip-top shape. So watch your step, people, and keep your ears and eyes open.

Til next time,
Your Snug Harbor Reporter

Post-jump-into-Rock-Harbor

Tobin Harbor Sunset

Interps Andrew and Leah during the epic Fourth of July canoe race, taking second place!

REQUEST FOR REMOTE REPORTERS

Are you a reader of the Snug Harbor Reporter blog? Do you live either at Mott Island, Windigo, or in Houghton? This message is for you! I’m looking for three remote reporters to send me a weekly update (just a paragraph or few) from your area of the IsRo world. You can include everything from wildlife sightings to crazy visitor stories to gossip and drama to unusual events to photos of your area. If you’re interested, (and I hope a few of you are) please email me at eedengate@gmail.com.

THANK YOU!!

Interviews with the Daring Dozen

There are nine NPS employees and three NPS family members who live here in Snug Harbor, apart from the camaraderie of Mott Island, and just down the path from the Rock Harbor Lodge. That means that not only are we right at the start of trails and adventures (which is cool) but also right in the midst of swarms of visitors, who seem to have this sixth sense that enables them to pick out rangers even when they’re out of uniform, and consequently ask them five million questions. You gotta love it. Sort of.

This post is intended as an introduction to the dozen Snug Harborites.

Meet the Plumers

Marshall Plumer is our District Ranger in Rock Harbor. He’s working on his seventh year as District Ranger here, with four previous years as a seasonal ranger. He’s here with his wife, Dawn, and their two twin sons, Forrest and Col. The Plumers live in Chassell, MI (south of Houghton) when they’re not in Isle Royale. Out here, they live in the Ralph House, just southwest of Snug Harbor proper.

Marshall Plumer, District Ranger (201)
Where were you born? Coco Solo, US Panama Canal Zone
What’s your favorite thing to do on Isle Royale? I have all kinds of favorites. Three things: fishing, kayaking, and - fishing.
What previous jobs have you held? Bartender, grocery clerk, bio tech.
Something most people on the island don’t know about you? Okay, let’s see…I’m sure there’s a lot. They don’t know that I’m a Zonian. You’re born in the Canal Zone, you’re a Zonian. (Marshall’s parents worked in Panama, his mother as a nurse, his father first with the Catholic church and then with the U.S. Army. They traveled around; Marshall’s brother was born in Quito.)

Dawn Plumer
Where were you born? L’anse, MI.
What’s your favorite thing to do on Isle Royale? Hiking and kayaking. They’re both right up there.
What previous jobs have you held? I worked at North Cascades, Voyageur, two parks in Hawai’I, Independence – and Isle Royale of course. I worked at my relatives’ marine: Witz’ marina.
What’s something most people on the island don’t know about you? My legend here: In Windigo I split many cords of wood by hand, faster than the trail crew. I love splittin’ wood.

Forrest and Col Plumer
Forrest and Col are thirteen (they’ll turn fourteen on November third.) They were born in Bellingham, MI, and they make a dynamic and entertaining duo to interview.
What’s your favorite thing to do on Isle Royale?
Forrest: Fish.
Col: Kayak.
What do you guys want to be when you grow up?
Forrest: Uh…probably Marine Corps.
Col: Park Ranger.
What’s something most people on the island don’t know about you?
Forrest: My favorite place to be is in six feet of powder after I’ve hopped off a 20 foot cliff on my skies.
Col: My favorite thing to do is skiing. Um…I don’t know…
Forrest: He’s the only person in the U.P. who plays the bassoon.

Meet the Interp Staff

Andrea Tavegia, Lead Interpretive Ranger (210)
Where were you born? Flint, MI.
Where did you live before coming out to the island? Painesdale, MI. Just south of Houghton.
How many seasons have you been coming here? This is my second.
What’s your favorite thing to do on Isle Royale? Go moose huntin’. Yesss. I don’t shoot ‘em. But I hunt ‘em.
What previous jobs have you held? Interpretive Park Ranger – the last park ranger job I had was at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Before that I was in the Everglades. Before that I was a customer service agent at Kenai Fjords National Park. And before that I was a professional student and research/teaching assistant. Before that I was at Big Cypress National Preserve – and before that I was a wildcat.
Something most people on the island don’t know about you? This is a small island. Everyone knows everything about everyone.

Casey Verstrate, Interpretive Ranger (211)
Where were you born? Grand Rapids, MI
Where did you live before coming out to the island? Grand Rapids, MI
How many seasons have you been coming here? Two.
What’s your favorite thing to do on Isle Royale? Fish the inland lakes.
What previous jobs have you held? I worked for a car wash, I worked at a rest home, I worked at a furniture store assembling furniture. I worked at a farm for a summer. That was pretty intense. I worked for the city of Grandville, hence all my T-shirts. I think that’s it.
Something most people on the island don’t know about you? Heck, I’m not that mysterious. I’m Dutch. I am a master bacon chef. My ponds were ruined by a shopping mall.

Leah LaCasse, Interpretive Ranger (212)
Where were you born? Marquette, MI.
Where did you live before coming out to the island? Marquette, MI. I was in Floral City, FL for a little bit.
How many seasons have you been coming here? First!
What’s your favorite thing to do on Isle Royale? Moose whispering. Wildlife stalking.
What previous jobs have you held? Whoa…I worked at Gander Mountain, cut boxes at Kohl’s. I was a wilderness counselor…professional student…campground attendant and marina attendant.
Something most people on the island don’t know about you? I saw Bob Dylan in concert back when I was younger and didn’t know I was seeing a superstar. I was like six years old and I thought I was in hell.

Wanda Naylor, Interpretive Ranger (213)
Where were you born? San Jose, CA.
Where did you live before coming out to the island? Near Eureka, CA (far northern California) – I’ve been there for the past forty years. Went there to go to school and never left.
How many seasons have you been coming here? This is my first season.
What’s your favorite thing to do on Isle Royale? Hike and botanize – look at new plants and see if I can figure out what they are or learn something about them.
What previous jobs have you held? I was an elementary school teacher for fourteen years and I’ve also worked or volunteered in probably about nine National Parks at this point, and two California state parks. My all-time favorite job was a volunteer job, chasing bears in Yosemite, and educating people how to encourage the bears to be wild.
Something most people on the island don’t know about you? I got to live in Moose, Wyoming, when I worked at Grand Teton National Park, and lived in a little log cabin. It was really neat. That’s where I saw my first moose, and I’ve liked moose ever since.

Liz Dengate, Interpretive Ranger (SCA) (214)
Where were you born? Detroit, MI (lived in the city until age four)
Where did you live before coming out to the island? Ferndale and Ann Arbor, MI

How many seasons have you been coming here? This is number one, baby.
What’s your favorite thing to do on Isle Royale? Jump off docks.

What previous jobs have you held? Wilderness ranger in northern California; community organizer with the Sierra Club; three years as a coffee shop barista; nanny; research assistant; etc.
Something most people on the island don’t know about you? You all know I was home schooled, I Irish dance, I’m a vegetarian, I had a ridiculously odd childhood that did not include a television, and I have a pet hedgehog named Pippo who is AWESOME. What else is there?

Andrew Johnson, Interpretive Ranger (SCA) (215)
Where were you born? Brwyn, IL.
Where did you live before coming out to the island? Brookfield, IL – or Kalamazoo, MI. I go to Western.
How many seasons have you been coming here? This is my first.
What’s your favorite thing to do on Isle Royale? Probably hiking. Backpacking. My favorite place is McCargoe Cove.
What previous jobs have you held? I did restoration on a forest and prairie – plant restoration. Worked in a cafeteria at Western. I worked in a restaurant a while ago.
Something most people on the island don’t know about you? I like to ride my bike really far places. I like to play hackey sack a lot. It’s like my favorite thing to do.

Meet Steve

Steve Juntikka, Maintenance (239)
Where were you born? Royal Oak, MI
Where did you live before coming out to the island? Houghton, MI. I’ve lived there pretty much my whole life.
How many seasons have you been coming here? This is my first season.
What’s your favorite thing to do on Isle Royale? Take pictures of bryophytes.
What previous jobs have you held? Laser operator, a sawyer (going out in the woods, cutting trees down, and making sure you don’t have a log roll on top of you), an automated optical inspector. Yeah, I’ve had quite a variety of jobs. I was a biology teaching/lab assistant.
Something most people on the island don’t know about you? What most people don’t know about me…I have a lot of different hobbies, such as studying the bryophytes, studying garden slugs. Yeah, I’m into horticulture some now, trying to grow some organic vegetables that you can harvest just by harvesting some seeds. I plan on trying to develop an online website store selling garden seeds by mail. That’s something I’m working on right now.

And, coming soon, an interview with law enforcement ranger Pete Sweger (202), after his return from Windigo…

Happy Independence Day!

Ok, so my title is a few days late, but I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July. For those of us who remained behind in Snug Harbor, we partook of an amazing feast prepared by the Lodge (they also supplied very festive beaded necklaces, hackey sacks, paper airplanes, and beach balls) and a canoe race. (NPS didn't do so hot in the race, but both canoes managed to tip each other, and that's what it's all about, right? We were proudly represented by interps Leah and Andrew in one canoe, and ranger Beth and natural resources Katie in the other.) Following the race, everyone jumped off the dock, naturally.

On the fifth, Robert hosted a pork+rice+beans party up at his house, which was a very delicious party indeed, lemme tell you.

And in breaking news, Casey Verstrate outran four other topnotch interpretive taggers in a high stakes game of Kick the Can Tuesday night at the Ben East. His success was partially due to a dead (and granted, rather small) spruce that he managed to push directly into the path of one of his pursuers. Stay tuned for details to follow - revenge is sweet.

A couple of weeks ago, we found a beautiful luna moth over outside the lodge; pictured here is Andrea, giving the little guy a perch:

I would also like to point out (to Captain Bill, especially) that our cover photo is now, at least for the time being, a stellar photo (thanks, Andrea) of our very own Ranger III. :)

A Few Guest Photos and a Loon Update

A couple of our rangers have given me some awesome photos that I'd like to share with everybody:

One, the above photo from Carl, of the Snug Harbor staff taking off in the Lorelei for Windigo for customs training. They make a majestic sight, eh?

Two, this photo from Marshall's sons' friend Thomas Schmidt, of a pile of happy sunning snakes near West Chickenbone, which is pretty awesome.

AND: An important reminder: A few inconsiderate visitors disturbed a nesting loon on the near Tobin Harbor island last week, causing it to play dead repeatedly - luckily it hasn't abandoned its nest yet, but a closure has been put into effect for boaters around the nesting area. If one stays far away and gives the loon its space (observing from "binocular distance," as they say), you can catch a pretty amazing view of a nesting loon if you head over there on shore. Just remember not to paddle too close!

Welcome to July

Somehow it's already July, and almost the fourth, which is crazy weird. The summer is flying by. I'm standing in the V.C. on this warm and sunny and gusty day, with waves rolling in higher than I've seen them yet and rocking all the little concessions boats. Should be a lovely trip back on the Queen for all of you Mott Island-ers heading out today for the fourth...

Let's run through our wildlife/nature report, which I know everybody is pretty psyched for:

Firstly, I hear there's a litter of little baby fox kits over on Mott, squirrelin' around with their mom. I have not been lucky enough to see the little buggers yet, but there have been plenty of sightings.

Secondly, the wood lilies are everywhere, and they come in these ridiculous, outrageous colors like something in a bowling alley or on a Hawaiian shirt. I had no idea that that particular shade of pink existed in nature. It's incredible. (The above photo I took on the Stoll Trail.)

Thirdly, it turns out there are leeches EVERYWHERE in Tobin Harbor. I was on a bug hunt, and every other rock I flipped over had a couple little guys clinging to it. Were you all aware?? Personally I thought they were only in the inland lakes. At least the Tobin leeches are normal-leech-size, unlike the Nessies in the inland bodies of water.

Fourthly, we've got a warty but beautiful lady moose hanging out in Snug Harbor. Check out these photos:

All in all, life is progressing very happily in Snug Harbor, with midnight hikes to Lookout Louise, cross-country adventures, successful harbor walks and evening programs all around (feel free to come check them out whenever you feel like receiving a damn good education), lots of moose sightings, and every day some new weather that has absolutely nothing to do with whatever the weatherman predicted.

This weekends marks Independence Day and a very quiet time in Rock Harbor, with half the staff dispersed to the mainland for fireworks and otherwise revelry. I hope ever-body, no matter where you celebrate this delightful holiday, enjoys the heck out of him or herself. Until next time -

Liz

Snug Harbor Reporter

(I do love that title)

P.S. I almost forgot - a few pretty pictures from sunrise off Scoville Point a few days ago:

P.P.S. And just to make you all jealous, the most delicious fish I have ever eaten (caught by Levi, cooked by Andrew and I):

End of June Update

The season is starting to pick up in Snug Harbor. The Queen brings us boatloads of 70-90 (they’ll start running their full schedule, including Sundays, once July hits), the Ranger is filling up, and almost every day brings some exciting new event, whether it be a capsize, an injury, or someone trying to wriggle around the law. (No worries; we’re keepin’ ‘em in line.) Blueberries have appeared and are working their way to ripeness, big white thimbleberry flowers are everywhere, and people have started munching on strawberries. The island is rife with new growth (also mosquitoes and flies.)

Ranger Pete has returned from his stint as a police officer bringing peace to a South Dakota Indian reservation, rendering our little Rock Harbor family essentially complete. (He’ll be leaving us for Windigo for a couple of weeks though.) We’re made even more complete by the return of Lauren-from-IRKPA to our visitor center. She is my favorite new smiling addition to the tiny VC, not least because she knows exactly what to do when you press all the wrong numbers and the register makes that horrible noise.

Wolf sightings continue to be common, both in the Rock Harbor and Lake Richie vicinities. There have also been a number of “coyote” sightings – take that as you will. We tend to take them with several shakers of salt. The wolf sighters, however, have started emphasizing the point that the wolves stood still and watched them until they yelled to scare them away – could it be another bold wolf summer?

In other news, I have officially caught my first ever fish (and also my second ever and third ever – delicious northern pike.) Casey has been introducing the rest of us interp-ers (Leah, Andrew, and I) to the fine art of Isle Royale angling. (It sounds so glamorous put that way, right? Just leave out the mud and the leeches and the flies.)

Speaking of Casey, he told us the other day about his favorite phrase carved into one of the Isle Royale shelters:

There is a saying passed down by Isle Royale fishermen of old:
“F***. It’s still raining.”

And on this beautiful day turned moist, I would like to leave you with that.

Finally, Some Pictures

Ok, so I know all of you devoted readers out there (you exist, right?) have been just sitting on the edges of your seats, awaiting a Snug Harbor Reporter post with pictures, right? Well, you can take a deep breath and celebrate, 'cause it's happening people, right here, right now. Check it out:

Check out these cool kids: Leah, Nick, Casey, and Andrea prepare to meet the Ranger III.

The rocks along Lake Superior offer a lovely spectrum of colors. (Also, I get bored hiking alone...)

A foggy view of Todd Harbor:

Pink and yellow lady slippers have been especially worthy of photo-taking the last couple weeks. We've got pictures of some pretty cool critters:

A toad on the Stoll Trail:

A baby fox, soaking wet, for some reason, at Todd Harbor.

A curious squirrel outside the Rock Harbor Campground:

After the interp staff had our customs training at Windigo, we got a nice look at the Rock of Ages lighthouse on the boat trip home (thanks, Marshall!):

And a few pictures from my hike to Windigo:

- freakin' delicious strawberries

- the trail down to the North Lake Desor campground



and some views of the oh so lovely, dry, and well-marked Minong Ridge Trail (ha.)

And four of us fearless interp-ers chillin' with the Windigo moose.

Stay tuned for more news and photos, and leave some comments! That would be entertaining.

Stay classy, Snug Harbor -