“Oh What a Beautiful Morning………..” We departed the Slates at 7:30 a.m. with Day
Dreams in the lead. As we rounded
Patterson Island we passed the Sunday Point Light with S/SW winds at 10 and
waves 1-2 ft.
Our original
destination was Pitch Rock Harbor with a dingy excursion to the White River,
falls and suspension bridge. But with
the prevailing wind/waves not conducive to dingy travel, we set out for
Pulpwood Harbor instead. From there we
could either take a significantly shorter dingy ride and 2-mile hike to the
bridge or just hike 5.2 miles (one way with rugged terrain for half the trip).
We were anchored safely in the harbor by 1:30 p.m. Garry and I deployed the dinghy and set out
on a scouting mission. Pulpwood Harbor
and the adjacent Hattie’s Cove and campground are part of the Pukaskwa National
Park which covers some 725 square miles along the northeast shore. We dinghied over to the campground and
Visitor Center where we were instructed to get a day pass for the Coastal
Hiking Trail that would take us to the White River and the suspension bridge
over the falls. So we walked through the
campground to the entrance kiosk for our passes.
The two young ladies at the kiosk were obviously
distracted. Just before we left
Waterford, we had heard a May-Day call over the radio. A canoe with 2 people aboard had capsized
just north of Hattie’s Cove. One of the
2 had made it to shore, but the other was missing. We were not close enough to be of any help
with the dinghy, but for the next couple of hours a search plane circled
overhead. Sadly, we would learn later
that the 73 year old man didn’t make it.
We met Doug and Jan at the beach and while they walked up to
sign in, we took a swing through Hattie’s cove with fishing rod deployed. This is supposed to be a great spot for
pickerel (walleye) ---
not even a nibble! So
we cruised by Day Dreams and made plans to hike to the falls the next day.
Red sky at night................
Sunday Aug 11 Day 71
Off to the White River –
With our backpacks loaded with camera, lunch, water, rain
gear, bug spray, AND bear bell, we beached the dinghies at the campground and
set out. We picked up the Coastal Hiking
Trail just past the Visitor center with 7.2 K (a little over 5 miles) to the
suspension bridge. The first mile and a
half wasn’t too bad, around Hattie’s Cove and over a boardwalk through a marshy
area (no moose). Then it got interesting
– now we know why the park guide listed it as “challenging”!
The Happy Hikers --- this was just the beginning!
First we went up................
And then we went down...................
We made it to the falls a little after 1 p.m. The view of
the 200 foot gorge from the suspension bridge was absolutely breathtaking!
The new bridge suspended 75 ft over the White River gorge.
The river tumbles more than 200 feet through the gorge beneath ......
You can just see a second falls in the distance.
Looking down the other side.
Don't look down!
We had lunch in the rocky clearing on the far side of the
bridge, resting up for the 5+ mile hike back.
I’m thinking this is at least a week’s worth of exercise!!
While we were hiking, my sister Toni, a recent breast cancer
survivor, and her 3 nieces (our daughters, Lee and Laura, and Tiger’s sister’s
daughter Taylor) were completing the Chicago 3-day Komen Walk for the Cure. Our 10 miles, though challenging, can’t
compare to the 60 miles they logged!
Here’s to Beck’s Beauties --- we love you!!
When we got back to the campground, we took advantage of the
showers before taking the dinghies back to the boats. What a nice surprise --- Alizann had
arrived! We spent a lovely evening with
Marty and Suzanne. This will be our last
rendezvous in Lake Superior, but we look forward to crossing paths again.
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