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The eastern segment of the Lake Superior Trail is
accessed from M-107, about 3 miles west of the Government Peak Trail
and about 1 mile before the road ends at the Lake of the Clouds
Overlook. Mike and Aimee first hiked this segment in 1990, from M-107
to Lone Rock. In 1993, we attempted but did not complete a hike to Lone
Rock from the opposite direction, so in 1994, we re-hiked this segment
far enough to complete the trail. (Well, Mike did, with Aimee stopping
at Lone Rock while Mike completed the remaining
1 3/4 miles and back.) In 2003, Mike and Maria hiked from M-107
to
Buckshot Cabin, a round trip of six miles.
The first three miles of this trail descend nearly 600 ft from M-107
to the lake. It isn't a straight descent -- there is a very
slight
rise from the road to a ridge before the descent begins. Vistas
of
the lake begin to become visible once you reach the ridge.
Much of the descent is gradual, with the trail
following along the ridge, but the last half has some moderately steep
segments. Along the ridge and descending from it, the trail follows a
rocky path nearly all the way to Buckshot Cabin and the lake.
Doing a dayhike, as we did, means that you will have
to make these climbs late in the hike on the roundtrip. There's no
option for a loop dayhike along the Lake Superior Trail.
The first vista of the lake appears just before the
beginning of the moderate descents. After that, it's a bit over a mile
to the Buckshot Cabin located on the lake shore. The beach adjacent to
the cabin is neither sand nor loose stones, but rather a rocky
ledge.
When Mike and Maria did their 2003 hike, they enjoyed
eating thimbleberries and a few red raspberries along the last half
mile to mile of the trail before reaching Buckshot Cabin. On the
beach, they snacked and talked with
a hiker from northern Wisconsin about their experiences in the Porkies.
The trail follows the lake closely for most of its remaining distance,
although it is not always visible. The only marked points of interest
between Buckshot Cabin and the mouth of the Big Carp River are Lone
Rock,
a small "island" visible from a short side trail, and a trail shelter
about 3/4 mile beyond Lone Rock.
One thing to remember: While hiking the trail in 1994, we encountered a
family group consisting of children, parents, and a grandmother between
M-107 and the lake. At first, we were concerned that the older woman
would be attempting a somewhat rugged hike. Our concerns were dispelled
when we
mentioned the situation to another hiking group we encountered on the
return trip to the road, and they described how "Grandma was leading
the way" as
the family climbed the steep segment back up from the lake. Aimee and I
vowed we would be still be hiking like this in 25 years!
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Mike poses on the Lake Superior shore near Buckshot
Cabin on a windy August 4, 1994. The first 2 1/2 to 3 miles of the Lake
Superior trail lead from M-107 down to this point where the trail
reaches the lake. Most of the remainder of the trail follows the lake
closely.
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Lone Rock is among the few points of interest noted
on the trail map for this segment of the Lake Superior Trail. A large,
although faded, wooden sign along the trail points out the short side
trail to this rock beach.
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This view of the Lake Superior shoreline is just off
the Lake Superior Trail, about halfway between Lone Rock and the mouth
of the Big Carp River, or about 1 3/4 miles in either direction. Mike
reached this point in the westbound direction on August 4, 1994, having
gotten here in the eastbound direction the previous year via the Pinkerton Creek and Lake Superior Trails.
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As luck would have it, the day that Maria and Dad did their hike was
the hottest day of what had been a cool summer of 2003.
Temperatures reached the mid to upper 80s even in the western
U.P. The heat reminded Mike of the famous
Memorial Day weekend 1988 hike of the Government Peak Trail with
Aimee and his brother. Instead of the usual brilliant blue sky
next to the dark blue of Lake Superior, the hazy sky on this hot day
made it difficult to make out the horizon where lake ended and sky
began.
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