Page 10 - Volume 14 Number 8

the entire Bayfield Peninsula. Or one could choose from a similar variety of options in or near La Pointe, Wisconsin on Madeline Island. In addition to Maj. Gilbert Field, Madeline is accessible by car/ passenger ferry departing Bayfield. In the coldest months of a typical winter, this ferry route is frozen solid and an ice road is maintained along the same route for those brave enough to drive it.
Once in the area, it’s the Apostle Islands and Lakeshores that call to be explored. The perfect starting point is at the Old Bayfield Courthouse. The stylish brownstone building houses the AINL Visitor Center. There are actually 22 islands in the archipelago, 21 of which are part of AINL. Only Madeline Island is not within AINL boundaries, though nearly a quarter of it is made up of the tranquil 2,500-acre Big Bay State Park. Most of the islands have campsites for those wishing to roam a desolate isle, followed by a night of near solitude. Sea kayaking
is also a popular way for tourists to explore the closer-in islands, as rental equipment and guides are readily available from several launch locations. Via kayak, one can paddle to an island, beach the craft, hike the trails on a given island, then move on to the next. But the most popular way to experience the islands is through a variety of cruises offered by NPS-authorized concessioner companies. Specific cruises cater to those wishing to explore the island’s lighthouses (there are seven), to learn about shipwrecks and visit their locations, or to just meander between the islands while feasting on the scenery of their picturesque shorelines, sea caves and jagged cliff faces.
It’s important to remember that these islands are not stagnate environments for casual sightseeing. They are vibrant with wildlife (water, land and air) and densely forested. Even the area’s native black bears, who are excellent swimmers, are routinely spotted on the various
An adult Sandhill Cranes forages in the marshland of Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island. Big Bay offers relaxing hiking, self-pay canoe and kayak rentals and great wildlife spotting.
islands. Although the native old growth forests of towering white pine, hemlock, yellow birth, and sugar maple were decimated by logging decades ago, the island forests have rebounded since logging was halted. The plant life is less diverse now, the trees much smaller than their ancestors, and the timberland mix far less mature than in centuries past. Nonetheless, the islands remain untamed, mostly uninhabited, and at times wholly inhospitable. Choosing the right time and weather to cruise upon Lake Superior and hike or camp on its islands should not be understated.
For those adventuresome enough to make it off the peninsula and onto one or more of the islands, some highlights to consider are:
= Stockton Island: Home of the only non-mainland AINL Visitor Center, a historic brownstone quarry and extensive hiking.
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8 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
AUGUST 2020