Moon Michigan's Upper Peninsula by Paul Vachon

Author:Paul Vachon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Avalon Publishing
Published: 2018-04-17T04:00:00+00:00

CLIMATE

Isle Royale is the perfect escape from a hot, sticky summer. With its water temperature rarely exceeding 45°F, Lake Superior does a fine job as North America’s largest natural air conditioner. It also has a significant moderating effect on the island: summers are generally a little cooler than on the mainland, with daytime temperatures from mid-May to mid-August ranging 65-75°F. Nights are north woods cool, often dipping into the 40s and even 30s. Clouds obscure the sun more than half the time in summer, and fog can strike anytime. More than one disappointed backpacker has returned from Isle Royale without any memories of the island’s lovely vistas.

Lake Superior’s moderating effect works in reverse during the cold months. Winters are slightly warmer than on the mainland, though that can be small consolation in this part of the world. Once Lake Superior turns from cobalt to dark gray in late autumn, and its infamous winter storms begin churning, the island becomes shrouded in fog, whipped by wind, and buried under several feet of snow.

Isolation isn’t the only reason Isle Royale has few visitors. Come mid-October, the island closes down much like a summer resort, the only national park to do so. The ferries stop running, the concessionaires in Rock Harbor shut down, and the rangers head for Houghton or take seasonal work in warmer climes. Only the wildlife researchers continue their work, tracking free-roaming wolves and moose by air.

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