The first of our two boat tours from the park service in Voyageurs National Park left the dock from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. The Grand Tour travels out to Little American Island to do a short walking tour of the gold mining operation during the 1890s. Our ranger, Beverly told us of the harsh working conditions for the miners who were just grateful to have a job as the US was experiencing a depression. The forested island was completely cleared to provide the wood needed to operate the machinery. This gold was imbedded in a quartz vein that had to be blasted out of the ground making for hard work during the profitable four-year mining operation. Overall, the gold rush in MN was not successful.

We spent most of the boat ride on the bench in front of Captain Joe’s pilot house. He pointed out eagle nests, bald eagles, loons, and a floating mat of cattails. One pair of loons even quietly called out as we passed them; I love that mournful, lonely cry. The floating cattail mat actually moved quite a bit as we passed it a second time and found it next to an island. These mats are caused by an introduced species of cattails that has bred with the native plants and created an invasive hybrid. These non-native mats are considered navigational hazards to be removed by park staff.

Our Ranger guide, Beverly had been working in Yellowstone for several years. She transferred here to get a break from the crowds. She said she currently interacts with as many park visitors here per day as she saw in about an hour in Yellowstone.

She also discussed the native populations of wolves, moose, and black bears. The park wolf population currently has 16 packs of about 65 total animals and that hasn’t experienced a reduction like parks out west where populations have been reintroduced. This time of year they can be seen with blue-ish snouts as they love to eat the wild blueberries which stain their faces. Logging has reduced the moose population (a steady 40-50 in the park since 1990s) as they like old-growth forest for space to move around with their really wide antlers. Black bears (about 150 in the park) find odd spots under rocks and small places to hibernate and are spotted by visitors. There are bear boxes for storing human food at the island campsites.

Captain Joe came out of the pilot house and asked if we’d like to see a small black bear…then uncovered a miniature one in his hands-ha ha! The last part of the ride was slow and steady back to the dock, so he let the young Bosun/safety officer take over so he could talk with passengers.

After the boat ride, we walked a bike trail near the visitor center as we knew that wouldn’t be muddy after the day’s rain. The sun actually came out for a bit during the last of the boat ride which felt invitingly warm.

This evening we enjoyed drinks and delicious appetizers from the restaurant at our resort. The fried portobellos and chicken skewers accompanied our Northern Lights and Arrowhead 1920 cocktails. Tony lost the first game of cribbage and I lost the second.