06/18/2026
2026 Preseason | Day 12 | May 12, 2026
The preseason has come to an end.
We didn't do much on this chilly final day. We slept in, enjoyed a late breakfast, and then made our way down to the dock to await the arrival of the Ranger III, carrying the opening lodge crew to Rock Harbor.
When the Ranger pulled into the harbor around 3 PM, it marked the official end of our preseason and the beginning of another work season on Isle Royale.
Looking back, this preseason was a little different than the previous two.
After breaking my ankle at the end of September, I was still taking things easy. We had more rest days than usual, and honestly, I enjoyed the slower pace. When temperatures hovered in the low 40s during the day and often dipped below freezing at night, there were plenty of mornings where staying bundled up sounded better than charging off on another adventure. My sleeping setup consisted of a sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, and two blankets piled on top, and some nights I was still happy to crawl in early.
The weather was cool for most of our stay. Many days topped out around 42-45 degrees, with overnight lows often between 28 and 35. Several mornings brought skim ice to Tobin Harbor and Snug Harbor, and we even woke up to a light dusting of snow one day. May 3rd was the warmest day of the preseason, reaching 67 degrees. Rain was surprisingly scarce, with only one truly rainy day that I can recall.
By the time preseason ended, the ice had finally disappeared from Tobin Harbor, though a small pile of snow still remained near the dock and patches of shoreline ice could still be found around the island. The north shore especially held onto winter a little longer.
Fishing was slower than some years. Aside from the lake trout we caught while fishing with Justin, Ray and I managed just one coaster brook trout and one lake trout on our own. Fortunately, both fish came with memorable stories attached.
Wildlife sightings were quieter than expected as well. We saw one moose swimming across the Amygdaloid Channel on Day 2, but surprisingly no moose around camp during the entire preseason. What we did see was plenty of "moop"—so much moose droppings scattered around the island that you wouldn't think the herd is as low as current estimates suggest. Wolf activity was limited to a few tracks near Tobin Harbor, and I never saw a wolf during preseason. A fox did make an appearance on our final evening.
We didn't have a campfire every night, probably only about half the time. Most evenings we used the standing grills around Rock Harbor, and a few nights we enjoyed a fire in the amphitheater fire ring. Those quiet evenings by the fire may end up being some of my favorite memories from this preseason.
While we certainly explored plenty of the island, this preseason felt less about checking destinations off a list and more about simply being here. After the chaos of everyday life back home, that slower pace was exactly what I needed.
Tomorrow the work begins.
Over the next few days we'll start opening the lodge for the season. Ray and I will begin installing docks, launching boats, mounting motors, moving canoes and kayaks back onto their racks, and helping transform Rock Harbor from a quiet preseason outpost into a fully operating lodge.
And before we know it, visitors from all over the country will be arriving to experience Isle Royale for themselves.
As for us, we're already looking ahead. If all goes according to plan, we'll stay after work ends in September and spend time camping here through October, hopefully catching peak fall colors and maybe even hearing a few rutting moose echo through the forest.
Thank you to everyone who followed along during these preseason journals. The adventures don't stop here.
The work season begins May 13th, but I'll continue sharing photos, stories, wildlife encounters, fishing trips, sunsets, storms, and everyday life from Isle Royale all summer long.
Here's to another season on the island.
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