Climbing Eagle Mountain |
 The planks in the right-hand corner of this photograph cross a swampy section of the trail in the vicinity of Whale Creek. Although it was only a few degrees above freezing – cold enough for us to wear gloves and woollen beanies (or, in my case, a fleece ear-warmer) – hiking through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in mid-November had two distinct advantages. Mud alongside and on the trail was frozen (it was neither gooey nor squelchy); and the “frequent and persistent mosquito attacks” that are a well-known feature of the trail during warmer weather were completely absent. |