Thursday, November 30, 2017

Chapel Area Hike in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore--Post 1

It has been quite some time since I was able to go on a long hike.  Yesterday was the day.  Friends, Helen and Lois, and I drove into Chapel Parking, located several miles north of Melstrand.  It was not a surprise that we were the only people hiking.  We didn't see any other vehicles or people.  Temperatures were in the mid-30s and it was partly cloudy.  Although we originally hoped to do the entire loop, the early sunset this time of year did not give us enough time.  Thus, we hiked past Chapel Falls to Chapel Rock, and then back along the west side of Chapel Lake.  In total the distance was 6.5 miles.

Today I will post the first half of the photos; tomorrow I'll post the rest.

Heading down the trail 3.5 miles to the connecting trail along the west side of Chapel Beach.


Chapel Falls....




The number of downed trees was intense.  Some of the down trees are due to pathogens that have attacked and killed the beach trees as well as some of the white birch.  Others were due to the incredible wind storms we have had this year.



Chapel Rock with the surviving tree on top....



Grand Portal Point...


Chapel Beach, which is a lot shallower than it used to be due to erosion.




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