Day-Trippers
Most Likely to Visit the Light
This is the second in a series of posts about the future of the Rock of Ages Lighthouse and the proposal to restore and preserve the other historical sites in Isle Royale’s Washington Harbor.
Only about 10% of visitors to Isle Royale National Park are day-trippers, as I noted in my last post. But who makes up the rest of the visitors to the island? Who willingly books reservations months in advance for an unpredictable crossing of 1.5 to 6 hours, depending on the point of departure, with a chance of being delayed or canceled due to rough lake conditions? What drives someone to pack lots of gear and supplies, trek through trails with difficult brush and swarms of mosquitoes and flies, but no real services and limited search-and-rescue resources? Not many, it seems, making Isle Royale the least visited of all U.S. National Parks.
Yet it is also the most frequently re-visited of all the parks. Those who endure the challenges of a true wilderness, with all of its discomforts and isolation, often choose to come back for more. Backpackers, hikers, wilderness enthusiasts, solitude seekers, and minimalists dominate the visitor population. I captured the character of just one such loyalist in a post called “A Pastoral Abeyance”. Over 15 Years, this pastor has visited Isle Royale 21 times to hike in solitude, most often the full length of the island, and sometimes back again. He explained, “I need and I like the solitude. I like to get away. I tend to be an introvert living in an extrovert world. So I come here to charge my batteries.” For many, the experience carries a near-religious reverence, drawing them back year after year.
To a lesser extent, the Park also attracts tourists seeking wilderness with lower risk. Those who occupy the very limited lodging and cabins or campgrounds, or the shelters scattered in some of the island’s harbors and islands. They experience the beauty of the island while minimizing exposure to the elements or challenges of the bush.
So what about those day-trippers? They’re the folks who come just to get a flavor of the remoteness of the wilderness for a few hours, arriving by ferry in the morning and returning the same afternoon. Many simply want to get their National Parks passport stamp to add to the inventory of National Parks they’ve visited. Others have heard about the island's natural beauty and wildlife, hoping to catch a glimpse of a moose or two. Some ask, “How wild is it, really?” and willingly risk last-minute cancellations or the nausea of heavy seas to find out. Analysis suggests that these visitors are the most likely to visit the Rock of Ages Lighthouse.
Day-trippers are often the least appreciated by long-time islanders and devoted wilderness enthusiasts. Often ill-prepared for the boat ride or the environment, they land uncertain of their options. After an orientation on Leave No Trace principles and wildlife safety, and after registration, visitors can tour the Visitor Center, sip beer or grab convenience store food on the deck of the camp store, stroll through the nearby campground, or take a short hike on the nearby Windigo Nature Trail. Some rent a canoe or fishing boat for a brief harbor excursion. Many simply lounge on the dock or at the store, soaking in the fresh smell of pine and the calm of the wilderness, awaiting the afternoon ferry departure.
Would those day-trippers be interested in venturing out on a tour boat to visit the Rock of Ages Lighthouse? Very likely, if it were convenient and low risk, I would think.
The next posting will address some of the impediments to offering such an option.