I spent a week on Garden Island with friends.
The trip was coordinated by Squirrel bait and Turkey, and they invited Thunderarrows and me along
The Island is rich in history and relics. Some of the trails are cleared pretty well, and some are a match of skill, and sometimes just will, to find them, or just get past the rough spots.
We covered between 30 to 40 miles during the week, probably about half off trail and through the brush
https://www.flickr.com/photos/568443...h/34679709563/ The Flickr album
https://youtu.be/HQrTjxgdwWE The YouTube link
The population by observation is as follows
Mosquitoes: lots but not an issue, Permethrin on the gear and Off on body
Poison Ivy: It's everywhere the sun gets to the ground, I don't think any one got it though, even after a week there
Spiders: Fun to watch the kung-foo battles with the trail crossing webs
Snakes: Lots of them but no poisonous ones, and they always run away before I got to them on the trail, though the really big one startled the heck out of me
Partridge: We saw about 8-10 hens, all with broods just hatched
Rabbit: Only one that hung around camp and visited a lot
We only covered the major attractions, there is a lot left to see
I see this island as an under used area with a lot of potential. It is a bit of trouble arranging the transportation, but the solitude is sure great
Beaver Island Boat Co http://www.bibco.com/ Getting to Beaver Island
Archipelago Charters https://www.archipelagocharters.com/ Charter to Garden Island
Reading and reference Exploring North Manitou, South Manitou, High and Garden Islands of the Lake Michigan Archipelago ISBN 0-940029-02-2
on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Man.../dp/0940029022
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