Dear Subscriber:
Some moments in these islands seem timeless: soft summer breezes, a sky so blue it is almost like candy, a trackless beach. At 1,824 acres, Bear Island is long and thin like a claw mark and is recognized by its height (rising 233 feet above the surface of the lake it is the second-tallest of the islands behind Oak). Situated on the western side of the archipelago, Bear Island has no dock, no developed campground, no maintained trails. What it does have is a beautiful curve of beach facing the open lake with just a hint of Devils Island between its shores and the open horizon. Grab a picnic basket, a sun hat, a blanket, and step back in time. It is summertime, and the living is easy.
Thank you for your support of the Little Dipper blog. See you next week with another essay.
— Jeff
I had a lovely stop on Bear last summer waiting out some conditions. A few yards into the forest behind the beach, there are a few old cabins that look abandoned. I wonder what the story is there.