When trees were trees

First, a bit about the geology of Minnesota provided by the Geological Society of Minnesota. The diversified scenery of Minnesota - of which the Itasca Park area is one phase - is due to the location of the state in the approximate center of the continent. Situated midway between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Hudson Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, the state has within its boundaries three principal divides in the watersheds of North America. Minnesota lacks the rugged topography and high elevations found in most continental divides. Its highest elevation, 2,300 feet on the Mesabi Range, is in close proximity to its lowest, the surface of Lake Superior, 602 feet above the sea.

The central surface of the state slopes from the north-central portion near Itasca Park in four directions toward its distant and opposite corners. The 10,000 lakes of Minnesota cover 5,600 square miles, an average of 1 square mile of water for every 15 of land. This unprecedented supply of water, which has a surface exceeding the water area if any other state, finds its way to the ocean through Hudson Bay, the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico.

We began our exploration of Lake Itasca and the headwaters of the Mississippi at the Visiter Center. 

They had this nice relief map of the park. Lake Itasca is the largest blue area with three arms.  The headwaters of the Mississippi is at the far right edge of the map. There are also over 100 other, smaller, lakes in the park.

Here is our friend the beaver (le castor). At one point, at the height of the logging, at the turn of the last century, the beaver was almost extinct in the park. Several pairs were introduced in the park to restore their presence.

This area holds one of the most studied archaeological sites for this time period in Minnesota. In 1937, bones, tools and weapons were found where giant bison (one third larger than today) and other animals were killed and prepared. From this discovery many details were learned about the life and environment of people who hunted here 8,000 years ago. Archaeological evidence suggests that in the fall, hunters came here knowing the bison would be crossing. Some bison became trapped in the soft and boggy stream bed and were killed with stone-tipped spears.  2,250 to 350 years ago, ancestors of the Dakota People, known as the Woodland Indians, established extensive villages around Lake Itasca. 

Neat replica of an Ojibwe dwelling.

The CCC was very active in this park in the thirties. You could enroll in the CCC if you were male, 18-24 years of age, not married or employed and your family was on "relief". Each "boy" who enrolled in the CCC was paid $30 a month, of which $25 was sent to his family. The remaining $5 could be used by the enrollee at the camp canteen, for personal expenses of his choice, or perhaps just for fun. For their part of the deal, the "boys" were expected to work a 40 hour week and adhere to camp rules. They built trails, park buildings and planted trees.

After spending over an hour in the Visitor Center we embarked on the Dr. Roberts Trail. This week-end, Saturday and Sunday, was Youth Hunt Weekend; teens were allowed into the park, accompanied by a parent or mentor, to hunt deer two weeks before the start of the fall hunting season. Hunting is allowed in the park and there is a limit of 4 deer per hunter. The sole purpose of this hunt is to control the deer population.

Since the hike we chose was in the hunt zone, we decided to accept the offer of safety vest. About a half mile in we came upon this blind. Notice also the ladder and perch on the tree to the right.

At about the half way point we came to Lyendecker Lake where we counted over 30 Trumperter swans.

We chose to eat our lunch by Lydecker Lake watching the swans.

Along the trail Frederick found this shell. 

In a wet area we also found evidence of beaver.

Almost back to the trailhead we came upon this Old Timer's Cabin built by the CCC. A plaque reads, "Almost humorous in its scale, it is far from that as a reminder of magnificent forests all but extinct. As a relic of the days when trees were trees, this cabin can inspire us to firm resolution to permit them to be so again.... Somewhere between the scale of this log work and the spindling scale of the majority of present day log structures is the happy and satisfying medium that is too infrequently seen."

In front of the cabin was this charming little chair carved from a log. 

In the summer this boat is used for tours on Lake Itasca.

This area in the park is called the Preachers Grove and contains these magnificent red pine trees.

A lovely overview of Lake Itasca.

At the headwater of the Mississippi is this sculpture. In Anishinabe (Ojibwe) belief it is the women who are the Caretakers of the Water. In this sculpture, a woman is leaning over, releasing a clutch of small turtles from a basket, renewing the seasons and continuing the waters of life. Her flowing hair is like that of flowing water. The turtles, strong water symbols, also symbolize the universal cycles of life in Anishinabe belief. The turtle's round shell represents the earth, moon, sun and seasonal cycles. The legs of the turtle point in the four directions, his head points up to honor Grandfather Sun and his tail points down towards Mother Earth. Turtles show us all directions of life - they live in the water, walk on land and breath air. Turtles are a strong symbol of the importance of this site, located here at the beginning of the Headwaters.

It's official.

Here I am, standing in the middle of the Mississippi River.

Frederick walking across the Mississippi.

In the middle...

and successfully reaching the other side.

Here I am doing the same.

Success!

A little further along the Mississippi is this spot where two stairs reach down almost to the water. I have not a clue as to the significance or use of these stairs.