Presque Isle
Infused Calcite
Uplifted Sedimentary Layers
Unwary & Unwily Park Deer
Partridge Island
Sandstone
Summit View of Larus Rock
September 1, 2007, Saturday, 9:00 am - Out of work and on the road; another all night pitched battle against sleep listening to mile after mile of screeching fusion jazz. Public radio saved a life; my soul tho' ... sigh.
In Marquette the sky was sunny and east wind light. Presque Isle Park moved up my list of places to paddle two weekends ago when I passed thro' and hiked around the compact city park marveling at the cliffs, offshore rocks and nearby islands.
The peninsula holds an isolated population of deer which have lost much of their fear of humans. The best place to view the deer are the grassy footpaths crossing the interior of the forest. The park facility limits deer migration due to overclearing of the forest near the entrance.
Launching is available in the marina on the south side of the park near the entrance and along the shoreline on the west side of the park opposite the pavillion. In order to avoid having to paddle around the harbor jetty, I launched from the west side of the park. The peninsula is composed of several meters of sedimentary deposits on top of very old volcanic bedrock which is more exposed toward the north end. To fully appreciate the geology of the park, a kayak is a must because the cliffs drop into the water. A few shallow water caves have eroded into the cliffs. It only takes an hour or two to finish the shoreline. Offshore volcanic rocks lie a half mile to the east and offer some gardening opportunities. The largest rock, lying to the north, has a 4 foot wide fissure running 90 feet filled with thousands of gnats.
Uninhabited Partridge Island lies 2 miles northwest of Presque Isle. I am unaware of whether the city also owns Partridge Island. In any event, the island is not posted and is a favorite spot among locals to come out to picnic on its 220 foot high summit and take in the view. The island forest is thick, but lightly used footpaths traverse the rugged terrain. The island's southern half has a shore mainly composed of conglomerate rocks while the north half emerges into rough bedrock bluffs with many tiny coves.
The east wind grew after noon so I paddled back behind Middle Island to shelter from the waves and continued on to Presque Isle to pull out. A wedding was being organized on the park's pleasant lakeshore as a folk band tuned their instruments before the ceremony. Loaded up, I pressed onward to the Keweenaw.