It's easy to imagine the lives of the voyageurs, Ojibway, and Lakota before them living here. The storm reminded me that portages are regularly groomed by the forest service, at least to the degree that downed trees are removed and paths are reinforced by logs and sand. Nature took charge on Sunday afternoon. On the prairie, trees are the tallest item and attractive to lightning. In the forest, trees give the semblance of safety.
Tents give a semblance of safety.
Having a canoe overhead gives a semblance of safety. None is a guarantee. In some places piles of fallen trees are reported to be chest high. The BWCA is open and canoers are arriving. Officials are grappling with whether or not to use chainsaws or handsaws for the clean-up.