Isle Royale Elderhostel Courses -- John & Ann Mahan, instructors

Beginning in 2002, John & Ann Mahan have been instructors for Elderhostel courses at Isle Royale and Houghton, MI. In these week-long "Isle Royale and Lake Superior" courses the groups experienced the world's largest freshwater sea and its island wilderness national park.

Isle Royale National Park encompasses an archipelago of approximately 400 islands, 99 per cent of which is legally designated wilderness. It is the site of the world's longest running wolf/moose study, and many other scientific inquiries into how the natural world works.

Recent Courses: In 2007, we led two MTU Isle Royale Elderhostel courses:

For photos from August 12-18, click here.

For photos from August 19-25, click here.

Upcoming Courses: In 2008, we will lead 2 MTU Isle Royale Elderhostel courses (August 10-16, and August 17-23). For more information, see the Elderhostel website, or feel free to contact us.

To view photographs from the June 2002 Elderhostel program, click here.

To view photographs from the August 2002 Elderhostel program, click here.

To view photographs from the August 13-19, 2006 Elderhostel program,
click here.

To view photographs from the August 20-26, 2006 Elderhostel program,
click here.

To view photographs from the August 12-18, 2007 Elderhostel program,
click here.

To view photographs from the August 19-25, 2007 Elderhostel program,
click here.

"Isle Royale and Lake Superior" -- begins at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan, with a multi-media program about Lake Superior, and a day-long field trip to the tip of Michigan's rugged Keweenaw Peninsula: taking in scenic vistas of rock-bound coastlines, sand dunes, waterfalls, and lighthouses while learning about human and natural history.

On Tuesday, we experience Lake Superior's open horizons as we journey to its largest island aboard the National Park Service's 165-foot ship Ranger III. On Isle Royale, lodging is at Rock Harbor Lodge, overlooking Lake Superior.

In the following 4 nights and 3 days, boat trips and guided hikes take participants to Rock Harbor Lighthouse, a historic fishery, offshore islands, a bog (with carnivorous plants), and coastal hikes. Some participants canoe in peaceful Tobin Harbor.

The Mahans present multi-media presentations and give talks on geology, island biogeography, flowers and other plants, and human connections with the lake. Other experts also give talks, including researchers from the Isle Royale wolf-moose study.

On Saturday another Lake Superior open water crossing on the Ranger III returns us to Houghton and the closing of the course.

These are always groups of congenial and adventurous people, and we all have great time together. We celebrate our shared adventure with these images from the trips.