In Like A Lion, Out Like A Fish

June 2nd through 8th, 2025

Lake Lucerne
Last week started off hot. Monday's 84°F high made the lake's 62°F water...well...not welcoming, but tolerable. The lake level's two inch drop during May and the heat's acceleration of the evaporation rate was concering. That changed.
Lake Lucerne
The lake's water started off at 62°F and clear as crystal. It bopped around a bit and ended at 64°F. It's even more clear judging from the amount of tree pollen that washed out of the lake and up on the bar's beach.
Lake Lucerne
The first batch of storms hit on Tuesday. After they passed, the air was cooler and the lake 1.5 inches deeper.
Lake Lucerne
A second bout of rain hit late during the weekend. It all added to about 2 inches for the week. Take that falling lake level!
Lake Lucerne
Trillium season is at an end. You can still find a few if you search, but the forest floor is far more fern green than trillium white.
Lake Lucerne
Last week, fresh off the "Great Orange Heist of '25", the north end's squirrels mostly cheesed it. Those of us familiar with the evil little critters assume that they are just in a planning phase for their next major caper.
Lake Lucerne
Last Wednesday was the first ski show of the year.
Lake Lucerne
Many of the acts were executed with the polish that we've come to expect during mid-July.
Lake Lucerne
The pre-show was pretty good, too.
Lake Lucerne
The final pyramid passed the small, well behaved crowd at 7:41 PM. There was enough light left in the evening for a quick 9 holes before glow in the dark golf balls were required.
Lake Lucerne
This spring, when you look up, you're more than likely to see an eagle floating up the north end of the lake.
Lake Lucerne
The local hummingbird population has exploded. I don't remember ever seeing so many of them this early in the season.
Lake Lucerne
Last week's little swimmers are getting bigger.
Lake Lucerne
They gather into a fluff pile when the eagle floats by.
Lake Lucerne
The only thing more jolting about the humid green that permeated the forest last week was the realization that we were just a little over 2 months out from The Great Ice Storm.
Lake Lucerne
During the few evenings that were cloud free, sunsets were redded up by yet another year of Canadian wild fires.
Lake Lucerne
The damp, calm, cool air of the evening holds many things this year. The call of a loon taking a break from fishing and the smell of a fresh cut lawn are common staples of early summer sunsets. So are mosquitoes. This year we've had a bumper crop of the buzzy little blood suckers. The mayfly season was cut short by late May frosts, but the mosquitoes seemed immune to the unseasonably cold mornings. If anything, it made them stronger. And hungrier. If you are coming up to the northwoods, in addition to the normal summer supplies of ibuprofen, bactine, and tourniquets, be sure to pack plenty of DEET based bug off stuff. Also plan on getting some Benadryl®, foods rich in iron, and a transfusion or two.


-Nemo notes that a dunk in the 64°F water reduces the swelling.