Old Man River when he’s just a baby

The Mississippi River rises from Lake Itasca in north central Minnesota, about 20 miles southwest of Bemidji. I’d been to the spot a few years ago and I wanted to go back. The first time I had the River to myself — it was April and trying to snow and no one else was around. This time I was joined by about 150 voyageurs.

Both times being there was, for me, enthralling. I’ve been to Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. I’ve been to all 50 states more than once. Yet, for some reason I can’t explain, this is one of my favorite places on the whole planet. Go figure.

Clicking any picture should take you to larger versions of all four. Photos taken August 29, 2009.

The stones mark the beginning of one of the world’s great rivers; an arm of Lake Itasca is beyond. Traffic on the stones was busy the entire time we were there. Henry Rowe Schoolcraft — explorer, geographer, geologist, ethnologist, politician, one-time University of Michigan regent, and early Indian agent — identified the headwaters in 1832.

This photo was taken by turning to face downstream away from Lake Itasca (and the stones). In the distance you can see the first bridge across the not-yet-quite Mighty Mississip. (It’s a split tree trunk.)

Further downstream. From here the River flows northeasterly, through Bemidji, then mostly east to Grand Rapids, before it begins its trip south through the Twin Cities and on to the Gulf of Mexico.