I had an odd experience Wednesday later afternoon on Wood Lake.

I was on the last night of a short solo to Wood Lake. I was camping at site 1151 at the northwest corner of the lake nearest the portage to Hula Lake. To my knowledge, all the other campsites on the lake were occupied, but the lake was very quiet. There was no one making any noise during the time I was there (four nights.)

About five or six on Wednesday, I see what I believe to be a dragonfly hovering over the water in front of my camp. I am sitting on the ground on a rock next to the water. This thing looks like a dragonfly that is turned 90 degrees…as if the long body of the dragonfly is vertical, not horizontal. It was hard to make out size because I had no reliable frame of reference.

Like I said, the only thing I could think of was some kind of inverted dragonfly, with it's body vertical, not horizontal.

I stood up and looked at the thing…then it moved. It flew behind me and to my right, did an acrobatic maneuver that I have NEVER seen a bug to (it just seemed "unbuglike"). It then flew back over the lake, then flew away behind me, over my camp. I didn't see it again.

This thing flew unbelievably fast. The entire incident lasted 10 seconds, max. I tried to grab my monocular, but it was moving too fast for me to get a look at it. I did not hear anything that sounded like a drone. It was totally silent.

So I'm not sure. Did a drone fly over my camp or not…I'm not completely sure.

I called the Kawishiwi Ranger District to report as a possible drone, in case they keep track of these things. I did not make any speculation as to who might have been flying it.

Thoughts? Paranoia on my part? I am drone illiterate, and pretty much dragonfly illiterate, too, so I'll take any input anyone has.

Mike

If you were carrying a pistol and could confirm that it was indeed a drone I would have blasted it out of the sky.

It’s Not Paranoia When They Really Are Out to Get You

Dragonflies can do some impressive aerobatics. I have seen them fly with their abdomen pointing to the ground if that is what you mean by vertical.
There are small drones but something the size of a bug would need to be operated from closer distance for signal strength.

Hummingbird maybe?

How many gummies were involved?

Hammertime: "Hummingbird maybe?"

I second the thought of a hummingbird! They can rotate their wings 180 degrees, allowing them to fly backwards, upside down, basically in any fashion and are incredibly fast.

Freddy: "

Hammertime: "Hummingbird maybe?"

I second the thought of a hummingbird! They can rotate their wings 180 degrees, allowing them to fly backwards, upside down, basically in any fashion and are incredibly fast."

A couple years back my trip mates were convinced something was in the bushes growling/grunting at us. I kept saying, “it’s a hummingbird”. Nobody believed me, they are obviously aerobatic wonders, but they make noise too (that sounds almost like a growl) when they really get to moving quickly. Not saying that’s what you saw, but it definitely seems to make the most sense. Drones are pretty loud from my experience, you’d have heard it before you saw it. My two cents.

Tony

treehorn: "How many gummies were involved?"

Or Peyote.
Sadly more likely a drone posted on YouTube.

I’m not saying it was Aliens, but it was Aliens.

It was obviously an alien craft scoping out the BWCA as a possible invasion site. ;)

Hammertime: "Hummingbird maybe?"

Good guess, but hummers aren't quiet. However, hummers can do any and all aerobatics.

"If you were carrying a pistol and could confirm that it was indeed a drone I would have blasted it out of the sky."

Gosh, I hope you wouldn't put bullets in the air willy-nilly.

Hummingbird moth?

Thanks, everyone. This give me some perspective. I can see it being a hummingbird, but man it moved fast, even for a hummingbird.

I appreciate everyone's input!

Mike

airmorse: "If you were carrying a pistol and could confirm that it was indeed a drone I would have blasted it out of the sky."

FYI: Firing a gun or shooting a bow and arrow is not allowed: in or within 150 yards of a residence, building; campsite, developed recreation site, or occupied area; across or on a road or body of water; in any circumstance whereby any person may be injured or property damaged.

Link to my quote from the Superior NF.