Imagine what it was like to live in Long Lake in 1850, 175 years ago. There were eight or ten cabins, most on the west side of the lake. Even if you could see a neighbor's cabin, when the sun went down it got dark, really dark. Inside those cabins flickering candles and fireplaces would have provided a little light, and torches might have helped when you went outside. But to see a really dark sky all you had to do was look up.
We don't see that now, even in a small isolated village like Long Lake. To see a dark sky you have to get away from the houses and street lights. Seeing the night sky in all its glory is one of the things we love about backcountry camping.
It's those little things that get me out camping again and again.
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