Hungry Jack
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Post by Hungry Jack on Aug 23, 2016 7:37:27 GMT -8
This region only. Some (not all) possibilities
Isle Royale NP Pictured Rocks / Grand Island Porcupine Mtns SP Trap Hills High Country Pathway North Country Trail Manistee River / NF Boundary Waters / Voyageurs GunFlint/ Superior Trail / MN Arrowhead region Black Hills (yes, SD is in this group) Teddy Roosevelt NP (ND) Black River SF (WI) Missouri Ozark Region / Ozark Trail Shawnee NF (IL) Hocking Hills (OH) Red River Gorge (KY) Big South Fork Rec Area (KY/TN)
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Hungry Jack
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Living and dying in 3/4 time...
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Post by Hungry Jack on Aug 23, 2016 7:41:04 GMT -8
My ranking:
1) Isle Royale 2) Pix Rox 3) Big South Fork 4) Ozarks 5) Shawnee
If I ever get up to the Superior Trail or Boundary Waters, they would almost certainly displace the bottom part of the list. Just haven't made it yet.
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Post by Coolkat on Aug 23, 2016 11:04:12 GMT -8
Hard to rank when I haven't been to a large portion of your list but I'll rank the ones that I've hiked. 1) Isle Royale 2) Pix Rock 3) Fox River Pathway 4) Red River Gorge 5) Manistee River Trail/NCT Loop This ranking might change as I have the High Country Pathway on schedule for early October. I'll also give a wishlist for this region of stuff I haven't done. Kek Trail Border Route Trail Superior Hiking Trail Trap Hills After looking at my wish list I realized that all of these are part of the NCT now. Next year I really want to do the Kek & Border Route Trail back to back to make a nice 100 mile hike. I think can get 8 to 10 days of food in my 65L pack. This summer while I was relaxing on the shore of Superior I saw this guy hiking down the beach with a backpack on. I can't help myself so I go and introduce myself. He was a thru hiker for the NCT. I asked him about the KEK and BRT and he said it was great country but since it's in the Boundary Waters there are no blazes, signs or markers. You can only go by the trail in front of you and it's easy to loose it on the other side of a creek or river after having to cross it. The other options you list might be great places for a backpacking trip I just know nothing about them.
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driftwoody
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Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Aug 23, 2016 19:54:40 GMT -8
Hard to rank. Among the places listed I've backpacked the Porkies the most, followed by RRG. I visited Isle Royale once, doing a 4 night backpack from Widigo. It was great, and I'd like to go back to explore the east side. I've done extensive dayhiking in Shawnee, and Big South Fork. I did a brief overnighter in Missouri's Hercules Glades not too long ago; it was nice but not great. Indiana's Deam Wilderness was nice, but can't compare with the other places I mentioned. Nordhouse Dunes in Michigan is a totally different environment, which I enjoyed. I liked the Manistee River Loop. Black Hills are great, but I only dayhiked there.
My favorite is a tossup between the Porkies and Isle Royale, but within a couple weeks I hope to add Pictured Rocks (which I've dayhiked) and Grand Island (which I've never visited). RRG has been my most frequent destination, but most of my "backpacking" there have been very short hikes to campsites on unofficial trails close to beautiful overlooks to catch the sunrise and/or sunset. Beats paying for a crowded car campground.
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Post by Coolkat on Aug 24, 2016 4:35:28 GMT -8
I put the Fox River Pathway in front of RRG not because of it's scenery since the RRG or the near by Pic. Rocks has much better views but it has such an awesome variety of UP backcountry and the wilderness & remoteness feel you get. It holds a nostalgic place in my heart since it was my very first backpacking trip. I'm willing to bet less than 10 people per year hike it. but within a couple weeks I hope to add Pictured Rocks (which I've dayhiked) and Grand Island I've never done Grand Island but I have done Pic. Rocks a few times. Which direction are you going to hike the Pic. Rocks trail?
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driftwoody
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Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Aug 24, 2016 6:37:56 GMT -8
I've never done Grand Island but I have done Pic. Rocks a few times. Which direction are you going to hike the Pic. Rocks trail? Haven't decided on the route yet, but I don't have a shuttle for a linear trail so I'll probably hike the 9.4 mile loop with a side trip to a shoreline campsite for one night (probably Monday Sep 12). Recommendations and info are welcome.
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Post by Coolkat on Aug 24, 2016 7:18:24 GMT -8
So you're going to do the Chapel Beach <--> Mosquito Beach loop? The best 10 miles of hiking for hundreds of miles around. If you haven't done this before, you're in for a treat and give yourself time to play on the cliffs. You're doing this as a day hike then camping somewhere else in the evening? If that is the case I can recommend 12 Mile Beach Campground. The campground at Hurricane Beach is nice also but a lot busier for some reason. Both campgrounds will put you practically on the beach. That time of year you shouldn't have a problem finding a spot but if you do have issues there is always one spot reserved for the handicapped until 6pm. If no one takes then it's yours at 6. I just did this loop in July. Chapel - Mosquito Loop
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driftwoody
Trail Wise!
Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Aug 24, 2016 9:17:30 GMT -8
So you're going to do the Chapel Beach <--> Mosquito Beach loop? The best 10 miles of hiking for hundreds of miles around. If you haven't done this before, you're in for a treat and give yourself time to play on the cliffs. You're doing this as a day hike then camping somewhere else in the evening? If that is the case I can recommend 12 Mile Beach Campground. The campground at Hurricane Beach is nice also but a lot busier for some reason. Both campgrounds will put you practically on the beach. Yes, that's the loop. I did it once, 21 years ago. My plan is to backpack that loop in 2 days, taking a spur for the night either east or west along the shoreline to a backcountry campsite.
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Post by Coolkat on Aug 24, 2016 9:40:53 GMT -8
Oh...that changes things a bit. Let me look at the map and get back with you.
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driftwoody
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Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Aug 24, 2016 9:57:41 GMT -8
Oh...that changes things a bit. Let me look at the map and get back with you. Forgot to mention that I prefer to hammock camp, so availability of appropriate trees would be a plus.
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Post by Coolkat on Aug 24, 2016 9:58:30 GMT -8
Yes, that's the loop. I did it once, 21 years ago. My plan is to backpack that loop in 2 days, taking a spur for the night either east or west along the shoreline to a backcountry campsite. This of course depends on which direction you go from the parking lot. To Chapel Beach or Mosquito Beach. If you head towards Mosquito first and you don't camp at Mosquito Beach the closest next camping to the west is Potato Patch. I've never camped there and I've heard there is nothing there. I'm told it's a bit off the trail and boring. And it's 7.5 miles away. Which would make a very long day the next day. If you head towards Chapel Beach first and don't camp there. Then the next closest spot is to the east at "The Coves" and is 4.3 miles. I've never camped here either but I've heard it's nice. I always bypass the Coves and camp at Chapel. To be honest if I were you I'd just try to get a permit to camp at Chapel Beach so you have extra time up on the cliffs the next day. Chapel Beach is just such a nice area. I could kill two days there easily simply lounging. If you prefer to be by yourself then grab site #5 if it's open. But it's also the furthest site from the beach. If you decide to camp at Chapel and Lake Superior is too cold to get into for you the little creek that runs there is super warm and is like bath water. But don't take your water from there as it doesn't taste as good as water from Superior. However, if the waves are high unless you've got a better method of water gathering than I have you'll be forced to get it from the creek.
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Post by Coolkat on Aug 24, 2016 10:03:32 GMT -8
Forgot to mention that I prefer to hammock camp, so availability of appropriate trees would be a plus. That won't be a problem at Chapel Beach nor should it most anywhere on that trail. Also just so you know. Hiking to Chapel first and then to Mosquito is mostly down hill. Mosquito to Chapel mostly uphill. They are not huge elevation changes but if you're after a nice leisurely hike to Chapel first.
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driftwoody
Trail Wise!
Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
Posts: 14,999
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Post by driftwoody on Aug 24, 2016 10:04:59 GMT -8
Looking at the map, I think my best option would be to take the loop clockwise to Mosquito, or counter-clockwise to Chapel. I would set up camp early, then have a few hours to explore west or east. Day two, complete the loop.
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Hungry Jack
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Living and dying in 3/4 time...
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Post by Hungry Jack on Aug 24, 2016 11:49:29 GMT -8
The Chapel-Mosquito loop is a must-do at Pix Rox if the Shoreline thru hike is not an option.
I would ignore the Potato Patch option and head east from Chapel to check out the Coves, which are very scenic. The Coves group site is up on the bluff, but quite nice and very close to Spray Falls,
If you can score a night at Trout Bay on Grand Island, do it.
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Hungry Jack
Trail Wise!
Living and dying in 3/4 time...
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Post by Hungry Jack on Aug 24, 2016 11:51:13 GMT -8
Also, take some time for a swim at Mosquito off the big stone block on the point.
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