dice
Trail Wise!
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Post by dice on Apr 17, 2017 12:21:20 GMT -8
so is there any "must see" locations on the island? is it best to stick to the coasts? or is the interior worth a look, my idea would be to walk up one coast and back down the spine, but wich the north or south? I've been looking at maps and reading bits here and there and hoping to go in about a month, and if I miss that window nearer the end of the season, and just try not to get trampled during mating season.
I actually have a funny story about a friend of mine getting chased by a bull moose and getting his pack hung up in a tree, ends up tripping and rolling off the trail where the moose looses him, almost underfoot while his pack hangs in the tree on the side of the trail.
With some luck I might even get to ride a private sail boat to and from the island.
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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 Apr 19, 2017 8:40:49 GMT -8
The whole island is great. I like Lane Cove and McCargo Cove especially. The stretch on the Greenstone between Mt. Franklin and Mt Ojibway is very scenic, and the short spur between Ojibway tower and Daisy Farm passes through an amazing white birch grove that is really nice on a sunny afternoon.
Feldtman Lake is cool with a short spur to Rainbow Cove. Todd Harbor also very nice.
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Post by wrecks on Apr 19, 2017 16:04:34 GMT -8
My daughter and I hiked McCargoe Cove to Windigo on the Minong Trail (North). That was my only trip there but it was fabulous. The campsites on the big Lake were so incredible. Beautiful sunsets , and one night there were the dazzling Northern Lights across Superior over Pie Island (Thunder Bay). We went in late August and pretty much had the trail and campsites to ourselves. The trail is a challenge on the barren ridge to stay on it, but there were Rock Cairns present but have heard they are sometimes removed. It is also extremely slick in the rain. The fresh berry supply was never ending- thimble, blue, and raspberry. Only one moose on the first morning was seen, but it was up close and personal. This was three years ago so still able to hear the howl of the wolves one night. It was also great fun to explore the old mining remnants. Truly a magical and mystical place.
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Post by Coolkat on Apr 20, 2017 4:25:05 GMT -8
This was three years ago so still able to hear the howl of the wolves one night. We just missed each other as I was there that year but only in first part of August. And yes... the wolves howling at night was spectacular.
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dice
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Post by dice on Apr 20, 2017 8:16:02 GMT -8
thats funny a friend of mine was stalked by a wolf in the BWCA this spring two weeks ago, woudln't leave his camp and jsut stood 20 feet and less from his hammock, when they would try to scare it it would sipley stand behind a tree instead of run.
So what I'm getting is you can pretty much just hand them a route, and whatever I decide should be impressive?
how about intensity, I'm use to boating more so than hiking, and I live in a realtively flat area, and walk at an average pace of 2.6 miles according to some gps app I have. That with big ol insulated mud boots on ice and snow..so similar ot being loaded down. Like three days to get from one end to the other sound reasonable?
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Post by Coolkat on Apr 20, 2017 9:25:53 GMT -8
So what I'm getting is you can pretty much just hand them a route, and whatever I decide should be impressive? This... they make you give them an itinerary but unlike some other national parks you're not required to stick to it. We didn't. I've only been there once so I can't speak for other parts of the island. We didn't do high mileage since my partners knee was bothering him but the 1st night was Lanes Cove which was simply a wonderful spot. Then do to heavy rain we went over the ridge to Daisy Farm and found an open shelter. From there we went to Moskey Basin and then Chippewah Harbor. If you stick to campsites on the shore you probably won't have to pitch a tent as there are shelters there (first come first serve). Inland campgrounds don't have shelters. I seriously doubt you could have a "bad" itinerary. Just be prepared for rain and hiking on lots and lots of rocks and roots. They don't call it Rock Harbor for nothing. And like others have said the rocks are slick during a rain. I've heard about broken ankles and even pelvises. Sounds like you're a strong hiker so 3 days end to end is probably doable. I think the island is 45 miles long. Oh.. not that it matters that much but the rangers do make their rounds and do some checking on people. When we were at Chippewah Harbor. A ranger showed up and asked us questions about 2 groups that showed up where we were. They were suspicious that they were actually one group pretending not to know each other. When groups get to be "x" amount of people they force you into 2 groups and have completely different schedules.
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dice
Trail Wise!
Posts: 106
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Post by dice on Apr 20, 2017 10:11:05 GMT -8
Yeah CoolKat it sounds like just another day in minnesota to me lmao Rain possible every day, with a chance of snow, could be 30f tonight, maybe 70 who knows, oh look a funnel cloud, wait no touch down lol. this is a mile from my house, used to be a fire tower on top of this hill the water off in the distance is the mississippi and just off the picture screen to the left is another fire tower, almost 15 miles off (by road dunno bout a B line) The headwaters should be about 20miles (or less) south and west of the right side of the picture :edit Not the the closest body of water but the furthest is the mississippi
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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 Apr 20, 2017 19:38:50 GMT -8
I'll assume you will take the ferry out of Grand Portage. You can take it to Windigo on the west end, or continue on to McCargo Cove on the north shore. You could go all the way to Rock Harbor, but I am not sure you need to---unless you want to traverse the isle (I did this several years ago, covering 66 miles over 6 days).
I am more familiar with the east side, but my one trip that started in Windigo used the Feldtman Ridge trail past Siskiwit Bay up to Greenstone Ridge, past Lake Desor and up to Minong Ridge, hitting a Todd Harbor and McCargo Cove, then over to Daisy Farm and back up to Ojibway Tower, Mt Franklin, and finally Rock Harbor.
I really like the Feldtman section with a side trip to Rainbow Cove and Siskiwit Bay. We walked the beach around Siskiwit, which gave a real sense of isolation.
I don't think the inland sites are particularly special, except Lake Desor.
Depending on your time and stamina, a loop out of Windigo that incorporates Feldtman Ridge, Siskiwit, Lake Desor, Todd Harbor, and the Minong Ridge back to Windigo would be a great trip.
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RedDoug
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Post by RedDoug on Apr 6, 2018 8:14:48 GMT -8
One of the great places on Isle Royale is Chippewa Harbor. Spend 2-3 nights there and do some off trail hiking in the area. One of my favorite places on the Isle.
anyone hiking Isle Royale would be cheating themselves if they don't do the entire Greenstone Ridge trail. No water on the trail itself, but all the campsites are at lakes and you can water up there.
Suggested route: from Rock Harbor head for the Minong Trail and hike up to Windigo and then back on the Greenstone.
You don't have to see everything on the first trip to IR. The majority of bpers on IR are on their 2nd and 3rd trips. I have been over 4x. I hope to be there again in September.
I was on one of the first boats over in the spring once. No crowds- great time. Avoid June/July/August if you can. June is buggy and July and August have a lot of groups there.
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Post by bumknees on Apr 7, 2018 6:03:52 GMT -8
Isle Royal is a great trip. I will add, give yourself an extra day or 2 coming and going, as sometimes the boats won't run due to weather or breakdown. Happened to me going both ways.
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dice
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Post by dice on Apr 7, 2018 7:41:26 GMT -8
yeah I don't count comign and going from the island as part of my time spent there, I was considering the plane ride out.
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