One last question (these aren't idle -- the Minong Ridge is on my to-do list!): elsewhere on the island, where trials cross outcrops, the path the trail takes is often lighter than the surrounding rock--more pearly, almost. It took me a while to glom on to this, but when I did, it was real navigati...

That is some excellent walking and a wonderfully informative trip report! About the "moderate" route finding on the Minong Ridge--can you elaborate? What skills and/or perceptual capacities did it call for? Map/compass/GPS? Developing an eye for cairn placement and the flow of the trail? ...

awesome, what i'm planning seems a lot more doable now. and I'm glad to hear the rangers didn't think the plan was nuts. Glad to gear it helped, not sure why there aren't more trip reports like mine? Just remember every ranger could be different. If you have any questions for me, feel free to ask.

I just posted a new topic in the "Trip Report" forum and I think you will be interested in reading it. See the link below:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3362

My wife and I enjoyed our first trip to Isle Royale this past weekend in celebration of our 4 year wedding anniversary. We lucked out with absolutely gorgeous weather and trail conditions, and being from Northern MN I can't say the bugs were bad at all. **Note: All times posted will be in Central St...

Thanks to everyone for your input on this thread and answering my questions. It was very helpful in making our first trip to the island an amazing experience!

Yeah water needs to be flowing for the sawyer bags to fill up easily, but using a scoop works just fine as well.

One more question on water... are there any water sources between East Chickenbone and Mt. Franklin. I don't see creek crossings on my map and that's a pretty long dry stretch. I've read getting water at E Chickenbone can be take a lot of effort.

Thanks!

Thank you, sir! So it sounds like the dry stretch is about 8 miles of trail from Little Todd to 4 mi west of N Desor.

My wife and I will be hiking the Minong Ridge Trail this weekend, mid June, and I've read that there's few water sources. I've searched but I can't find a comprehensive list so I'm wondering if someone can point me in the right direction to find one. Otherwise please list any sources you know of and...