Exciting indeed. Most likely she heard or smelled you. Their eyesight is terrible. If you are downwind and stand perfectly still they will sometimes not know you are present, even though you are perfectly visible.

A counter clockwise loop seems to be the preferred direction as the last leg from Island Mine to Washington Creek would then be mostly a gentle down hill walk. I didn't look up boat schedules to coordinate exact number of days/nights but some variation on this would work. Night 1 - Feldtmann Lake Ni...

Since you are starting in Indiana, are you firmly committed to the Michigan ferries? It would only be approximately an additional 3 hour car ride to Grand Portage, MN. This would open up the availability to be dropped off at McCargoe Cove and then picked up in Chippewa Harbor.

The other think I thought was weird is that the lady that runs the store said it was getting pretty rough when we went and asked about the half day for a harbor paddle... if that was rough enough to not rent the canoes I don't know how they ever rent any, there was barely a ripple on the water. I c...

treeplanter wrote:No salmon run that I’m aware of, but Coaster Brook Trout do run in the fall. Google for more info.

I have also seen Suckers and Smelt running. Particularly in the Sisikiwit Lake drainage stream.

Salmon are not naturally occurring in the Great Lakes so most of the population comes from stocking. If you were to observe any spawning activity it would be in late September or October, but I doubt any are stocked in rivers/streams of the Island. Hence, they would have no natural desire to return ...

Very nice. Looks like a good time of year to visit.

hooky wrote:. . . . more can be seen HERE

The photobucket account is private.

I'd also like to mention a little known aspect to the Coast Guard team. That is the Coast Guard Auxiliary. It is made up of 32,000 men and women that are 100% unpaid volunteers. They provide their own vessels and even buy their own uniforms. They do get reimbursed for fuel when under direct orders o...

You guys tweaked my interest... If the CG did charge for SAR (understanding that they don't, and can't under law), here's their rates: http://www.uscg.mil/directives/ci/7000-7999/CI_7310_1N.pdf . Assuming that 25' is a "small" response boat, $1571 per hr, plus personnel time ($26 - $221 p...

I meant a cost to the kayakers. If you are stuck on a mountain search and rescue will come get you in a helicopter for ~10k minimum. Some insurance covers this, but not most. You can actually get search and rescue insurance. http://www.backpacker.com/blogs/62 The Coast Guard does not back charge fo...

I wonder what that cost... I'm sure it was worth it! In this case the cost was actually fairly low I think. The responders were regular Coast Guard (not Auxiliary) from Grand Marais - CG Station North Superior. They trailered their 25 ft boat to Grand Portage because it was quicker than fighting th...

I think it is a Northern, although the black striping on the body of this one happens to make it look similar to a Tiger Musky. A Tiger Musky is actually a hybrid; a cross between a true Musky and a Northern. Nice catch either way. Here are some other pictures, side by side. http://wdfw.wa.gov/ais/h...

Ingo wrote:Always best to be the smelliest, I think .

So who did the bugs like better?

Great pictures. I can't remember, do you have the 17' Souris? I think a spotted a few dings in it. I'm still looking for the right used Souris.

Karl is a great paddling partner. And dare I presume. . . a very clean and fresh smelling partner. I'm extremely envious. Of your trip, not Karl. :oops: Paddling has to be my favorite and most memorable method for experiencing the Island. Favorable seas shortened your portaging to almost nothing (a...