Search found 171 matches

by Capt Don
Sat Oct 13, 2018 6:34 pm
Forum: Wildlife
Topic: 2018 wolf relocation is done.
Replies: 4
Views: 2617

Re: 2018 wolf relocation is done.

I asked about the moose harvested for the wolves' "recovery meal". He said that 3 moose total were shot right in the Island. We both had a good time swapping stories. I also asked what the average visitation numbers are for the final few weeks or about a month after the ferries stop runni...
by Capt Don
Sat Oct 13, 2018 6:07 pm
Forum: Wildlife
Topic: Up to 6 wolves to be introduced this fall
Replies: 20
Views: 9512

Re: Up to 6 wolves to be introduced this fall

I have watched from a perfect vantage point where most of the wolves left the mainland to be brought to the newest US zoo. It has been interesting to say the least. I wonder how many more moose have been or will need to be shot and left as food or will beaver and apples be the staple for now. I beli...
by Capt Don
Mon Apr 16, 2018 5:44 pm
Forum: Transportation & Lodging
Topic: May 5 Voyageur II Pushed to 12th
Replies: 25
Views: 14715

Re: May 5 Voyageur II Pushed to 12th

Yes, it has happened again. Winter has things locked up well into April and getting to the island on the first Sat of May is not looking good. We waited as long as we could to make the call but don't want to wait until the week before and spring the news. By letting everyone know now we hope they ca...
by Capt Don
Wed Sep 06, 2017 11:23 am
Forum: Transportation & Lodging
Topic: Boating Question (Bass Boating to the Island)
Replies: 20
Views: 30360

Re: Boating Question (Bass Boating to the Island)

Sorry, the Hat Point location is for ferry passenger parking only. There is no launching of boats, parking for boaters, camping or sleeping in vehicles allowed there. It is a ferry terminal only. The Grand Portage Marina and RV park is the only facility in the Grand Portage area that provides any of...
by Capt Don
Wed Sep 07, 2016 11:04 am
Forum: Transportation & Lodging
Topic: Getting Stuck on the Island
Replies: 15
Views: 10492

Re: Getting Stuck on the Island

The rangers at Windigo will always do whatever it takes to make sure everyone has accommodations of some sort. While we try to anticipate the weather, it sometimes changes earlier or later than forecasted. We knew that day was going to be "one of those days" and we knew we could get back o...
by Capt Don
Wed Sep 07, 2016 10:47 am
Forum: General Questions and Miscellaneous
Topic: Proposed user fee increase
Replies: 18
Views: 8543

Re: Proposed user fee increase

I have always feared the reservation system, one of the best parts of isle royale is the first come first serve availability system. It creates a sense of community in a way and allows people to double up and share space if needed, a somewhat unique part of the isle royale experience. Reservations w...
by Capt Don
Tue Aug 23, 2016 6:52 pm
Forum: General Questions and Miscellaneous
Topic: Things that make you go, hmmm......
Replies: 6
Views: 7428

Re: Things that make you go, hmmm......

While we have seen pretty much everything possible when it comes to visitors over the years, that particular woman was a first for us as well. One of the deckhands pointed her heels out to me as she exited the boat. Who knows, maybe they are a prototype from Keen's 2017 lineup.
by Capt Don
Tue Aug 23, 2016 6:47 pm
Forum: General Questions and Miscellaneous
Topic: Thar she blows!
Replies: 3
Views: 2379

Re: Thar she blows!

And even more amazing to the crew was being told to leave the park. Seems they took the opportunity to dive the vessel and decided it may have have zebra muscles or some other invasive mollusk. Can't be too safe.
by Capt Don
Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:40 pm
Forum: Transportation & Lodging
Topic: How to get to the island in October?
Replies: 7
Views: 7991

Re: How to get to the island in October?

They stopped because it was not viable. They reserved 6 spaces for passengers during "cargo season" for a few years. To my knowledge, not once during that period were they able to fill those six places. As much as people talk about visiting the island during October, the fact is that weath...
by Capt Don
Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:21 pm
Forum: General Questions and Miscellaneous
Topic: Proposed user fee increase
Replies: 18
Views: 8543

Re: Proposed user fee increase

I can't help but see this as a 75% increase regardless of the alternatives. I think the question should be where has the money gone and where will the increase go? When the user fee was created in '97, one of the biggest selling points for the "user fee" vs. "Entrance fee" was th...
by Capt Don
Thu Mar 24, 2016 10:39 am
Forum: General Questions and Miscellaneous
Topic: The 2016 Greenstone Park Newspaper is out
Replies: 6
Views: 3580

Re: The 2016 Greenstone Park Newspaper is out

Some tips on the user fee based on what I noticed and discussed with the staff during the transition to park staff collection. It is best to pay online but they will and do collect the fee from those who haven't paid in advance. When paying online it is best to do so the day before you leave home fo...
by Capt Don
Sat Mar 19, 2016 5:38 pm
Forum: General Questions and Miscellaneous
Topic: Michigan's Isle Royale snags top spot on National Parks list
Replies: 4
Views: 2539

Re: Michigan's Isle Royale snags top spot on National Parks list

I don't think you have anything to worry about. I find these numbers quite interesting, I know that the boats didn't carry 4000 additional people, there wasn't a huge increase in personal boats over past years, I didn't come across large rafts of swimmers on their way to visit the island. My guess i...
by Capt Don
Fri Mar 04, 2016 7:50 pm
Forum: Transportation & Lodging
Topic: Daisy Farm dock replacement
Replies: 0
Views: 11703

Daisy Farm dock replacement

I am passing on some information that I received from the park today that will impact some peoples plans. The dock at Daisy Farm is slated for replacement beginning on or about 28 August 2016, there is no word on how long it will take or a completion date. During the replacement process there will b...
by Capt Don
Mon Feb 01, 2016 6:01 pm
Forum: Gear & Supplies
Topic: White Gas Availability before Memorial Day Windigo
Replies: 10
Views: 6499

Re: White Gas Availability before Memorial Day Windigo

Stephen, get in touch with us in early May. Our office number is 218-475-0024 and we will be there full time beginning May 9th, we can work out the details then. Trying to remember this until late May would be more difficult than me swimming it out to Windigo for you.
by Capt Don
Mon Jan 18, 2016 5:35 pm
Forum: Gear & Supplies
Topic: White Gas Availability before Memorial Day Windigo
Replies: 10
Views: 6499

Re: White Gas Availability before Memorial Day Windigo

If you were able to get fuel for your jetboil, could you carry the stove, minus the fuel, on the plane? If so, we could bring some over for you. We have a number of canisters left behind every year on the boats, I save them and use them for ice fishing and other jet boil uses. We would drop some off...