Hey GW, there's almost always skeeters, how bad just depends on weather, where you are, etc. Black flies may be bad, but maybe not. I always bring a head net, but never had to use it (thankfully), but it's good insurance. And good bug dope. There's some discussion in other threads here. Hope that he...

I'm not much of a fisherman, but I've eaten Lake Trout several times while camping at Belle Isle and McCargoe Cove, graciously shared by others who had more than they knew what to do with. Have also seen 20+ lb northerns that were pulled from bays in that area, but don't know specifics. I know that ...

I carry a MH Lamina 35 synthetic bag and silk liner @ 2 1/2 lbs, and an Exped UL7 pad @ 1lb. I'm comfortable into the 40s without a base layer. My I.R. trips are generally mid-summer, but if I ever do an early or late trip I'd probably add a warmer liner as opposed to a new bag. I like the layered a...

If there was not enough money to send an employee (who, I was told opted to volunteer if need be) to do a program at a show that boasts the largest concentration of Isle Royale's visitor demographic, there can't be enough money to start removing perfectly good and viable structures, can there? If f...

Thanks for the update John! Well said. And Thanks to you for all of your volunteer efforts!

My least favorite is Caribou Island. Maybe it was the 45 degree, 30 mph south wind the day I was there but there was something claustrophobic about the place. Sounds like my one day there, so I know what you're saying. But still loved it, maybe because the shelter faces north (and we were in it) :)...

bergman wrote:Not sure how long shelters have been in the park, but i always thought they were there for safety (hypothermia/death) and not convenience/comfort.

Interesting question. It may be the other way around.

I too, am really surprised that they would remove the shelters. I could see it if they were in such disrepair that they were falling down. I suspect that they do not want to have to continue with the upkeep and maintenance, but why not wait until it outlives some of it's usefulness? Since the shelt...

Thanks for the reference/link. Haven't had the chance to look at it yet though. I suppose there's a little solace in the slow wheels of bureaucracy since they're still there.

Belle Isle is also my favorite. During my summer in Rock Harbor I paddled there as often as possible. Wood Lake would be my 2nd, but they're all good. Only one I didn't really care for (and haven't stayed at) is Tookers. I've camped at 7 and checked out another 4. Really need to make it to Merritt L...

I like Duncan Bay. Unfortunately, the dock is slated to be removed in the future. Tampico, what's the plan? I can imagine the rational, but if I was a boater I'd want to have that option. It blew 30+ from the SW at the Narrows one trip--a couple boats went by and wisely continued to the Duncan Bay ...

Great report Sean! I assume it was published, or will be?

Think of a very small convenience store/gift shop with some camping supplies. I would plan to bring all my food. The stores should be viewed as the "oops, I forgot something, this will have to do" option, not for general provisioning. Not sure when they close, but very shortly after Labor ...

By "stay at the lodge" I meant get one of the little $50 per night cabins for the first night to get an early start the next morning. Those cabins are only in Windigo, not Rock Harbor. The campground (presumably in a shelter that time of year) or the lodge at $200-250 ish a night are the ...

And you caught it while I was writing! The glaring problem is getting from Windigo back to Rock Harbor, because the Queen IV and Ranger III only go to and from Rock Harbor. The only "public" transportation between the two ends of the island is the Voyageur II, which circumnavigates the isl...