Minong Water Sources

Questions about trails and campsites on the island.

Moderator: MikeT

TylerS
NewbieCake
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Jun 06, 2017 2:34 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 1

Minong Water Sources

Post by TylerS »

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 what to expect from them this time of year so I can mark up my map. We'll be filtering with a sawyer squeeze. Thanks in advance for any info and help provided!
Donk_67
Trailblazer
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Dec 21, 2013 1:00 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 2
Location: Petoskey MI

Minong Water Sources

Post by Donk_67 »

There are a few stream crossings between McCargo and Todd. A few more between Todd and Little Todd. There two weeks ago. Fill up at Little Todd or stream just before the spur to CG, because you the walk a dry ridge all the way to N. Desor CG. After Desor, I filled at the second stream approximately 4 miles from Desor...that carried me the rest of the way to Windigo...although there are several more streams after, including a couple of beaver dam crossings. Enjoy.
Also the Nat Geo map is fairly accurate showing streams.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
TylerS
NewbieCake
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Jun 06, 2017 2:34 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 1

Re: Minong Water Sources

Post by TylerS »

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.
User avatar
Midwest Ed
IR Expert
Posts: 1355
Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 1:25 am
Isle Royale Visits: 8
Location: Quad Cities, IL
Has thanked: 42 times
Been thanked: 82 times

Re: Minong Water Sources

Post by Midwest Ed »

You also have the added advantage of Spring time frame vs. late Summer or Fall. Flow will be higher and Tannin levels should be lower this time of year.
8 trips, 1975 x 2, 1976 x 2, 1978, 1985, 2000, 2013
TylerS
NewbieCake
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Jun 06, 2017 2:34 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 1

Re: Minong Water Sources

Post by TylerS »

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!
JerryB
May actually live on IR
Posts: 381
Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:30 am
Isle Royale Visits: 14
Has thanked: 36 times
Been thanked: 49 times

Re: Minong Water Sources

Post by JerryB »

There are few (mayb none) water sources on the Greenstone itself. I carry all the water i need for a hike rather than rely on filtering along the way. The distances between campsites is such that this is seldom a problem. N. Decor to Windigo is a long haul but there are some sources, especially towards Windigo end, if you need to top off. Have you used the Sawyer before? I love it, although I learned to bring a one liter plastic bottle with the top cut off to fill the reservoir. I have had problems simply scooping the water into that bag. Ejoy!
TylerS
NewbieCake
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Jun 06, 2017 2:34 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 1

Re: Minong Water Sources

Post by TylerS »

Yeah water needs to be flowing for the sawyer bags to fill up easily, but using a scoop works just fine as well.
huntertim214
NewbieCake
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2017 5:56 am
Isle Royale Visits: 6
Location: SE MI

Re: Minong Water Sources

Post by huntertim214 »

TylerS wrote: Thu Jun 15, 2017 6:44 am Yeah water needs to be flowing for the sawyer bags to fill up easily, but using a scoop works just fine as well.
I find that it you inflate the bag a little bit (i.e. blow it into shape), and then grab the bag at the fill neck and "scoop" with the bag itself you can fill it quite easily in any still water, so long as it's deeper than about 4 inches. you just keep scooping the back through the water probably 6 or 7 times and it fills up. So basically you are moving the bag through the water instead of the water moving into the bag.
User avatar
jrwiesz
May actually live on IR
Posts: 353
Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:42 am
Isle Royale Visits: 3
Location: Michigan

Re: Minong Water Sources

Post by jrwiesz »

TylerS &
huntertim214,

Just a FYI.
I use the fill bag, that came with the squeeze, for other purposes now.
I, also, felt that it was too difficult to fill, especially out of a shallow stream/water source.

I added the platypus water tank to the set-up, much easier to fill in most applications
https://www.backcountry.com/platypus-pl ... r-tank?s=a

Since I initially went to the squeeze, sawyer, also came out with a better/easier to fill bladder.
https://www.rei.com/product/123097/sawy ... er-4-liter.

Both of the above options fit the squeeze in the same fashion as the original set-up.
Some options to consider for future endeavors.
YMMV. :)
"And standing on the the crest of the Greenstone Ridge, I suddenly had this desire to retreat north to where I just come, to stay in the backcountry, to spend another day in a place where the only deadline I had was to pitch the tent before dark."
Jim DuFresne
Donk_67
Trailblazer
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Dec 21, 2013 1:00 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 2
Location: Petoskey MI

Minong Water Sources

Post by Donk_67 »

TylerS wrote: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!
There is a small stream just southeast of E. Chickenbone trail junction which was flowing in August of 2013 and last week as well.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
torpified
IR Expert
Posts: 594
Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2016 4:06 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 6
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Has thanked: 238 times
Been thanked: 120 times
Contact:

Re: Minong Water Sources

Post by torpified »

At the risk of making this even more like water filter thread:

I've only tried this: https://www.rei.com/product/116364/kata ... -338-fl-oz on day hikes. But so far I like it better than the Sawyer squeeze: easier to clean, easier to fill, easier to use. Reservations: durability unknown, and the bottle threading is non-standard. If your primary bottle goes south, you can't just recruit any old replacement.

No direct experience with this: https://www.rei.com/product/114975/msr- ... ter-filter but others have registered positive reports. They're even saying it's worth the staggering 5.2 oz it weighs. . . .
TylerS
NewbieCake
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Jun 06, 2017 2:34 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 1

Re: Minong Water Sources

Post by TylerS »

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!
johnp
NewbieCake
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2010 2:19 pm

Re: Minong Water Sources

Post by johnp »

Been a while since this posted, and we're leaving next week...is there accessible water between Windigo and Desor N campground?
User avatar
Kelly
Trailblazer
Posts: 178
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:36 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 9
Has thanked: 138 times
Been thanked: 71 times
Contact:

Re: Minong Water Sources

Post by Kelly »

There might be. There might not be. Plant to carry what you'll need until you get to Washington Creek.
2012 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2026 A Minong thorough hike
User avatar
Kelly
Trailblazer
Posts: 178
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:36 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 9
Has thanked: 138 times
Been thanked: 71 times
Contact:

Re: Minong Water Sources

Post by Kelly »

Also: you won't regret having something to flavor the water at Lake Desor. Lemon crystals work for me.
2012 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2026 A Minong thorough hike
Post Reply