For such a wooded island, finding an appropriate branch 12 feet up and extending six feet out is quite difficult. Given that wolves are seldom seen perched on high branches of trees(!), my philosophy is not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good. I also have to laugh at the thought of a bunch ...

There's Minong Mine near McCargoe Cove. Near Todd Harbor there's a trail to Haytown Mine, and the area beyond that pit is worth exploring.

I second what torpified said about spending the last night at Rock Harbor. While it's no hardship to make it from Three Mile to Rock Harbor on the morning of ...

I just noticed on page 8 of last year’s Greenstone (https://www.nps.gov/isro/upload/Web_2024-Greenstone_Final.pdf) the official guidance on choosing campsites. It is as related above but includes a final option before camping outside the campground: Ask to pitch a tent outside a shelter.

(I did not ...

Enjoy your trip. As has been stated, the key is flexibility. Game plan what sort of changes you might make and what choices are open to you for each night. Then, don’t be afraid to make a change if needed, or you just want to. That mindset is important.

In the last few years, the island has been ...

I wonder when we will know what the impact of this will actually be. Ideally, NPS gets a waiver, or whatever is needed, to hire the bare minimum. Otherwise, I see a real risk of park closure. The park could open (minimum standards) with no trash hauling, no store, no fuel, but with no staff?

My first reaction was April Fools, but that was already covered in a different post. My second reaction was too bad but won’t affect me who comes from MN. Oops, that wrong. Loss of the Ranger could affect everything. I am sure our politicians in DC will act quickly and responsibly,…. April Fools!

The date on which this was posted is noted! Scared me at first

The dock really is wonderful, as is the paved lot. I have not seen the building yet, it was not built last season.

We will see far bigger disruptions this year at the park, I expect, due to budget and personnel cuts. We will all need to be flexible and adaptable to surprises. Frankly, whether i need an Ursak or not, and whether i know the answer now or a few weeks before my trip, is the least of my concerns. I ...

Yes but No. That's a miserable excuse because this started WELL before the new administration. NPS should have been in front of this the beginning of last season in May when the problem was identified.

New food storage rules should have been ironed out and published before last seasons close ...

Phenomenal job on the parks part here, we're down to 34 days until the park opens & they still don't have an "official policy" announced?

I get there's gov red tape, boards to meet, etc... but at the end of the day excuses are just that & it's clear they dropped the ball on this a couple times ...

Tortuga, you raise n interesting point about finding an “ok” branch. Odds are very low of finding a branch ten feet high and extending ten feet from the tree trunk. Last year, i didn’t even try, well not try hard anyway. A question for folks: The ten and ten rule is really meant for bears. I am not ...

I circumambulated Mt Rainier on the Wonderland Trail a few years ago. They have bears. (Also glaciers.). Camping is allowed only in designated areas. Each area has a fixed tetherball-type pole about 12 feet high, with 4 or 5 hooks radiating from its apex. The foot storage protocol is to keep your ...

In my view, a bear canister is a huge overkill. I am doing the same route and will hang my food. I will also place it in an ursak bag.

I have a Big Agnes Scout 2 for years. It is single wall but i have never had a major problem with condensation. The biggest drawback is the single, front entry and needing to navigate around the pole to get in. Gets harder every year! It also has no real room for packs, unless used as a one-man tent ...