I will be on the island for 5 nights arriving in RH July 17 with my 10 year old son. My 5th trip and his first. Mileage is not an issue for me, but I don't want to push him so we will not be straying too far - no further than Daisy or Lane Cove. Was hoping to get some input on some of the day trips ...

I've always used deet with good results, but don't like the possibility of it ruining my gear. Anyone use picaridin and how did it work? Thanks

Good point on the adult size bag vs youth. Now also considering the Marmot Trestles 30.

I'm looking for a sleeping bag for my 13 yo daughter for our trip the second week of June and was hoping for some recomendations. She's 5 ft on a tall day and slender. Right now I'm looking at the REI Youth Lumen +25 for $119. This is her first backpacking trip and I've never had to purchase gear ...

How much rope would you suggest bringing to hang a 5x7 tarp for a sitting/cooking area? Also need to consider additional with proposed food hanging regs.

Oakbrook REI — Planning a Backpack or Kayak Trip to Isle Royale National Pk

http://www.rei.com/event/18615/session/22887

Buried treasure. Windigo too.

I was looking at the IR visitation rate over the years and was surprised by a few things. http://www.nature.nps.gov/stats/viewReport.cfm First was the huge jump from 1985 to 1986. An increase of almost 10,000 visitors, and then another increase of 5500 the next year. I was not able to find any ...

For any Chicago area folks there is a presentation on IR and the Keweenaw at REI Oak Brook on March 11. Registration is required.

http://www.rei.com/event/237/session/87

DNR will be poisoning a portion of the canal tomorrow in an attempt to kill off the carp. Let's hope there will be some measure of success.

So after reading about the amount of rain some experienced in Aug, I'm thinking of adding a tarp to set up as a shelter for cooking/relaxing. Nothing drives me more crazy than being stuck in a tent during an extended downpour. So the search begins. I like the weight savings of a sil tarp, but when ...

Isle Royale has one of the highest return vistor rates and longest stay of the NPS which says a lot about IR. It says: 1. They get very little new business. 2. You can't just drive through. It's so hard to get to, once you're there you might as well stay and look around. Actually, I think it says ...

....NPS suggested that it would be more economical for them for us to pack it out on the ferry ... This is how I recall it as well. Last year at Windigo there were signs on the garbage cans asking people to pack out their garbage back to the mainland. I think pack it on , pack it off , is really ...

Thanks Jeeper. The sternum strap never dawned on me. I've always just had a small camera w/ case that I would carry slung over my neck/shoulder.

Thanks everyone for the great responses! Lots of positive comments on the Lumix - I will definitely check those out. I guess I may just need to over myself on the viewfinder thing. Tom - I like the Canon you mentioned, but seems like it might be a little too big. How do you carry yours while still ...