If you want a new bag and can justify it because you'll use it for other trips, that's cool. If you really dont want a new bag but are concerned about being cold then there ways to stay warm with what you have.

Personally, if I already had a 30 or 40 degree bag that I was familiar with (i.e. that I ...

I suppose part of it depends on what you're doing. Will you be backpacking or staying in one place (lodge/cabin/single campground)? If you're staying in one place then weight and bulk dont matter as much.

Either way, a -20F bag for $120 is going to be pretty bulky. Plus -20F will be way overkill ...

I had the same problem on one night of our trip at the end of June. It was our first night and two of the three group sites were occupied by a single tent. Fortunately the third site was open, and we didnt encounter this on any of the remaining nights.

Was through there at the beginning of the month. The only construction I remember was the bridge work mentioned above - it was a single lane for a couple hundred yards controlled by a traffic signal. I dont recall anything else so if there was more it didnt slow us down much.

Thanks fonixmunkee. Dont know if/when Ill make it back to ISRO, but I will continue to at least lurk around here for a while. You have a great community here.

Last week four Scouts and three adults from eastern Iowa made our first trip to the island. The trek had some big miles for our group who only backpacks once a year but we really got to see several different parts of the island. We saw lots of moose tracks but no moose. In fact the only wildlife we ...

Six days on the island (6/29 - 7/3) going from McCargo to Todd Harbor, S Desor, Siskiwit Bay, Feldtmann and Windigo. The only bugs we had were mosquitoes and for most of the trek they were tolerable. Group campsite #2 at Siskiwit Bay was the worst - worse than any BWCAW campsite or portage trial Ive ...

Temps last week were a bit higher - lows ranged from 47-52 on my thermometer. Highs were in the 70s each day except Friday which didnt make it out of the 60s.

On battery weight - use lithium batteries; they weigh less and last longer. A pair of Energizer lithium AA weighs 1oz on my scale compared to 1.7oz for a pair of Duracell. A new pair of lithiums ran my GPSMap 60Cx for around 28 hours - I swapped them out at 26 hours when it said there was one bar ...

Im doing a combo route in about a month: starting at McCargo Cove we'll take Mingong to Hatchet Lake trail to Greenstone Ridge to Island Mine then the Feldtmann Loop going clockwise to end at Windigo. Overnights are at Todd Harbor, S. Lake Desor, Siskiwit Bay and Feldtmann Lake.

Woo Hoo - finally received my permit in the mail yesterday. Now off to make the rest of my reservations ...

I submitted my group permit on 3-March via email and mailed the check the next day. I contacted them late last week via the "contact us" link on their page and got a response this morning from Ranger Lori. She said they are behind in processing group permits due to a retirement and some computer ...

Thanks Capt Don. That helps.

I sent the permit app about a month ago but have not heard anything yet. Figured I'd give a couple more weeks before I got too worried and called.

Yeah!

A question for the group before I reserve - how long does it usually take NPS to approve a group permit and do they actually let you know that it is approved?

Or, maybe the better question - does the boat fill up quickly and I should go ahead and book then change later if the drop off/pick ...

I have not been at Sawbill yet (hopefully the next trip) but have researched it just a little. I know the "Lady Chain" which goes west from Sawbill to Alice is supposed to be very nice. If you make it that far there are pictographs on Fishdance. I also know there is the wreckage of a plane NNW of ...