Especially if you've just got one night on the island, the Windigo-based options kolo describes sound like a perfect way to get your feet wet and help you decide what you want more of on your next trip. (I feel like every trip to IR is partly scouting for the next one.)

that looks like a terrific trip! Day 1: time and energy permitting, consider adding an out-and-back jaunt along the Greenstone Ridge trail, which makes a T-intersection with the trail from the dock to Lookout Louise about .2 miles short of the lookout. (And if you're staying at the lodge or in the c...

With an IR trip under your belt before you're 16, I bet you're not going to be inexperienced backpackers for long! You're getting good advice about gear and strategies. As for the itinerary--there are a lot of options, all excellent, but what would be most excellent depends on details about you and ...

I was wondering why a mainland Ontario wolf had been added to the team transported a few weeks ago. It might be a clue that 016 is a black wolf. Rolf Peterson provided the on-board entertainment on the Ranger when we took it from RH to Houghton last June. One thing he said was that there was some in...

I'd like opinions about rain pants vs. gaiters. Two considerations in favor of gaiters: They raise the bar for how deep the mud needs to be before it seeps over the top of your footwear. THEY KEEP YOUR SHOELACES CLEAN! (Of course, they themselves get dirty, but typically they can be donned and doff...

midmay I'd go with something burlier--higher and sturdier/more waterproof-- than DirtyGirls. Looking toward the Minong in early June, I blew my REI dividend on these: https://kahtoola.com/product/levagaiter-gtx/ but I haven't field tested them yet . . . Let's compare notes later this summer, because...

Sounds like a terrific trip! Contriving to overnight at Chippewa Harbor is on my IR todo list. campsites: I'll second the suggestion that if you're feeling chipper when you get to Hatchet Lake on Day 2, consider carrying on to Todd Harbor. A shorter day to McCargoe will leave you even more time to e...

Thanks! I believe I'm sufficiently fortified to discipline my future self to enjoy a night at N Desor (if she makes it that far!). Another question: it could be that I'll have to choose between spending my last (westward) night at Huginnin and spending it at Washington Creek. The Windigo services wo...

hooray! Is there any explanation of how the Ontario mainland wolf got on this team?

Thanks Ingo, kolo, and dcclark! Smelling human I've probably got covered, but channeling Nancy Reagan might take a little work. (Maybe I could bring a cast iron frying pan and an egg and recreate that "this is your brain on drugs" PSA?) I know Ingo's joshing, but for what it's worth, Plan A has me s...

The authorities (being Mr torpified and our dog Cholmondeley) have granted me provisional leave to visit IR in early June. The plan: From Rock Harbor, walk out the Tobin Harbor trail and up the Mt Franklin trail to the Greenstone, west along the ridge to the E. Chickenbone junction, up to McCargo, t...

Let's hear it for mid50s flatlanders from the Midwest! Concerning knees and hills (1) do you use trekking poles? they can spare your joints some wear and tear. As an added bonus, they can also prevent the condition, technically know as sausage fingers, that afflicts some backpackers after their hand...

I haven't walked the length of the Minong (yet!), but I can attest that the portion of the Greenstone you'd skip on itinerary 2 is predominantly what I think of as Contemplative Forest Walking. Nothing wrong with that, of course---trees can get up to pretty weird and interesting things---but worth k...

Name: Laura aka torpified Email: (at) you can PM here! Hometown: Ann Arbor Arrival Date: early June Departure Date: somewhat later in June Coming From/Via: the Ranger! Itinerary: walk to Windigo via (among other things) the Minong Ridge, then take the Voyageur back to RH Notes/Other: as usual this i...

It sounds like you've got this! I bet it'll be a wonderful time to be on the Island.