Our local library had a copy too. At age 87, David Mech has a treasure trove of tales to tell from a lifetime of observations and scientific inquiry. During his early work there was much conjecture and superstition about wolf behavior but little knowledge based upon actual field biology work. It's ...

On Thursday, August 3 at 5:00, Isle Royale National Park is hosting a ZOOM meeting on the draft Wilderness Stewardship Plan. The meeting starts with a presentation followed by Q&A. Participants are asked to register in advance here: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/MeetingNotices.cfm?projectID=109183

-what was it like in RH while the fire got sorted out? Upon arriving in RH on Saturday evening 8/13, we were advised to set up in the overflow tent sites. In the meantime, they asked us to give them some time to get organized, then check with the visitor center in the morning. Just before dark, I ...

After missing Isle Royale the last several years, I was determined to make it out to the island in 2022. When I saw that the Ranger III still had seats available and the forecast was ideal, I pulled the trigger for August 12-17. I had in mind a leisurely repeat of a past visit to the east end. What ...

For what it’s worth, I’ve run the full gamut of backpacking footwear. In the 80’s I wore the obligatory, state-of-the-art, heavy duty, stiff, full-leather “waffle stompers” (Fabiano). They required a 50-mile break-in, but they lasted for years. They protected my feet well from rocks & roots but were ...

Chief, This photo brings back fond memories of an Isle Royale moment. During a stay at Moskey Basin, the ranger who stopped by to check permits told me that Moskey Basin was a favorite spot. He said that you can see stars in the water. When I woke up in the middle of that night, I understood what he ...

Today Michigan Radio, our local NPR affiliate, hosted an interesting interview with IRNP staff. The interviewees were Liz Valencia, who is well-known to visitors from her many years of service on Isle Royale and Denice Swanke, our new superintendent. You can listen at: Isle Royale National Park ...

Heavy downpours, prolonged drizzle, sleet, high wind & rain, sudden cloudbursts, … It seems to me that on IRNP, rainfall is a frequent challenge to visitors. I’ve noticed lots of references to rain and rain gear here on the forum. Nevertheless, it might be helpful to share experiences that worked for ...

I've been using the Gerber LST for quite a few years now. It works well for me. I hope you like it too.

I see a pattern developing here – one spouse who doesn’t backpack. Grandma will occasionally backpack but only if there’s no alternative (eg Denali NP, Grand Canyon NP). The housekeeping cabins at Rock harbor offered a comfortable alternative for us at IRNP. So when she wanted to visit IRNP, that’s w ...

In the guidance for camping, I happened to notice a subtle change from the 2019 Greenstone to the 2021 edition. 2019 says “Expect crowded campsites from late July through August.” 2021 says “Expect crowded campsites from mid-July through mid-September.” I’ve heard that, in general, the national parks ...

Great question. This is what I remember from the park ranger briefing on the Ranger III: - Shelters are first come - first served. The “owner” is under no obligation to share. - Campsites that have multiple tent sites MUST be shared until all the tent sites are in use. The first to arrive should pos ...

I enjoyed Leave Only Footprints too. It’s a commentary; not a travel guide – think Travels with Charlie, not Rand McNally. It’s well-written and entertaining; an easy “summer read”.

I just finished reading Leave Only Footprints by Conor Knighton, a CBS correspondent who visited all the national parks in one year. I was surprised to see most of an entire chapter devoted to Isle Royale. In each chapter, he groups several parks under a single-word commonality. Some are obvious ...

Stunning photo! THANKS.