So I'm solo hiking IR this coming July, 13th through the 20th. What rain gear do folks recommend? For summer hikes I typically carry a light weight rain jacket from Go Light. My pants/skirt are usually fast drying synthetics. My footwear will be La Sportiva GTX trail shows (GTX indicates Gortext) an...

Hiya Bobcat! Although I am not a vegan, I eat almost exclusively vegan on trail. It's so much lighter and less prone to spoilage. I'm hiking IR this July, West to East and with a 7-day vegan meal plan. Much of my meal planning comes from the book Another Fork in the Trail by Laurie Ann March. I have...

Is your pain from PF behind you now? For the most part. Custom orthotics helped, as did regular massage therapy to loosen the muscles of my calf. I've had two cortisone injections, and was in a cast on the affected foot for two months. It was not a very pleasant time in my life. The PF finally reco...

I wore brooks cascadia 12s paired with a dirty girl gaiters on the minong trip. Finding the right footware system for you is like finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, isn't it? It's right up there with finding a workable sleeping system. I'm glad to know that someone has done the trip...

I'm planning a 55+ mile backpacking trip to Isle Royal in mid July. I've had quite a footwear journey after developing severe plantar fasciitus in 2016. I've found that the less weight on my feet, the better (and happier) mileage I can get of my trips. I currently hike with the La Sportiva Synthesis...

Coming from the Cascades, you might not find it too daunting to cross the Greenstone Ridge repeatedly. So a variation like Todd Harbor to Moskey Basin (15 ish miles) on Day 4, then Moskey Basin to Lane Cove (11 ish via the mt ojibway tower) on Day 5 might be worth considering. I have very vague mem...

Awesome feedback, folks! Thank you! Drat regarding the connection to Ranger III. I thought I read the schedule on The Greenstone clearly, but I'll make sure to call for the 2019 season to get clarity and confirmation. I'm driving up from the Grand Rapids, Michigan area and thought I'd try to take ad...

Thank you for the feedback. Call me silly, but I like the idea of doing the trip "backwards". Gives me lots of time to play tourist while I still have energy and interest to do so. The last day on trail I all I ever want is a giant hamburger and a beer. Then a nap. I appreciate the tip to ...

I am planning a solo backpacking trip to IR for July 2019. This will be my second trip to the island, but the last one was 20 years ago. I'm an experienced outdoors woman - frequently hiking, caving and mountaineering all over the West Coast. I've tentatively mapped out the following itinerary for m...