Great report! FWIW, I agree about the MH M&C, but find the Backpackers Pantry to be pretty good.

That's sad, but inevitable it seems.

Hey Kelly, here's a trip report from a Sept canoe trip in Rock Harbor: https://isleroyaleforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=21205 . It will give you a sense of what the weather can be like that time of year. Note that weather becomes more of a potential issue the later you go, and as we experienced, can blo...

Any thoughts re: sourcing water on these hikes? Plan to carry enough for the day, 2 liters for most folks, more if it's hot. The only reliable sources around there are Lake Superior and stagnant beaver ponds (I suppose in a pinch). Even on Superior the shoreline can make it difficult in many spots.

I should also say there's absolutely nothing wrong with your plan! It's all very doable. You might also call the lodge the morning you leave and see if the water taxi schedule has opened up for that afternoon/evening--you never know. Or for that matter, check at the office when you get there--grab a...

I'm prejudiced against the climb out of Lane Cove, so that also has something to do with my preferences. Might I ask why? It's a rather long steep climb with switchbacks from Lane Cove up to the ridge. As an old paddler more than a backpacker, I'm not the best example in this case, but I've done it...

Personally I'd swap a night at Moskey for Lane Cove--it's so nice that it kinda seems a waste to be there and just move on. Both are great campgrounds and many folks' favorites, though. I do recommend getting up on the ridge as well as the shore trails, but I'm prejudiced against the climb out of La...

lsue63 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 6:51 am How hard is the hiking from Windigo to South Lake Desor?

That's one of the easier sections of trail on the island. Although I haven't hiked between Island Mine and S Desor, it's a gradual uphill to Island Mine and the trail is rather rock and root free compared to other trails.

I may not the best to respond, since I haven't hiked those trails myself, but it seems rather aggressive to me unless you're exceptionally fit and experienced. Those are, by all accounts, the most difficult trails on the island. Your first day would be especially long with a late start off the boat ...

Page 10 has the Sandy schedule: https://www.nps.gov/isro/upload/Web-Rea ... nstone.pdf
I would call the lodge about when you can purchase tickets and demand. The one time I took a tour some years ago we signed up in the lodge office the day before--they just kept a list in a notebook.

I feel even stronger, that there isn’t any place on I.R. for a sit-on kayak. I’ve seen them and I’ve also met folks that have capsized and been rescued or self-rescued. Any inland lake can be rough and dangerous, Siskiwit is just the biggest and most likely. A much better idea is to rent a canoe and...

Looks like a good plan to me, although I’m usually paddling. Most folks would probably say go to Mosley Basin instead of Richie, but Richie is a beautiful spot too if the bugs aren’t terrible and most important, there isn’t an algae bloom. But you can see how you feel and decide as you go. Moskey ca...

Of similar interest, George Desort made a documentary of paddling all the inland lakes, “Fifty Lakes One Island”. It’s been awhile since I watched, but I think he did it in a couple trips and not sure he made all the lakes.

I’ve seen 2 ft rollers in Belle Harbor with white caps on top of that. And nasty chop coming out of Stockley into Five Fingers Bay. A lot of the “islands” aren’t much more than rocks and don’t offer much protection. There can also be currents around the islands and points that build confused seas ra...

#2. I concluded that it’s natural, for reasons you pointed out. I have heard references to an ancient shoreline along the Feldtmann trail, but not sure if they referred to this stretch or somewhere else. #3. I thought the same. Beautiful little spot. #4. Your speculation sounds good to me. Like seab...