Tom,

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I appreciate your insight! This is very helpful.

Megan

Howdy, I'm planning to be back on the island this summer for my fourth trip. I've mostly hiked the Windigo end of the island in the past, but I've heard so many great things about the eastern end and some of the campsites, so that's my destination this year. I'm looking for input on this itinerary ...

For a day trip, you might want to hike the Escarpment Trail. Beautiful views of Lake of the Clouds.

If you get to the La Crosse area in Wisconsin and love to hike, stop by Perrot State Park near Trempealeau. I hike there a couple of times a year, and got there this week on a gorgeous, sunny day and was reminded how spectacular it is. The Brady's Bluff and Perrot Ridge Trails offer stunning ...

Mountain House's Beef Stroganoff Pro-Pak has got to be one of the best nearly-ready-to-eat when you're just off the trail meals I've had. I tend to pack one every year. Yummy. (I'm Scandinavian in heritage; Ketchup is a spice. We call that "Swedish Hot Sauce.") The ketchup line made me laugh out ...

Hi chorizo, thanks for the recommendation. I looked briefly at those scales and they look nice. I might pick one up. Backpacker 534, I know what you're coming from. I got into backpacking more seriously in the last 4-5 years, so as I've had to make gear purchases I've picked up some nice lightweight ...

Last year on IR I met a lightweight hiker whose pack weighed something ridiculously light like 12 pounds without food and water. He said his first step in lightening his pack was to buy a scale that measures ounces (like a kitchen or postage scale) and just start weighing everything to find out ...

My dividend was only $4.85, boo. But I took that and the 20 percent off coupon and bought some Black Diamond trekking poles online last weekend. I am super excited to try them out. It was a doctor-recommended purchase after I had surgery for a torn meniscus in my knee last December. The poles will ...

Hello, I've been to Isle Royale three times now and have pretty much covered the Windigo end of the island. Next time I'm aiming for the Rock Harbor end. Other than getting off the Voyageur in Rock Harbor for my first trip to the island and booking it to Daisy Farm and then onto the Greenstone, I ...

I hope to be at Canoecopia on Saturday, and will make sure to say hello to Don and introduce myself to the NPS folks! Thanks for the tip!

Name: Megan, Heidi and Jan Email: mkparker919(at)gmail.com Hometown: Eau Claire, WI Arrival Date: Wednesday, Aug. 26. Departure Date: Sunday, Aug. 30. Coming From/Via: Grand Portage, Minn., to Windigo and back. Backpacking itinerary: Day one: Windigo to Feldtman Lake. Day two: Feldtman Lake to ...

Shoot, I'm planning on doing the Feldtman Loop at the end of the month and was planning on Feldtman Lake for the first night. Has anyone else attempted this and wished they'd gone to Hugginin or somewhere else the first night? I'm going Aug. 26-30, so I'm hoping it's a slower time of year. I guess I ...

Name: Megan and Troy Email: mkparker919(at)gmail.com Hometown: Eau Claire, WI Arrival Date: Wednesday, May 13. Departure Date: Sunday, May 17. Coming From/Via: Grand Portage, Minn., to Windigo and back. Backpacking itinerary: Day one: Windigo to Feldtman Lake. Day two: Feldtman Lake to Siskiwit Bay ...