That's a beauty of a jacket, Vitz!

Backpacker534: I'll never not use an air mattress. Sleeping comfortable in the woods is the most important thing to me, so I don't cut any corners on my beauty sleep.

Hrm, for me it's a ton of things that make IR great, just like it is with many others I'm sure. From the drive up the North Shore with three other good backpacking friends--or when I'm lucky, my girlfriend--to laying on the dock at Daisy farm staring at the stars and feeling some completely alone ye...

I just spent my dividened (and accompanying 20% off coupon) on this: http://www.rei.com/product/781096

What can I say, I'm a sucker for Backpacker's annual gear reviews.

Not enough is done to maintain the history of IR, you're right, Nick. I happen to find that extremely interesting (as do most people on the board, I'm sure). I had no idea there was a cemetery at Island Mine, and I've been there plenty of times. I would of loved to check this out. Maybe we, as avid ...

The 20% off coupon code is now available at REI. Coupon code is MEMSAVE. Here's the instructions and exclusions, and unfortunately Don_P, no GPSes allowed:

http://www.rei.com/promotions/memberrew ... exclusions

Happy shopping!

Wow, thanks for the two pics...very good contrasting views of the rock. I honestly haven't seen this before!

People who take the VII out to IR might be familiar with some of this article. I know JohnH will be: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/112708/ Excerpt: Calamity. At a rocky, sun-baked opening along Isle Royale’s Greenstone Ridge Trail on a hot, muggy summer day in 2006, my hiking par...

Yaay! The coupon should be coming soon. They usually send it out once they are sure everyone gets their end of year statement.

And Don_P, unfortunately, GPS devices are usually exempt from the coupon Maybe you'll get lucky though.

This is currently playing at the IMAX in Duluth, and I want to go check it out (now more than ever, thanks to your link!).

Someone have a picture of said rock? I'm not sure I know what anyone is talking about.

niners wrote:I think I am going to break down and buy some new boots with mine. Anybody have any suggestions?

I'm a big fan of Merrell boots. I'm on my second pair, and love them. The GoreTex ones are bullet-proof.

You also have to remember that WHEN dividend checks come out, you get 20% most purchases when you use it...so even if your dividend check is 30 cents, you still get 20% off that item (plus an extra 30 cents off!!).

I agree with all the above posts. How "busy" Isle Royale is is relative, but I still take that in effect when I plan my trips, too. In regards to foot traffic, if I'm go to a party of the island that usually sees more people on a regular basis in terms of accessibility or difficulty of the...

Don_P wrote:Possibly a GPS... We made a lot of purchases for our business on our REI card last year and have about $900 coming back.

$900?!?! Mind getting my stove for me?!

Every year for the past four years, I've asked the same question about this time: What are you going to spend your REI dividend on? This year, I think I'm going to get one of those new MSR Reactor stoves and see if it's any better than a JetBoil (hard to beat!): http://www.rei.com/product/736977 How...