I wish i had an answer for you but i will offer one caution. Four or five years ago (I think), there was a fire on the Minong. I understand that a portion of the trail was rerouted the next year. Others may be able to confirm. In any case, if I am correct, Inreach may not reflect that.

I head to the island with some boy scouts next week. I believe i saw a passing reference somewhere to beaver damage between McCargo and Chickenbone West. Any current updates? As an aside, i hiked this last year in bone-dry conditions and marveled at my luck because it sure looked like it would norma...

Thanks for the information. When i was there last year, the store had almost nothing in stock.

I don't think I have seen this addressed in any trip reports. Last year, the building for the new store in Windigo looked almost complete. Has it opened?

funny how rumors spread!

I will be heading to the island at the end of July. Any word on the condition of Chickenbone Lake? I saw a passing reference in a trip report about a hiker warning another hiker about the water there. I have not seen any formal warning from NPS. Thanks

Thanks, JerryB! No one said anything about Washington Creek, Belle Island or Rock Harbor. How were they? washington creek was full, but i was able to get a shelter This year, i am helping a boy scout group on a trip at the end of July. Very, very limited space. We are being forced into a far from i...

jerry wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 11:22 am McCargoe full, hmm. What other campgrounds were like that last year?

Jerry, When i was on the island last year, McCargo was jam packed, as was Moskey and, to a lesser extent, Chippewa.

Signed, the Other Jerry

thanks for the report! I envy you the beaver quartet sighting. And I share your shelter etiquette intuitions as well! I always turn my permit (and sometimes other permits I've found along the way) in when I'm done walking, so I can't check. But if ISRO permits have a blank overside, it might be rei...

Thanks, everyone. Let the experiment begin.

This may be a stupid question, but here goes: I am considering shifting from my (albeit light-weight) hiking boots, with Gore-Tex, to trail runners. The trail runners are very light and are intentionally porous. So, my question is, what types of socks do folks wear with trail runners? Regular hiking...

My list isn't terribly exciting. The best item will probably be a pair of Altra Lone Peak 5's (or who knows, maybe 6's). I've become a convert to trail runners for backpacking and have just about destroyed my previous pair of 4.5's. Other than that, I need some new rain pants, as my previous pair a...

i agree about saving a zero day for later in a trip. Until last summer, i would agree that Mc cargo was good for two days. But this last August, that site was packed; it was more like an RV site than an IR site. I was very disappointed. Maybe the overcrowding will be better this year? Maybe consider...

i recommend a diffuser. Very light weight and eliminates hot spots. I got mine several years back at Packit Gourmet.

a contingency plan would be a good idea. You won’t know for sure until you get to the island.