Search found 277 matches

by Bobcat1
Thu Oct 26, 2023 11:40 pm
Forum: Trails & Campsites
Topic: A comprehensive question
Replies: 25
Views: 2603

Re: A comprehensive question

Isle Royale’s configuration does not really lend itself to my definition of a through-hike. My definition is something along the lines of: start someplace at a well-defined start, eventually end someplace else at a well-defined end, and the hike is long enough so that the hiking itself becomes a lif...
by Bobcat1
Mon Jul 03, 2023 9:30 am
Forum: Trails & Campsites
Topic: A comprehensive question
Replies: 25
Views: 2603

Re: A comprehensive question

Do you have a packraft? Thinking Raspberry Island, Mott Island, and there is a well-used but maybe unofficial trail on Amygdaloid Island. In setting your own goals, do you have to carry that packraft (+pfd and paddle) the whole trip? Passage Island is a regular excursion of the MV-Sandy. Fun project...
by Bobcat1
Tue Jun 20, 2023 8:25 am
Forum: Transportation & Lodging
Topic: Returning to IR, by seaplane?
Replies: 5
Views: 1340

Re: Returning to IR, by seaplane?

If you have a firm date where you have to be home, make sure you leave an extra day in case of flight delays on the seaplane. Or, you could take the seaplane out to the Rock and then come home on the RangerIII which seems to be the least likely mode of transportation to have a trip delayed significa...
by Bobcat1
Tue Jun 06, 2023 12:01 pm
Forum: General Questions and Miscellaneous
Topic: Pre-Taping Feet?
Replies: 5
Views: 1533

Re: Pre-Taping Feet?

By all means, pre-tape areas you know are trouble spots. You can even paint up the area with tincture of benzoin which acts as a primer and makes the tape stick better and longer. Carry an alcohol wipe or two to clean off the benzoin after you remove the tape....
by Bobcat1
Tue Jun 06, 2023 11:56 am
Forum: General Questions and Miscellaneous
Topic: Random thoughts and questions
Replies: 19
Views: 1762

Re: Random thoughts and questions

RE: the waterfall, is this between Feldtmann Lake and Windigo? Or in one of the ridge drop-offs between Feldtmann Lake and Siskiwit Bay? I recall a beautiful shady spot and a creek with a waterfall, in a ravine along the trail to Siskiwit Bay that noone seems to ever mention as a reliable water sour...
by Bobcat1
Thu Jun 01, 2023 12:28 pm
Forum: Gear & Supplies
Topic: LighterPack final shakedown
Replies: 14
Views: 1121

Re: LighterPack final shakedown

Just FYI, you might not have the option to buy a 4-oz canister - last time I was there, they had plenty of supplies but only 8-oz cartridges. Quite a few freebies in a milk crate out front of the store, from people dropping them off before taking the seaplane home. All 8-oz. What you could do is tak...
by Bobcat1
Tue May 30, 2023 9:20 am
Forum: Canoeing, Kayaking & Fishing
Topic: Tip-to-Tip Trip
Replies: 7
Views: 907

Re: Tip-to-Tip Trip

Can't answer all your questions, but it is simple to pinch or file off the barbs on a set of hooks, and then exchange the hooks on your lures of choice to fish where barbless is required. There is a growing trend in sport fishing to fish barbless anyway - less injury to the fish if catch-and-release...
by Bobcat1
Fri May 26, 2023 9:52 am
Forum: General Questions and Miscellaneous
Topic: GMRS Communcation
Replies: 3
Views: 509

Re: GMRS Communcation

I have used GMRS radios for hiking (high Sierra) and for canoeing in the Boundary Waters, to communicate mostly when we arrived at a destination lake and split up with different canoes checking out different campsites. They were marginally effective, but they did work well enough for the groups to j...
by Bobcat1
Thu May 25, 2023 9:25 am
Forum: Gear & Supplies
Topic: Mud baskets for trekking poles?
Replies: 5
Views: 4303

Re: Mud baskets for trekking poles?

The "mud baskets" might well be snow baskets for use with snowshoes. I personally find them awkward in the kind of terrain you'll find at Isle Royale. The poles tend to get tangled in the underbrush when they have larger baskets, which slows your travel. My preferred tip for established hi...
by Bobcat1
Mon May 15, 2023 11:25 am
Forum: Gear & Supplies
Topic: Could y'all take a look at my LighterPack?
Replies: 4
Views: 873

Re: Could y'all take a look at my LighterPack?

Have you decided yet whether you are going solo or with a group of buddies? You can lighten up on your camp kitchen in particular if you can share the water filtration, the cookset, the stove, and some of the first aid items. If it were me, and I was solo, I would bring the whole deck of cards but m...
by Bobcat1
Thu May 11, 2023 12:26 pm
Forum: Trails & Campsites
Topic: Am I overreacting about bushwhacking being a bad idea for an upcoming trip?
Replies: 5
Views: 1231

Re: Am I overreacting about bushwhacking being a bad idea for an upcoming trip?

You have hit on most of the main reasons why cross-country camping is so difficult at Isle Royale. One more reason that you didn't mention is the terrain contours. Because of the underlying geology, IsRo's contours range from ridges to swamps following the backbone of the island, and north slopes ar...
by Bobcat1
Tue Apr 25, 2023 7:24 am
Forum: Transportation & Lodging
Topic: transportation for early season from 5/2 - 5/6
Replies: 6
Views: 3305

Re: transportation for early season from 5/2 - 5/6

Maybe try for other locations in the NorthWoods that are not as access-limited, where you could enjoy a similar seasonal environment. Superior National Forest, maybe something on the edge of the Boundary Waters. Or Porcupine Mountains in upper Michigan. Or any number of similarly amazing places in C...
by Bobcat1
Mon Apr 17, 2023 7:15 am
Forum: Transportation & Lodging
Topic: Copper Harbor Parking
Replies: 2
Views: 1132

Re: Copper Harbor Parking

As far as the actual parking fees, it's a trade-off. The least expensive way to go is to take the Ranger III, and park for free. But it takes longer and has sailings just a couple days a week. For the daily schedule and extra time on the island, is the $50 parking max fee, and the more expensive cro...
by Bobcat1
Tue Apr 11, 2023 9:33 am
Forum: Trails & Campsites
Topic: Late June 2023 Minong Itinerary
Replies: 3
Views: 959

Re: Late June 2023 Minong Itinerary

If you all are cruising through the miles without struggling, the last day you can easily be back in RH in time to dayhike the Stoll Trail out to Scoville Point , and still have time for a shower before making your 2pm flight. On the other hand, by that point, if you are tired, then just hauling int...
by Bobcat1
Tue Mar 21, 2023 1:01 pm
Forum: Canoeing, Kayaking & Fishing
Topic: Four day canoe trip
Replies: 4
Views: 2292

Re: Four day canoe trip

Another possibility is to spend all 4 days on Rock Harbor. Day 1 arrive, paddle down to Daisy Farm or, if you can get a spot, Caribou Island. Day 2 explore Rock Harbor Lighthouse and Edison Fishery, en route to Moskey Basin. Day 3 paddle back to Rock Harbor, exploring either shore of RH along the wa...