I need general advice on trails, weather, etc.
Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2018 5:01 pm
I'm planning on backpacking Isle Royale on May 14th through May 18th, giving me roughly 4 days of hiking to do. I didn't really know which category to post this under because it has a bit of everything, so I posted it here. I'm a good hiker and I'm in pretty good shape, but I have never actually solo backpacked before. I believe I have all of the gear I need, I just need advice on some little details like trail conditions and what the weather could be like. Here are some four-day itineraries I've been mulling over:
Rock Harbor - Moskey - Hatchet Lake - McCargoe - 3M - RH+Scoville (51.1 miles)
Rock Harbor - Moskey - McCargoe - 3M - RH+Scoville (with a rest day) (38.2 miles)
Rock Harbor - Daisy - Richie - McCargoe - 3M - RH+Scoville (38.6 miles)
I know that first itinerary is a bit of a leg-killer, but I get to see a good stretch of the Greenstone and Todd Harbor for 12 extra miles. Is it worth it to do something this strenuous? I want to push myself on this trip, but I also want to have time to relax and feel like I'm on a vacation. This is my dream trip and I don't want to miss out on anything if I can help it.
I'll be coming into RH on the Isle Royale Queen ferry, and after permits and talks I should have roughly 8 hours of daylight. I really want to get to Moskey to stay my first night, but I've been told this is ambitious. Is it doable? Or should I just plan for Daisy?
I've also thought about working Chippewa Harbor into an itinerary, but I'm not excited about the hike out and back since it doesn't work into a loop. It just makes things slightly more difficult if I want to go there. Is it alright if I miss it, given the other places that I will be seeing? Or is it one of those places that I can't miss? I would basically want to hike from Chippewa all the way to McCargoe and I'm not too keen on going up and down all of those ridges for 11 miles.
In some of the videos I've watched, people have had to hike over a good amount of swamp boards. How long are these stretches and how often to they happen along any given trail? Obviously I won't run into any on Greenstone Ridge, but what about the trails that run north-south?
I know the weather can literally do anything in the time that I'm going to be backpacking, but is there anyone who's hiked on the island at roughly the same time who could tell me what to expect? I know it can dip down in the 20's at night and I'm well prepared for that. Also, what is the insect situation at this time? What kind of condition are the trails going to be in, as far as vegetation and actually being able to tell where I'm going? I know not very many people will have used the trails before I get there because it's so early in the year.
I plan on taking four or five Mountain House pro-paks to eat for either breakfast or dinner, and then assorted protein bars to eat for the rest of my meals because they don't take up much space. Does this sound like a good plan as far as meals go?
Rock Harbor - Moskey - Hatchet Lake - McCargoe - 3M - RH+Scoville (51.1 miles)
Rock Harbor - Moskey - McCargoe - 3M - RH+Scoville (with a rest day) (38.2 miles)
Rock Harbor - Daisy - Richie - McCargoe - 3M - RH+Scoville (38.6 miles)
I know that first itinerary is a bit of a leg-killer, but I get to see a good stretch of the Greenstone and Todd Harbor for 12 extra miles. Is it worth it to do something this strenuous? I want to push myself on this trip, but I also want to have time to relax and feel like I'm on a vacation. This is my dream trip and I don't want to miss out on anything if I can help it.
I'll be coming into RH on the Isle Royale Queen ferry, and after permits and talks I should have roughly 8 hours of daylight. I really want to get to Moskey to stay my first night, but I've been told this is ambitious. Is it doable? Or should I just plan for Daisy?
I've also thought about working Chippewa Harbor into an itinerary, but I'm not excited about the hike out and back since it doesn't work into a loop. It just makes things slightly more difficult if I want to go there. Is it alright if I miss it, given the other places that I will be seeing? Or is it one of those places that I can't miss? I would basically want to hike from Chippewa all the way to McCargoe and I'm not too keen on going up and down all of those ridges for 11 miles.
In some of the videos I've watched, people have had to hike over a good amount of swamp boards. How long are these stretches and how often to they happen along any given trail? Obviously I won't run into any on Greenstone Ridge, but what about the trails that run north-south?
I know the weather can literally do anything in the time that I'm going to be backpacking, but is there anyone who's hiked on the island at roughly the same time who could tell me what to expect? I know it can dip down in the 20's at night and I'm well prepared for that. Also, what is the insect situation at this time? What kind of condition are the trails going to be in, as far as vegetation and actually being able to tell where I'm going? I know not very many people will have used the trails before I get there because it's so early in the year.
I plan on taking four or five Mountain House pro-paks to eat for either breakfast or dinner, and then assorted protein bars to eat for the rest of my meals because they don't take up much space. Does this sound like a good plan as far as meals go?