End-to-end loop trip - itinerary feedback

[pixtory]

Just looking for some feedback - does this look like a good plan, nothing too crazy?

Rock Harbor (via Ranger III) > Daisy Farm
Daisy Farm > McCargoe Cove
McCargoe > Todd Harbor
Todd > Little Todd
Little Todd > N. Lake Desor
N. Desor > Windigo/Washington Creek, resupply via Voyageur
REST DAY!
Washington Creek > S. Lake Desor
S. Desor > Hatchet Lake
Hatchet Lake > Moskey Basin
Moskey Basin > 3 Mile
3 Mile > Rock Harbor
Back to reality (via Ranger III)

After my last visit to the island, I thought I'd like to spend a night at Moskey. That makes for a long-ish day, but I've got both W. Chickenbone and Lake Ritchie as fallback plans, just in case I am limping at that point. I could also spend the following night at Daisy Farm instead of 3 Mile if I didn't get as far as Moskey.

[Base654]

Back up, pans, rest day, alternatives... Looks like a solid plan to me. Your days are longish, but not something this old man hasn't done before, and you know what to expect. Minong is done in the "easy" direction with the N. Desor to Windigo section with any empty pack. Moskey to Rock can be done in a long day, so you have an extra rest day or two if you need it.

I did Windigo to Rock via the green stone a few weeks ago. The stretch from Hatchet to W Chickenbone was a rough day, but I was nursing a knee from a fall. it might just have been me. It was my first time on that section, in the past I have always gone to Todd and McCargoe so I have no past experience. Maybe others can give input there.

[bobcat]

This looks a lot like the trip I am thinking of for next year myself. It all looks do-able. Did you check your days for the Voyager and Ranger etc? I have found that I get an additional two (shortened) days for hiking if I take the Queen instead, arriving much earlier and leaving much later on the sailing dates.

I found the McCargoe to Todd Harbor a fairly easy stretch, as well as the stretch past TH to the Hatchet Lake cut-off; I haven't done the rest of the Minong. I see you have bypassed W. Chickenbone on both legs. It's a nice enough campground, so don't hesitate to shift your mileages around and stay there if you want to add a bit or subtract a bit, and it's right at that center point where a shift could add or subtract an hour of hiking on any of 4 hiking days as you have it planned. And, I personally like Lake Ritchie and would stay there if it was on my direct route, but Moskey is gorgeous although it tends to fill up.

As long as you are doing the Grand Tour, have you considered adding the Feldman Loop? This would leave off only the first segment of the Greenstone out of Windigo, and add a really great loop with Lake Superior and that whole southeastern end of the island. It would add about 1.5 days worth of hiking on the return trip, and might change your schedule for meeting the ferries. Which is another reason to check out the IR Queen because she runs nearly every day in peak season.

Whatever you decide, have a great trip! Be sure and write us a trip report when you complete this.

[torpified]

the itinerary looks very well judged! I'm envious---and also looking forward to the trip report!

[pixtory]

I have my ferry tickets already, so I will have to stick to the days I have planned. This started out as an end-to-end trip where I was trying to choose between the Minong or the Greenstone, and somehow ended up deciding to do both. I had a really big adventure last year and started planning this trip in the middle of a post-adventure funk, and I may have gotten carried away. So I'm probably not going to add the Feldtmann Loop at this point! I guess that will give me a reason to return.

Thanks for the input- I'll be back with a trip report!