Trip Report - old people made it a week on Isle Royale
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 8:14 pm
My husband had Isle Royale on his "bucket list", so we made plans for a week. Last summer, we did the Grinnell Glacier Trail at Glacier NP, so figured without too much work wouldn't be too tough.....WRONG! We hadn't been camping for several years, so updated with things that would work for Isle Royale, as well as the BWCA, where we go often.
July 25: Took boat from Grand Portage to McCargoe Cove - loved the shelter! Watched a young eagle harass a pair of loons - poor things. Cooked pre-cooked steak/potato/carrot hobo dinners in the fire ring, and met a group of boy scouts that live 45 miles away from us in MN and go to the same church we were married in 35 years ago - small world
July 26: After a wonderful breakfast and an enjoyable morning at McCargoe, set off with full packs for West Chickenbone. It was very HOT, and I found out hiking during heat is a whole different day. Loved West Chickenbone - took a few little side hikes the remainder of the day - sans packs - yeah!!
July 27: Rained lightly all day - we made it quite easily to Lake Ritchie, and had a lovely campsite. Saw a young fox who tailed us for quite awhile. Lots of scat, but no moose.
July 28 &29: Not a good day for me. It was so hot that we started sweating taking down the tent. Even though we had only a couple of miles to Moskey Basin, which should have been a piece of cake, but it turned out I was dehydrated and with a bad headache, every step was misery. Finally, after many stops, we made it to a great shelter on the water, and used our fall back plan of spending an extra day at Moskey so I could rehydrate. We did take a couple of short day trips there, as well.the next day.
July 30: Lovely hike to Daisy Farm, where we listened to the naturalist talk about the wokf/moose, and enjoyed it very much. We were picked up there the next morning. Can't wait to go back - tips follow.......
July 25: Took boat from Grand Portage to McCargoe Cove - loved the shelter! Watched a young eagle harass a pair of loons - poor things. Cooked pre-cooked steak/potato/carrot hobo dinners in the fire ring, and met a group of boy scouts that live 45 miles away from us in MN and go to the same church we were married in 35 years ago - small world
July 26: After a wonderful breakfast and an enjoyable morning at McCargoe, set off with full packs for West Chickenbone. It was very HOT, and I found out hiking during heat is a whole different day. Loved West Chickenbone - took a few little side hikes the remainder of the day - sans packs - yeah!!
July 27: Rained lightly all day - we made it quite easily to Lake Ritchie, and had a lovely campsite. Saw a young fox who tailed us for quite awhile. Lots of scat, but no moose.
July 28 &29: Not a good day for me. It was so hot that we started sweating taking down the tent. Even though we had only a couple of miles to Moskey Basin, which should have been a piece of cake, but it turned out I was dehydrated and with a bad headache, every step was misery. Finally, after many stops, we made it to a great shelter on the water, and used our fall back plan of spending an extra day at Moskey so I could rehydrate. We did take a couple of short day trips there, as well.the next day.
July 30: Lovely hike to Daisy Farm, where we listened to the naturalist talk about the wokf/moose, and enjoyed it very much. We were picked up there the next morning. Can't wait to go back - tips follow.......