This is our 2nd time to IR. First time was with 12 yr old. We went from Rock Harbor to 3 mile to Daisy and up around the tower.
This time it is my husband & I. We are flying into RH and taking taxi to Hidden Lk. Hiking from Lookout Louise to Lane Cove first day. Then not sure if we should go to Daisy or to chickenbone. While I have the legs for it, my shoulders are paying for a car accident I had 3 months ago. Struggling to carry a 19 lb pack. Then we thought we would go to Hachet, South Deshor, & then Windgo and fly out. Any thoughts?
Concerned about trail conditions and trees down. Any advise?
LRM
Greenstone Hike
Moderator: MikeT
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egraetze
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Re: Greenstone Hike
Lookout Louse offers an incredible view. If you go that way, be sure to drop your packs at the Greenstone and go up to the overlook. Lane Cove to Chickenbone is a pretty good hike. You don't want to stay at East Chickenbone, so you may want to go to Daisy Farm from Lane Cove. The trees down between Hatchet and South Desor were pretty bad, but all had a path under or around. There were next to no trees from South Desor to Windigo. That will be a long, but nice downhill hike heading west. Hatchet to Todd Harbor pretty much had no trees down. Todd Harbor to McCargoe also had no trees down, but the mosquitoes were unbelievable on that leg last week.
Eric
Eric
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jrwiesz
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Re: Greenstone Hike
Lane Cove to W Chickenbone is a pretty good hump, start early, and take breaks.
If, your neck isn't bothering you, I suggest looking into outfitting your kit with a "tump line". I now always use a tump http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumpline on my kit; since discovering its benefits and ease to outfit to most packs. 3 points of contact to distribute the weight of the pack and contents, head/neck, shoulders, and waist, and any combination of the 3, even the tump alone. These photos of my set-up aren't great views of the tump, and, you can barely see the black tump line near my neck in the second one(click on the photo/s for enlarged views); the tump is attached to my waist packs' "D rings" at the top of the pack, and helps support the weight of the backpack and waist pack. Just a suggestion for your consideration. A tump line attached to a lower area of most packs(near the waist belt or waist belt "D rings") may help most hikers. Your neck muscles quickly adjust and strengthen, just like you get your "hiking legs", after a few days out there. Of course, those with neck injuries should be very careful of such a practice for obvious reasons. And as the Wiki article states, not on the forehead, over the head near/just above the hairline(provided you're not without hair). If, you experiment with it, you'll soon find what is comfortable for you, and find it can be of great help in relief of shoulder an waist discomfort for those longer days treks.
Like I said earlier, just a suggestion for consideration. Also, try as much as possible to "lighten-up" ones pack contents.
Good luck, and enjoy your adventure.
If, your neck isn't bothering you, I suggest looking into outfitting your kit with a "tump line". I now always use a tump http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumpline on my kit; since discovering its benefits and ease to outfit to most packs. 3 points of contact to distribute the weight of the pack and contents, head/neck, shoulders, and waist, and any combination of the 3, even the tump alone. These photos of my set-up aren't great views of the tump, and, you can barely see the black tump line near my neck in the second one(click on the photo/s for enlarged views); the tump is attached to my waist packs' "D rings" at the top of the pack, and helps support the weight of the backpack and waist pack. Just a suggestion for your consideration. A tump line attached to a lower area of most packs(near the waist belt or waist belt "D rings") may help most hikers. Your neck muscles quickly adjust and strengthen, just like you get your "hiking legs", after a few days out there. Of course, those with neck injuries should be very careful of such a practice for obvious reasons. And as the Wiki article states, not on the forehead, over the head near/just above the hairline(provided you're not without hair). If, you experiment with it, you'll soon find what is comfortable for you, and find it can be of great help in relief of shoulder an waist discomfort for those longer days treks.
Like I said earlier, just a suggestion for consideration. Also, try as much as possible to "lighten-up" ones pack contents.
Good luck, and enjoy your adventure.
- Attachments
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- I use a two inch wide nylon strap; it can be adjusted for length.
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- The strap fits over my cap behind the bill, and is attached to the top "D" rings of my waist pack.
"And standing on the the crest of the Greenstone Ridge, I suddenly had this desire to retreat north to where I just come, to stay in the backcountry, to spend another day in a place where the only deadline I had was to pitch the tent before dark."
Jim DuFresne
Jim DuFresne
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StewartFip
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Re: Greenstone Hike
Wow! Thanks for pointing out the tumpline concept. This would be helpful on those hikes up to the ridge from camp, or to simply offer other parts of your body a break from the weight of your pack.
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jrwiesz
- May actually live on IR
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Re: Greenstone Hike
You're welcome StewartFip.
I used the concept on a 2005 trip with canoes to the Isle. I've used it with my external frame and internal frame packs. It's not for everyone, but, once you try it, you may never do without.
They are really quite easy to construct with materials obtained from most good hardware stores. You may even have an old adjustable luggage strap, with clips, laying around the house that would work. One can even use them padded if you care to; but, I like cutting weight, when hiking, not adding weight.
I usually put my pack on by using the tump on first, then my shoulder straps, and then my waist belt; not much struggling to put on a reasonably weighted pack.
The sherpas, in the Himalaya's, aren't considered the best packers for nothing.
I used the concept on a 2005 trip with canoes to the Isle. I've used it with my external frame and internal frame packs. It's not for everyone, but, once you try it, you may never do without.
They are really quite easy to construct with materials obtained from most good hardware stores. You may even have an old adjustable luggage strap, with clips, laying around the house that would work. One can even use them padded if you care to; but, I like cutting weight, when hiking, not adding weight.
I usually put my pack on by using the tump on first, then my shoulder straps, and then my waist belt; not much struggling to put on a reasonably weighted pack.
The sherpas, in the Himalaya's, aren't considered the best packers for nothing.
"And standing on the the crest of the Greenstone Ridge, I suddenly had this desire to retreat north to where I just come, to stay in the backcountry, to spend another day in a place where the only deadline I had was to pitch the tent before dark."
Jim DuFresne
Jim DuFresne
Re: Greenstone Hike
Just got back from the Island on 7/29 and hiked from RH to Windigo along the Greenstone. Found only a couple of downed trees and they were easily navigated. We passed 2 seperate trail crews working their magic on the section between the Daisy Farm junction and E. Chickenbone Lk. junction. No other issues with the trail to speak of.