Shelters

[thesneakymonkey]

Just curious, why are there no shelters on the interior of the island? Noticed on our last trip that they are only on the campgrounds along superior.

[Tom]

You only find shelters (and picnic tables) at sites on Superior that have docks. Lake Superior sites like Hugginin, Little Todd, and Lane Cove all lack shelters, as well.
I'm nearly certain it all comes down to logistics; it's just difficult to get materials inland and so it's limited to some location that a boat can deliver it.

[thesneakymonkey]

that's the conclusion we came to but we were not sure. Makes a lot of sense. Thanks for confirming.

[Midwest Ed]

You only find shelters (and picnic tables) at sites on Superior that have docks. Lake Superior sites like Hugginin, Little Todd, and Lane Cove all lack shelters, as well.
I'm nearly certain it all comes down to logistics; it's just difficult to get materials inland and so it's limited to some location that a boat can deliver it.

Then there's the obligatory exception to the rule. I got caught some time ago when I made the incorrect inverse statement to Tom's correct statement when I stated all sites with docks have shelters. Of course a close examination shows Hay Bay CG to be the exception (dock but no shelters).

I've never been to Hay Bay but now I'm curious. Is there a picnic table at the single tent site? The NPS Campground chart is not explicit regarding picnic tables. It's also unique in that while on the "mainland" it is inaccessible by trail. No picnic table would REALLY be roughing it for some boaters.

[MikeT]

There are 2 picnic tables; 1 at the dock and 1 at the tent site. The one at the tent site is staked down with a chain. I'm guessing to keep people from moving it to the dock.

[Rafiki]

I’d be willing to haul shelter supplies to the interior of the island if there was a team of people to do it with me and on that team there were people that had the skill knowledge to build the shelters. I love shelters On that note it would be nice if Hatchet Lake and Lake Richie had shelters.

[johnhens]

I’d be willing to haul shelter supplies to the interior of the island if there was a team of people to do it with me and on that team there were people that had the skill knowledge to build the shelters. I love shelters On that note it would be nice if Hatchet Lake and Lake Richie had shelters.

A helicopter was used to transport new materials for the interior boardwalks. You get the materials in place I will build the shelters.

[Midwest Ed]

There actually used to be a shelter at either Hatchet or South Desor. I remember it from the early 70's. It was much more primitive, made from whole logs with chinking, open front (no screens), shake roof and dirt floor. It was maybe half the size of those today.

[MikeT]

As part of my long ongoing project to create a history book on the trails and campgrounds here is a couple of things on shelters.
The chart below is from a 1965 park guide published by the National Park Service:

Of note here is:
- treated running water at Daisy Farm
- a community shelter at Malone Bay

Lake Desor campground was located in a different place as shown below:

1965 Lake Desor East.PNG (36.89 KiB) Viewed 8623 times

Based on the documents I have, it was moved to the current location by approximately 1974

Hatchet Lake had a spur trail on the north side that led to a “Patrol Cabin”

1965 Hatchet Lake Trail OLD and Hatchet Lake Spur Trail.PNG (99.05 KiB) Viewed 8623 times

The patrol Cabin and trail show up until at least 1985

These pictures are from “The Wolves of Isle Royale” by L. David Mech 1966

Fauna Series 7 Hatchet patrol cabin.PNG (101.75 KiB) Viewed 8623 times

[Midwest Ed]

The one in figure 22 is what I remember. It must have been 1975. I also remember a water faucet at Daisy Farm during the same time period.

[johnhens]

The one in figure 22 is what I remember. It must have been 1975. I also remember a water faucet at Daisy Farm during the same time period.

I remember a cabin just before the dock at Daisy that had a spigot. Simialr to the ranger cabin at Belle Isle.

[Midwest Ed]

Yes, the cabin was just to the left as you walked off the dock. A ranger lived there. That was back when it was on an open field of .... grass and Daisy's

[Tortuga]

Wow! I’m buying that book when you’re done!

I wonder if the inland lean-tos were remnants of the CCC days. One of the interesting takeaways for me is that fire pits were everywhere. Granted there were probably just a few thousand visitors back then but fire is one of the things I miss when I go to the island.

[MikeT]

Below is a picture of Daisy Farm from a 1963 postcard.

Things have changed a lot in terms of fires (and a lot of other things). The text below is in the rules section of the 1953 park brochure:
"Keep your camp clean. Whenever possible burn garbage in your campfire; place cans and residue in containers where provided. If none are available, bury refuse or place in pit."
Imagine what a mess that would make!

[Midwest Ed]

Below is a picture of Daisy Farm from a 1963 postcard.
Daisy Farm 1963 Postcard CROPPED.jpg

Things have changed a lot in terms of fires (and a lot of other things). The text below is in the rules section of the 1953 park brochure:
"Keep your camp clean. Whenever possible burn garbage in your campfire; place cans and residue in containers where provided. If none are available, bury refuse or place in pit."
Imagine what a mess that would make!

I don't remember those shelters at Daisy from the 70's. There were many shelters at Daisy but none that close to the Lake, but there was one shelter off to the left, fairly close to the lake, sort of behind the ranger cabin.

While I'm sure regulations substantially changed after the 1976 designation as a Wilderness area, the LNT policies were already being adopted before that (at least I can attest to 1975).