TR, mid Sep 2021 MC, TH, HL, Malone

[grandrapidsjack]

Voyaguer II to McCargoe Cove Wednesday.

MCCargoe Cove was full, the overflow sites overflowed, there were folks camped up on the hill toward Todd Harbor.
Thursday Morning a nice hike to Todd Harbor, I believe there were overflow campers in at least one of the group sites.
Spent the better part of the day at Todd, up to the mine and at the shore. A nice day.
Friday Morning on the trail to Hatchett Lake, a very pleasant hike.
We didn't like Hatchett Lake much, we had a large lunch, drank lots of water, filled our water bottles and continued toward Ispheming Point.
About 1-1½ miles toward Malone Bay we dry camped in the woods.
Woke up Saturday to light rain, we had a snack and headed for Malone.
It was fairly miserable to walk in the rain as the trail was severely overgrown. Two or three times we had to stop and look to make sure we were on the trail, It wasn't bad, maybe a 2 or 3 second delay. generally the trail was faint but easily followed. The two or times were when the trail detoured for blow downs.
Half way down Siskiwit Lake the Sun came out and it was a nice hike into Malone Bay. We had enough water to get to Malone from Hatchett after drinking lots of water before leaving Hatchett.
Got into Malone about 10:30 AM on Saturday. One kayaker was just leaving and there was a couple in shelter #4. Nobody else.
We absolutely loved Malone Bay; quiet, a nice view, room to roam, decent swimming and a shelter.
caught the ferry back to Grand Portage at Malone Sunday morning.
I haven't been a lot of places on Isle Royale, but Malone Bay was far and away my favorite.
Jack

[IncaRoads]

Wow! I can't believe it was that crowded at McCargoe Cove in the middle of September. I bet the algal-bloom issues at some of the campsites forced people to congregate in larger numbers elsewhere.

[torpified]

Hooray for an out of season trip report, and on an elegant route! Does the trail to Malone still cross one of the creeks near the western end of Siskiwit lake on a beaver dam? If it does, was it difficult, travelling the direction you were travelling in, to figure out that it does? (I traveled the opposite direction last June, and was flummoxed for a while.)

[grandrapidsjack]

It does cross on a beaver dam, and we were momentarily confused.
We walked downstream from the trail to get to the beaver dam, and quickly realized that if we walked upstream on the other side we would get back to the official trail. The trail from the beaver dam back to the official trail wasn't obvious.

[jerry]

McCargoe full, hmm. What other campgrounds were like that last year?

[JerryB]

McCargoe full, hmm. What other campgrounds were like that last year?

Jerry, When i was on the island last year, McCargo was jam packed, as was Moskey and, to a lesser extent, Chippewa.

Signed, the Other Jerry

[S_R_L]

When I was there in August Moskey was overflowing, McCargo was "just" full, Malone was full (of boaters set up there long term...stacks of coolers behind the shelters, 20+ cases of beer laying around, camp chairs all around) and poor Daisy was double or tripled up at every site.

[kolo]

When I was there in August Moskey was overflowing, McCargo was "just" full, Malone was full (of boaters set up there long term...stacks of coolers behind the shelters, 20+ cases of beer laying around, camp chairs all around) and poor Daisy was double or tripled up at every site

Thank you for the information! I am making a mental note not to go to the island in August.

[Bobcat1]

I am sticking to the west end of the island. I need to be sure to get the flexible permit that GrandRapidsJack had, so I can dry camp where I want. What backcountry zone was your permit for, Jack?

[grandrapidsjack]

41

[jerry]

Thanks, JerryB! No one said anything about Washington Creek, Belle Island or Rock Harbor. How were they?

[JerryB]

Thanks, JerryB! No one said anything about Washington Creek, Belle Island or Rock Harbor. How were they?

washington creek was full, but i was able to get a shelter

This year, i am helping a boy scout group on a trip at the end of July. Very, very limited space. We are being forced into a far from ideal itinerary because of the crowds. (Groups need their itineraries approved because their sites are reserved for them and they are allowed to vary from it.). I am happy more folks get to experience the island, but i fear this may impact our experiences there.

[jerry]

Thanks, again JerryB! I hope you and the scouts have a great experience.

[TopCarrot]

It has been packed since Covid. I was there twice last year and without an official survey, every site was full except little Todd and north desor.