Any 2025 reports

[JerryB]

Awfully quiet out there. I head to the island in August and await some trip reports. I wonder if the food storage cases are in place at all campgrounds and what direction is being given by the rangers on that front.

[Kelly]

I just returned earlier this week:

• Proper food storage was mentioned during the orientation, but we were not asked to prove that we had appropriate storage devices.
• We were unable to locate the food storage locker at Feldtmann.
• I think there were three at Siskiwit. One was tilted toward the user, so caution on opening the doors was warranted.
• The one at Island Mine was level and nicely placed.
• I can't remember if there were any at South Lake Desor.
• I remember seeing one at Malone Bay.

On a related note: my expensive zipper bag from LOKSAK lost its seal within the first couple of days. I'm not quite home yet so will deal with that next week.

[torpified]

Unless they've been moved---unlikely, since they're 300+ pounds and the small clearing they're in is surrounded by heavy brush on three sides and a lake on the other---the Feldtmann lockers are conveniently placed in a small lakeshore clearing about 60 meters north of group campsite one. I've dropped a pin in a Caltopo map to indicate (my best guess about*) the location:

https://caltopo.com/m/FGTKL5A

My Moosewatch team used the lockers while based at Feldtmann in May, thereby establishing a faint use trail. One of the lockers is pretty tilty---the clearings advantages don't include perfect flatness. Both are exposed to the sun, which led to some cheese liquefying!

*they could be even closer---I dropped the pin the first clearing I could see.

But to echo the main point: trip reports, please!!!!

[RedLeg]

I just returned earlier this week:

• Proper food storage was mentioned during the orientation, but we were not asked to prove that we had appropriate storage devices.
• We were unable to locate the food storage locker at Feldtmann.
• I think there were three at Siskiwit. One was tilted toward the user, so caution on opening the doors was warranted.
• The one at Island Mine was level and nicely placed.
• I can't remember if there were any at South Lake Desor.
• I remember seeing one at Malone Bay.

On a related note: my expensive zipper bag from LOKSAK lost its seal within the first couple of days. I'm not quite home yet so will deal with that next week.

Malone Bay had one in May near the back just before the trail to the group sites. If I remember correctly the one in Chippewa Harbor is back on the big rock near the first outhouse but was nice and level.

[JerryB]

It’s funny. I had not expected any issue finding the food lockers. For some reason, i figured they would just be put next to the camp site maps. I guess they are too heavy to lug up to those places?

[Ingo]

It’s funny. I had not expected any issue finding the food lockers. For some reason, i figured they would just be put next to the camp site maps. I guess they are too heavy to lug up to those places?

I suspect some are still in areas where they were able to drop them with a helicopter, but they haven't been moved to their final resting place yet.

[JerryB]

i am also curious how adequate the staffing appeared to folks, given budget cuts. Had trails been cleared? TP and cleaning at Windigo bathroom/shower buildings? I guess none of this is really actionable information; my plans won’t change at all based on the answers, but i am curious. Thanks

[Kelly]

• There was toilet paper in the women's bathroom at Windigo, and it was clean. However, I don't believe the park service handles the bathroom cleaning there—in the past I have observed employees of the concessionaire cleaning the bathrooms.
• We hiked Windigo>Feldtmann>Siskiwit>Malone and experienced fewer than five trees on the trail. There was recent evidence of trail clearing in many places.

[JerryB]

• There was toilet paper in the women's bathroom at Windigo, and it was clean. However, I don't believe the park service handles the bathroom cleaning there—in the past I have observed employees of the concessionaire cleaning the bathrooms.
• We hiked Windigo>Feldtmann>Siskiwit>Malone and experienced fewer than five trees on the trail. There was recent evidence of trail clearing in many places.

That is all great to hear. Thank you

[S_R_L]

• We hiked Windigo>Feldtmann>Siskiwit>Malone and experienced fewer than five trees on the trail. There was recent evidence of trail clearing in many places.

Thats good to hear. When I was there end of May there were 20+ trees to climb over, under or around on the Windigo-Feldtmann stretch. Some side trails had side trails themselves.