2009 Trip Log - Add your planned itinerary here!

[Ziggy]

Name: Matt and Andrew
Hometown:Pinckney,MI
Arrival Date:6/5/09
Departure Date:6/10/09
Coming From/Via:Houghton, Ranger III
Itinerary:
Day 1-Arrive on the Ranger, camp at Lane Cove
Day 2-McCargoe
Day 3-Todd Harbor
Day 4-West Chickenbone. Will hike here by hopping on the Greenstone via the Hatchet Lake Trail. It will extend the hiking distance, but we won't have to backtrack the Minong to McCargoe
Day 5-Three Mile or Rock Harbor
Day 6-Rock Harbor-Depart on the Ranger III

Notes/Other:

We have been considering doing the Lane Cove to McCargoe stretch by securing a cross country travel permit and hiking along the ridge running to the north of Linklater Lake that eventually turns into the Stanley Ridge. Planning to call the NPS soon about that one.The hardest part looks to be the descent off the Stanley Ridge into McCargoe Cove and hooking back up with the Indian Portage Trail. I found a picture on Google Earth that says it was taken from the Stanley Ridge, so presumably somebody has been there before.

[dqdave]

Name: David M
Email: (at) dqdavid@msn.com
Hometown: Tomahawk Wisconsin
Arrival Date: June 9, 2009
Departure Date: June 17, 2009
Coming From/Via: Houghton/Ranger III
Itinerary: Backpacking with son.
Day one: After smooth ride (I've been warned) on the Ranger, short hike to Three Mile.
Day Two: Moskey Basin
Day Three: West Chickenbone
Day Four: Todd Harbor
Day Five: McCargoe Cove
Day Six: Daisy Farm
Day Seven: Rock Harbor (shower and real food!)
Day Eight: Return On Ranger III.
Notes: This is a pilgrimage for me, as I did this hike back in 1975, alone, when I was 15.

[zentater]

Name: Lorinda C
Email: flyingspud (at) aol.com
Hometown: Currently - Alexandria, VA
Arrival Date: August 28
Departure Date: September 4
Coming From/Via: Houghton on Ranger
Itinerary: Still debating but this is preliminary

August 28th - water taxi to Chippewa
August 29th - Chickenbone W
August 30th - Hatchet Lake
August 31st - Todd Harbor
September 1st - McCargoe Cove
September 2nd - Daisy Farm
September 3rd - Lane Cove
September 4th - Rock Harbor
September 5th - Ranger back

Notes/Other:
I will be hiking solo - last year I went with my college age son and really enjoyed it. Unfortunately he is in Americorps now so can't join me. Can't wait to hit the trails!

Okay I forgot a day...how could I!!!!

[jeastbur]

Thanks to those on the forums that helped me out with this itinerary!

Name: Josh, Aaron, Cliff, J. and James
Email: josh.eastburn {at} gmail {dot} com
Hometown: Charlotte, NC; Oakland, CA; Chicago, IL; Grand Rapids, MI; Des Plaines, IL
Arrival Date: August 26
Departure Date: August 30
Coming From/Via: Copper Harbor on the Queen IV
Itinerary:

August 25 - Fly into Houghton, MI
August 26 - Arrive in RH via Queen IV, take water taxi to Chippewa Harbor, day hike, camp @ Chippewa Harbor
August 27 - Hike to McCargoe Cove; 10.6 mi
August 28 - Hike to Daisy Farm; 8.2 mi
August 29 - Hike to Lane Cove; 7.2 mi
August 30 - Hike out to RH (6.9 mi), leave on Queen IV
August 31 - Fly out of Houghton, MI

[handlemans]

Name: Adam (dad) and Eliza (4)
Email: (at)
Hometown: Livonia
Arrival Date: May 29th
Departure Date: June 1st
Coming From/Via: Houton Seaplane (Sorry Captain Don)
Itinerary:
Snug Harbor to Daisy Farm via water taxi
Daisy Farm to Three Mile
Three Mile to Snug Harbor

Notes/Other:
This is Eliza's first trip to the island. She is very excited. Her older sister has become a veteran over the last few years and she is finally able to make the trip herself!

[trailgoat]

Name:Todd
Email: (at)
Hometown: Howell
Arrival Date:7/11
Departure Date:7/18

Coming From/Via:Copper Harbor/Queen IV

Itinerary: Hike to Daisy Farm on Day One. I'll take the Voyageur out the next morning to Malone Bay. This is my free day--I'll day hike and relax. The next morning I hike to S. Lake Desor, overnight, and head to Todd Harbor the next day. From Todd Harbor I'll hike the Minong to McCargoe. Then it's on to Moskey Basin (one of my favorites!). My last full day I'll stroll to Three Mile. Out the next morning.

Notes/Other: I'm really looking forward to this trip. I was last on the island in '07 and wonder if it's changed at all. This will be another solo hike. I'm concerned with recent news about the loss of the East Pack and recent genetic news about the wolves, so I'm anxious to hike among them again. I'm not sure how long I'll have that chance. I'm anxious to use my Tarptent Rainbow. I didn't have this shelter during my last visit. 2 pounds will ride like a dream! I'm hoping the mosquitoes are tamed and the black flies are minimal. This trip will be epic.

[pyronimbus]

Name:Mark & Randy (The Dixie Tipsters)

Email: (at)

Hometown: Austell, Georgia

Arrival Date: 29 August
Departure Date: 8 September

Coming From/Via: Grand Portage, Mn on the Voyageur II

Itinerary:
canoe and portage (ouch!!) from Belle Isle to Rock Harbor in four days,
while fishing our beehineys off

Lay-over at Rock Harbor for a day or two,
to shower and eat real food, don't ya know

Let the Voyageur take us to Chippewa Harbor
take the south lake route to Malone Bay in four days,
then back to the rat race, ugh!!

Sure, everybody says you can do each of those in a day,
but who's in a hurry to return to the real world?

When I'm surrounded by unbridled nature, I AM in the real world!!
---can I get an amen to that??

Notes/Other:
Has anyone done those canoe routes, in either direction, I'd love to hear from you.

[Rob513]

Great trip plan. Resupply half way through is a treat!

The North Shore is beautiful and those portages are easy with the notable exception of the Duncan Bay/Tobin Harbor portage, which takes you up & over the Greenstone Ridge. It's a man maker. The alternative paddle around Blake Pt. is possible but dangerous in anything but calm water. Use good judgment here, especially with a single boat, it can be treacherous water with converging waves.

You didn't say how you were getting to Chippewa Harbor, I'll guess the Voyager. If you have 4 days to get from there to Malone Bay, you can easily take the inland lake route through Lk Whittlesey & Wood Lk. Fishing for pike is good the whole way, except for Siskwit which has its' own species of lake trout. That late in the year you'll probably see salmon coming in Lake Superior waters. The Wood Lk campground is a great place to lay over. These portages will be easier than Duncan Bay/Tobin Harbor.

The inland route is advisable over the South Shore to Malone Bay unless you only had one day. Expect power boats at Malone Bay. Amen to taking your time. Have fun.

[pyronimbus]

Hi Rob,
Thanks for the update. The information I'm getting here is worth it's weight in beer!! Yea, even though it's a bit more expensive, my buddy has lots of fishing gear so we'll just be let off the ferry at Chippewa Harbor. The inland lakes next trip, we hope!!

[Rob513]

Due to the geology of the Island, the South Shore is really uneventful compared to the North Shore. There's little/no opportunity to camp either, so you'll have to plan to go from Chippewa Harbor to Malone Bay in one day. When you come back later to do the inland route, you'll wish you had done it this trip. It's an awesome view of the Northwoods, rather than uneventful. Give it some thought.

[twqb]

Just booked my resevations of the queen IV. July 4 - 11. Just me and my brother. I was thinking of either doing a loop of the island RH to Windigo then back via the minong or to hit up all the in and outs like Lane Cove, Chippewa and Malone Bay. We have been to Lane Cove but not Chippewa or Malone. Anyways here is what I'm thinking.

Rock Harbor Rock Harbor
Sat Daisy Farm 7.1 Sat Daisy Farm 7.1
Sun Chickenbone W 7.9 Sun Chippewa Harbor 9.7
Mon Desor S 15 Mon Hatchet Lake 15.2
Tue Washington Creek 11.3 or Tue Malone Bay 11.3
Wed Desor N 12.6 Wed Hatchet Lake 11.3
Thu Todd Harbor 11.4 Thu McCargoe Cove 10.7
Fri Daisy Farm 14.9 Fri Lane Cove 13
Sat Rock Harbor 7.1 Sat Rock Harbor 6.9
TOTAL 87.3 TOTAL 85.2

Also what temps and bug action can we expect. Thanks so much. I just cant wait.

[johnhens]

Just booked my resevations of the queen IV. July 4 - 11. Just me and my brother. I was thinking of either doing a loop of the island RH to Windigo then back via the minong or to hit up all the in and outs like Lane Cove, Chippewa and Malone Bay. We have been to Lane Cove but not Chippewa or Malone. Anyways here is what I'm thinking.

Rock Harbor Rock Harbor
Sat Daisy Farm 7.1 Sat Daisy Farm 7.1
Sun Chickenbone W 7.9 Sun Chippewa Harbor 9.7
Mon Desor S 15 Mon Hatchet Lake 15.2
Tue Washington Creek 11.3 or Tue Malone Bay 11.3
Wed Desor N 12.6 Wed Hatchet Lake 11.3
Thu Todd Harbor 11.4 Thu McCargoe Cove 10.7
Fri Daisy Farm 14.9 Fri Lane Cove 13
Sat Rock Harbor 7.1 Sat Rock Harbor 6.9
TOTAL 87.3 TOTAL 85.2

Also what temps and bug action can we expect. Thanks so much. I just cant wait.

Welcome to the forums. Post your ?? in Trails and Campsites also so more folks will see it.
Check the weather and bugs site also. As folks get back, they have been putting their observations there.
I would count on warm temps especially on the ridges. Bugs will be there also, though black flies should be winding down.

[upnorthjeeper]

Name: Jeremiah
Email: upnorthjeeper(at)gmail(dot)com
Hometown: Auburn Hills, MI
Arrival Date: Sept. 18th
Departure Date: Sept. 25th
Coming From/Via: Copper Harbor/Queen IV

Itinerary:

Arrive: Copper Harbor to Rock Harbor VIA Queen IV (arrive @ ~10am)

Friday: Rock Harbor to Daisy Farm (7.1 mi)
Sat: Daisy Farm to Chickenbone West (10.4 mi, long way past Moskey/Richie)
Sun: Chickenbone West to Lake Hatchet (7.9 mi)
Mon: Lake Hatchet Lake Desor South (8.1 mi)
Tue: Lake Desor South to Washington Creek (11.3 mi)
Wed: Windigo to Rock Harbor VIA Voyageur II (0.3mi, leave 10am/arrive ~3pm) + Rock Harbor to Three Mile (2.7 mi)
Thur: Three Mile to Lane Cove (8.6 mi, side trip to Mt. Ojibway)
Friday: Lane Cove to Rock Harbor (6.9 mi)

Depart: Rock Harbor to Copper Harbor VIA Queen IV (leave @ 2:45pm)

Notes/Other: solo, 1st trip

**EDIT* I wanted to give a special thanks for the help planning this **

[mike2000]

Name: Mike Serratore
Email: mserratore (at) yahoo d0t .c0m
Hometown: Chicago IL
Arrival Date: 7/20/09
Departure Date: 7/24/09
Coming From/Via: Grand Portage via voyagerII
Itinerary:
7-20 arrive at McCargoe cove hike to todd harbor
7-21 todd harbor to little todd harbor
7-22 little todd harbor to desor north
7-23 desor north to some water crossing then wade downstream and hike into the backwoods
7-24 backwoods to windigo

Notes/Other: Using cross county permit to camp in backwoods with one other camper. I plan on packing both warm and cooler weather clothes, Its been killing me to pack extra clothes but I'm not risking getting stuck freezing due to some freak cold weather front. On the agenda we plan on doing some inland fishing catch and release. I have a camouflage hat that will hide me from the mosquitoes . I expect to see a moose. After living in Illinois I’ve never had the chance to see a 1/2 ton moose except for the stuffed one at Cabelas. Not even the local Zoos have moose. Definitely taking Dramamine for the boat ride. I've gotten sea sick once and vow that it will never happen again. I'm curious to see what a week worth a backpacking will work as a weight loss remedy. But most of all I just plan on having a fun relaxing excursion where my cell phone won’t work.

[johnhens]

Have a Great Trip Mike!!!