WE HAVE MADE IT BACK

[rainelde]

TRIP 2 TO THE ISLAND WAS A SUCCESS. WE JUST RETURNED. MAY I MAKE A SUGGESTION TO ANYONE OUT THERE FIRST TIMING IT OR FIRST TIMING IT TO WEST END. GO BACKWARDS, WE DID AND I WAS SO GLAD WE DID. IT SEEMS LOTS OF FOLKS GO OFF THE BOAT TO FELDTMAN, WE WENT HUGGININ COVE TO ISLAND MINE (WHICH WAS NOT REALLY ANYTHING TO BRAG ABOUT BUT WE HAD A NICE CAMPFIRE AND MET SOME GREAT PEOPLE) TO SISKIWIT BAY TO FELDTMAN LAKE WHERE WE ALMOST GOT RUN OVER BY A BULL MOOSE AT 2 IN THE MORNING AT CAMPSITE 2, THEN BACK TO WASHINGTON HARBOR. ANYONE WANTS TO KNOW ANY DETAILS FROM OUR TRIP, WE'D BE GLAD TO SHARE.

[johnhens]

More details and perhaps some pictures?

[MeganP]

Shoot, I'm planning on doing the Feldtman Loop at the end of the month and was planning on Feldtman Lake for the first night. Has anyone else attempted this and wished they'd gone to Hugginin or somewhere else the first night? I'm going Aug. 26-30, so I'm hoping it's a slower time of year. I guess I can wait and see how things shake out when everyone gets off the boat and have a Plan B.

[Tom]

ANYONE WANTS TO KNOW ANY DETAILS FROM OUR TRIP, WE'D BE GLAD TO SHARE.

That's a rhetorical question. Sharing details of the trip is what this section of the forum is all about! Most of us survive our boring lives off the island by reading the experiences of others. By all means, tell us how things went!

Tom

PS: Feldtman Camp #2. My favorite site on the Isle...

[Ingo]

Most of us survive our boring lives off the island by reading the experiences of others. By all means, tell us how things went!

AMEN!

[jerry]

Is #2 right on the Lake (at Feldtmann)? I like going clockwise to Feldtmann too!

[johnhens]

ANYONE WANTS TO KNOW ANY DETAILS FROM OUR TRIP, WE'D BE GLAD TO SHARE.

That's a rhetorical question. Sharing details of the trip is what this section of the forum is all about! Most of us survive our boring lives off the island by reading the experiences of others. By all means, tell us how things went!

Tom

PS: Feldtman Camp #2. My favorite site on the Isle...

For tent camping I would have to agree, though the sites at Little Todd are nice!!

[JCoburn]

MeganP-

I have done the Loop several times and I actually prefer to do it backwards compared to the counter clockwise direction many take. It seems to be a bit easier the first few days and you can take extra time at either siskwit or feldtman which is nice. Not to mention the views (or nonview) at island mine are ok for the first day and feldtman is a huge payoff for the last night or two! My two cents! best of luck!

5 days and my fiancee & I hit the island!!!!

[rainelde]

Hello everyone.
We arrived iN Grand Portage at about 9pm on Saturday night. The only thing for miles with a room was the casino. It wasnt bad, nice room with a really comfortable bed and they give you a voucher for 5 bucks to blow in the slots. We drove down to the dock, so we would know where to go in the morning and were lucky to happen upon a whole family of fox. Now, some of you are saying big deal, right? behind the fox was a wolf. A very sick wolf I might add. The boys thought it was cool right off the bat to see wildlife. We enjoyed the hundred dollar room and spent our pennies in the slots. Morning came and off to the boat. We learned last year not to eat before gettin on board. (saves feeding the fish). The Winonah was full to the max sunday the 2nd. Everyone on the boat had to stand in front till they got out of the harbor. The water is only 5 feet deep and we had to raise the back end off the ground to get her out. Very pleasant ride over. On our boat in august were girl scouts and boy scouts, alot of day trippers, and us. I was so excited to be going back. We arrived and it took two attempts to hook ropes at the dock, the wind kept taking us. We departed and headed to the "talk". I was glad to hear the berries were ripe. Bonus! Up to the store we went and it was difficult to not give into the sandwiches,. we had tuna. Some men were heading off for the minong. There was a very big discussion on hot dogs, would they hold up in the packs, and for how many days.
Off we go, it took all of 5 minutes walking to realize that we picked the wrong week to come. There were scouts everywhere. We would be passed by them, and then we would pass them, and vice versa, it never quit. Half of their troops went one direction on the feldtman loop and the other went ours. UGGH. I have to say that there are lot of very pretty and unusual flowers in bloom right now. Glad we checked out the berrie board before leaving since there are a few you do not want to eat. The trails on the west end seemed more rustic, and rugged. either tree roots or rocks. We quickly learned that if you want to look around you had to stop first. Once you get trucking along the feeling of the island takes over. You stop, look around, take a deep breathe, and realize you are actually here. Hugginin Cove was quiet. Beautiful. All were tired, Easy supper of mountain house sweet sour pork hot chocolate and a game of cards. The walk to Island mine was noisy. We would again pass scouts and them vice versa, they were not very quiet on the trail, kinda dissapointing since i was hoping to see a moose. We arrived at island mine, I didnt think it looked bad, , more like a state park spot with out any views, but we got the first site by the trail and set up camp. I was worried about water so I sent the guys down the trail to check it out. They came back with the orangest bronze water in the jug. With koolaid packets it was tolerable. Lots of skeeters here. Bonus was fire ring. We had supper around a nice fire and company too. A very busy red fox joined us and also a couple who said they had gotten off a late ferry from rock harbor. The sites are plenty big to share.
Morning came with dew filled tent and after granola bars and coffee we hit the trail We opted to hold off with filling up water till we got to siskiwit. I know its not that far, but the trails are a bit more difficult I thought than onthe other side. Chris went ahead and was able to grab a shelter for us. I love being able to cook and stretch out inthe shelters. Right away the guys had cold water filtered and were attacking the community fire ring. I happened to be looking out the screen of the shelter while i was enjoying a cup of java, and thought I was seeingthings. I actually thought I saw a bear than realized, there are no bears here. It was a cow and calf straight across the bay walking towards the tree line. I grabbed my camera and bolted out the door, wanting to get a closer shot. I made it to the end of the dock and was able to get them before they were gone. COOL. Then over by the siskiwit river, I sat for a bit and was greeted by a family of otters. they swam almost right up to me. In the morning heading out towards feldtman, we took our time. We would pass people going the opposite direction and I refused to ask how far, it would take away from the journey. Watch your step however on the beams you cross. I did slip, and I did fall in the muck, and I did stink!! Down fall to this? my son didn't want to smell the muck on my so he used my last water to rinse off my pants. Lunch at the tower was drinkless, but breathtaking. tuna again. good spot for a nap. At feldtman we arrived and grabbed site 2. Great bench there, and since we put the tent right in front of it, we could stare out to the water. We took the water bottles, and hiked to rainbow cove. We almost went back to get the tent, it was so beautiful here at sunset. MArk your trail head when you arrive here. Hard to find at dusk! Since we stayed here too long, supper was during mosquito rush hour. It turned into boil, pour seal and jump into the tent with food and all. 3 people in a 3 person tent with all the gear and trying to eat and kill skeeters at the same time. priceless. I heard a freight train comin at us about 3 am. All I could think of was MOOSE. and I was right. almost ran me over by the water. I had grabbed my camera, totally made the guys mad as i scrammbled out of the tent in the dark. All you could hear was clod thomping and water splashing. Not sure if there was two or one. Went to take a picture and realized that was not so smart. Panicked a bit after the flash went off, but the freight train kept goin. the tracks were there in the morning. We packed up, moved on and headed for windigo. Our plan was to head to beaver island via canoe, but once we reached the shore and saw how rough the water was, I opted for a sheltper at washington harbor and heading out a day early. Next year the minong. As fate would have it, everyone who stayed on the island from our ride over was back and wanting to go home too. Lots of storied were shared and we never heard the end of how the guys on the minong were craving hot dogs for some reason.

[philranger]

rainelde, Thanks for posting your TR. My daughter and I did the Feldtman loop clockwise last year just like you guys did. I too, hope to do the Minong some day.

Looking forward to coming to IR myself . . . less than 3 weeks away.