Newbie questions--Windigo

[rpc]

Which brings up our backup plan.

If the campground is full, we just pull some stunt like that, and we get transported to a nice warm jail cell somewhere in Michigan.

Maybe I'll bring along a tag torn from a mattress.

[DonNewcomb]

I was actually looking in 36CFR2 and the punishment for violating campground regulations is to have your camping permit revoked.

[Keweenaw]

OK - here's the answer form Greg Blust at Park headquarters:

Bob:

Good hearing from you!

The answer to your question is yes we do allow "free standing" tents to be
set up inside the shelters. "Free standing" would mean a tent that does
not require guidelines, wires, or tent stakes to stand up. The main thing
is that nothing can be stapled, nailed, screwed or secured in anyway to the
shelter. The tents with the long flexible poles that crisscross the sides
or top of the tent provide the support to allow a tent to stand on its own
("free standing"). Several campers do set up their "free standing" tents
inside the shelters to stay warmer in the early spring or late fall.
It is important to note that at no time can any type of tent be erected
outside a shelter.

Bob, thanks for the question!

Greg

[johnhens]

Correct - this reg is about limiting the footprint of use and also not using the shelter as a storage facility.

I guess we won't know until someone runs into a very pedantic ranger and an equally pedantic Federal Magistrate.

I would be surprised if you came across, as you put it, a pedantic ranger. Most of the rangers and staff that I have come across on IR have been professional in their manner and performence of their duties. I know of an instance where a sailboat at Birch Isle had pitched a tent outside of the shelter and were told by a ranger to take it down. I am not aware of any instances when either a person or in some cases a group such as the case when a group of young backpackers, after drinking too much decided to sleep on the America's dock or the group that decided to "move in" to the shelters at Grace Island a few years ago were treated unfairly. People come to IR for the most part to get away.

Compared to other National Parks, IR is pretty good when it comes to dealing with those that choose to either ignore or are truly unaware of a rule as the case may be. If you deviate from your itineary in a lot of the Parks you could be in trouble, yet this is not the case on IR. I for one am glad that the rangers are there to enforce rules and regulations that are necessitated by those who come to IR and think they can do as they please , potentialy ruining others trips.

I am sure if you had any questions about your interpretation of rules could easily be cleared up by a phone call to the Park Headquarters.

[DonNewcomb]

I would be surprised if you came across, as you put it, a pedantic ranger. Most of the rangers and staff that I have come across on IR have been professional in their manner and performence of their duties.

I'm probably a little sensitive about this because we did, just that. Every ranger but one was easy-breezy about our plan to camp XC. No problem, it's on the permit, have a nice time, don't start any fires. The last one, after the fact, wanted to read us the riot act only because the dates didn't line up exactly. This after several rangers told us that it didn't matter. So, it seems that there are cases where some rangers can seem to be much more picky than other rangers. When it involves a bunch saying, "No problem", and one saying, "Oh, we have a big problem here." it can seem quite pedantic.

[johnhens]

I would be surprised if you came across, as you put it, a pedantic ranger. Most of the rangers and staff that I have come across on IR have been professional in their manner and performence of their duties.

I'm probably a little sensitive about this because we did, just that. Every ranger but one was easy-breezy about our plan to camp XC. No problem, it's on the permit, have a nice time, don't start any fires. The last one, after the fact, wanted to read us the riot act only because the dates didn't line up exactly. This after several rangers told us that it didn't matter. So, it seems that there are cases where some rangers can seem to be much more picky than other rangers. When it involves a bunch saying, "No problem", and one saying, "Oh, we have a big problem here." it can seem quite pedantic.

I have included X-country permits in my visits and have been told that I must stay within the area I requested on the given day/date I requested. This was from the ranger in Houghton who has been with the NPS for a while. I was told part of the reason was that wolf packs in Spring/Summer would be having pups and they wanted to keep off trail hikers away from sensitive denning areas. I would also suspect that if you turned up missing, searching for you would be easier if you have stayed within your requested areas on your permit as often is the case on IR with those not familiar with it, off trail hiking can be very difficult, the topo maps do not show wet areas and dense downed timber that make x-country travel difficult.

As for your experience with the one ranger, I was not there so I cannot comment on it. Again, if you want clariifcation on issues I would suggest contacting the Park Headquarters in Houghton, go to the source for clarification of issues.

Given this was your first trip to IR, what was your general impression of IR, was it what you thought it would be?

[DonNewcomb]

I have included X-country permits in my visits and have been told that I must stay within the area I requested on the given day/date I requested. This was from the ranger in Houghton who has been with the NPS for a while. I was told part of the reason was that wolf packs in Spring/Summer would be having pups and they wanted to keep off trail hikers away from sensitive denning areas. I would also suspect that if you turned up missing, searching for you would be easier if you have stayed within your requested areas on your permit as often is the case on IR with those not familiar with it, off trail hiking can be very difficult, the topo maps do not show wet areas and dense downed timber that make x-country travel difficult.

It would have been nice if any of the several rangers we discussed our plans with in advance had mentioned this.

Given this was your first trip to IR, what was your general impression of IR, was it what you thought it would be?

That's an interesting question. Frankly, ISRO was my brother's goal. I would have been happy going to the Smokies, which would have been much closer, less expensive and less complicated. I think I might be giving a more enthusiastic response had we seen the Northern Lights or any mammal bigger than a squirrel. What I enjoyed most was the isolation. In most wilderness areas in the East you may still hear traffic or trains in the distance, or see the lights of a distant city. On ISRO, particularly in the interior, you will only see the occasional contrail of a high-flying jet.

[johnhens]

I would have been happy going to the Smokies, which would have been much closer, less expensive and less complicated. I think I might be giving a more enthusiastic response had we seen the Northern Lights or any mammal bigger than a squirrel. What I enjoyed most was the isolation. In most wilderness areas in the East you may still hear traffic or trains in the distance, or see the lights of a distant city. On ISRO, particularly in the interior, you will only see the occasional contrail of a high-flying jet.

I am glad you were able to at least get an apprecaition for the Wilderness Feel of IR. One of the reasons we go either ealry or late in the season is less people. Not that I don't like people, just less of them.
The moose numbers are lower, it is unfortunate that you did not see a moose or hear a wolf. Since it was your brothers idea, what did he think and will you come back?

[DonNewcomb]

Since it was your brothers idea, what did he think and will you come back?

So far, there have been no serious discussions of a return trip. Some talk about, "Maybe, if we come again, we'll...." Like many trails in the East, ISRO tends to be just a long walk through a green tunnel. Our discussions often came back to how the NPS should have put more trails along the shore.

[Keweenaw]

Hey Don,

"long walk through a green tunnel"

Remedies:

Come in early May or mid to late October when the leaves are off.

or Hike:

Tobin Harbor Trail
Rock Harbor Trail
Many parts of the Minong
Greenstone between West Chickenbone and near Hatchet Lake
Ishpeming fire tower to Malone Bay
Much of the Greenstone East of West Chickenbone

or base camp and explore the shoreline from Chippewa Harbor

or canoe or kayak


Bob

[DonNewcomb]

Hey Don,
....
or canoe or kayak

That's the way some of our discussion has been leaning.