Isle Royale Forums

I agree that raising the user fees for the park would be far preferable to cutting back on existing services, though I'm guessing that's not an option at present to avoid the impact of the sequester for this year. In the meantime park visitors, especially those visiting areas of the park nearer to either Amygdaloid or Malone Bay than to Windigo or Rock Harbor, probably ought to plan on bringing along extra rolls of TP and assume that they're left completely to their own devices regarding safety--neither of which is an unwise assumption on IR to begin with, of course.

I highly doubt that many, if any, people would see the increase in user fees as a deterrent to visiting the park, given the logistical and financial hurdles one must clear to simply make an IR visit possible in the first place. Most National Parks charge much higher user fees, especially for camping.

The sequestration means I'll get furloughed, which means I'll get more time on IR. So even though IR suffers, it still wins, because it will get more of me!

I learned of isle royale 10+ years before i ever went there, as i viewed the cost of the ferry alone as prohibitive. I am sure most folks are in that same financial boat. It certainly helps that kids age 7-11 are exempt from the fee, but if you have 3 teenagers age 12, 14, and 15, then you can forget about a thrifty vacation to an island that has no camping fees. You can camp anywhere in the state forests of northern wisconsin for free - remote camping, that is. There would be an insurmountable amount of red tape to get a user fee differential only at isle royale, and not all national parks.

A better idea is to charge a $5 entrance fee whenever you enter the park, including boaters. Most folks already object to the feeling that they are paying an extra day of user fee as it is, notwithstanding the logically sound rule that every day you "touch your toe in the water"(stay in the park, that is) generates a user fee. Many, if not most, people make decisions based on feelings and emotions, rather than logic.

Malone Bay and Amygdaloid will not have Rangers this year. Daisy Farm will remain as is.

This is probably going to effect more boaters than hikers. No one hikes to Amygdaloid, few hike the dead end to Malone.

I sure do love the Malone area for that very reason.

I wonder how this sequester will effect the NPS Volunteer program? I just sent out my app yesterday.

jrwiesz wrote:This is probably going to effect more boaters than hikers. No one hikes to Amygdaloid, ...

Perhaps. But the Amygdaloid rangers helped us get off the island in a day from Todd Harbor, for medical attention. Luckily it was "just" a broken wrist without complications, but if they were not able to get to us as quickly as they did, it is likely that it would have been at least another day--would not have been too significant as things turned out, but it certainly could be. They also patrol the inland trails and campsites and response times to the middle part of the island will certainly be affected. It wouldn't make me change my plans, or not go, but knowing that there's help closer by if needed is somewhat reassuring.

Hopefully for the majority of folks in the backcountry the biggest issue will be no TP in the outhouses .

jrwiesz wrote:This is probably going to effect more boaters than hikers. No one hikes to Amygdaloid...

Amygdaloid isn't really seen as a "public" dock amongst boaters, anyway.

Even if they shut down the station, I really don't see the point in shutting down the dock. I can tie up to any number of other docks where no Ranger is present.

I recall years again. Boaters were an issue with dock partying down in those areas when a ranger weren't posted at Malone Bay.
Just a thought.

I don't see the "dock" being shut down, just no ranger(s) present.

No doubt, the "party down" atmosphere is a possibility at both areas, with less supervision present.

Hopefully there will be some restraint, if this mess continues for very long.

I'm really trying hard not to reply negatively to the assumption that because rangers will not be present at the Malone or Amygdaloid docks, there will be problems with boaters. What about the other docks that have no permanent ranger presence? I'm not aware of any incidents (requiring ranger intervention) involving boaters since I started visiting the island in 2005--and I've asked.

Tampico wrote:I'm really trying hard not to reply negatively to the assumption that because rangers will not be present at the Malone or Amygdaloid docks, there will be problems with boaters. What about the other docks that have no permanent ranger presence? I'm not aware of any incidents (requiring ranger intervention) involving boaters since I started visiting the island in 2005--and I've asked.

Some of the folks here have been ging to IR for a while. In the past (the 80's) there were quite a few incidents involving boaters pulling up to a dock, setting up their boombox, chairs ect and partying into the wee hours. The Park Service did a good job at curtailing these activities. I observed some of the partying at Moskey Basin where a bonfire was lit on the rocks where the dock meets the rocks.

I will say the boaters I have met at Belle Isle, Malone, Chippewa and Moskey have been courteous, friendly and good site mates offering to share fresh fish (we had our own), beer ect. I have also met backpackers who were unruly and rude. The majority of folks who go to IR respect the Island and the quiet most enjoy when going there. I would encourage those witnessing unruly behavior (regardless of whether they are hikers, paddlers or boaters) to report the persons to the NPS. Trust me they do not tolerate folk who are unruly!!!

johnhens wrote:In the past (the 80's) there were quite a few incidents involving boaters pulling up to a dock, setting up their boombox, chairs ect and partying into the wee hours. The Park Service did a good job at curtailing these activities. I observed some of the partying at Moskey Basin where a bonfire was lit on the rocks where the dock meets the rocks.

I am aware of these stories also. I have overnighted at just about every dock on the island and I have never encountered this kind of behavior or anything like it.

I just aggravates me that some people persist in portraying boaters as a problem around the island. Particularly when any anecdotal evidence of this is 25 years old.

Is there still no alcohol allowed at mccargoe, chip, and siskiwit? Gotta know if I need to buy a camo flask with my REI dividend.

bergman wrote:Is there still no alcohol allowed at mccargoe, chip, and siskiwit? Gotta know if I need to buy a camo flask with my REI dividend.

I don't ever recall a ban at Chipewa Harbor, but I believe the bans at McCargoe and Siskiwit are no longer in place. Nothing about an alcohol ban appears in the 2012 Greenstone or the 2012 Isle Royale Boaters Guide.

Funny thing about the ban at McCargoe is that the straw that broke the camels back was due to a PS ranger whom is still employed at the island...and that person is one of the best personell up there, a true asset to the park. As I recall the catylist to the McCargoe ban was a Canadian influx.