Isle Royale Forums

Name: Steve P
Email: s r p a r r (at) g m a i l (dot) c o m
Hometown: Plymouth, MI

Arrival Date: Tuesday September 1
Departure Date: Wednesday September 9
Coming From/Via: Houghton via Ranger III

Itinerary:
Mon 8/31: drive to Houghton
Tue 9/1: Ranger -> Rock Harbor, rent canoe to explore the Tobin-Duncan portage trail in PM
Wed 9/2: Sandy -> McCargo, take the guided mines tour
Thu 9/3: hike to Todd
Fri 9/4: hike to Hatchett (Lunch), hike to East Chickenbone, overnight at West Chickenbone
Sat 9/5: hike to Chippewa Harbor, visit Lake Mason in PM
Sun 9/6: hike to Moskey Basin, visit coast at Chippewa in AM
Mon 9/7: hike to Daisy, dayhike to Ojibway tower in PM
Tue 9/8: hike to Rock Harbor, dayhike Scoville in PM
Wed 9/9: Ranger -> Houghton
Thu 9/10: drive home

Notes/Other: A second trip this year to finish up those sections of the trail that I haven't hiked yet. A solo hike, the same way I started a few years ago. Sections of trail I will pickup this hike:
- Tobin-Duncan portage trail
- Greenstone from Hatchet to West Chickenbone
- Greenstone from West to East Chickenbone
- Lake Mason trail at Chippewa Harbor
- Rock Harbor trail from Moskey Basin to Daisy
- Greenstone from Daisy Farm Trail to the Ojibway Tower

This trip will let me finish up all the published footpaths on the island at the Ojibway tower!
Looks like next year I'll have to start paddling!

Edit: added to list of trails

jeastbur wrote: DonNewcomb, it looks like we might see you between Chippewa and Moskey.

Quite possibly. If you see two silver haired codgers huffing and puffing under the weight of their 35 lb packs, it might be brother Ward and your humble servant.

P.S. Today I picked up both of Nevada Barr's Isle Royale mysteries: A Superior Death and Winter Study. Something to read when not walking.

Name: Kevin L
Hometown: Saint Clair, MN

Arrival Date: Monday, August 24
Departure Date: Sunday, August 30
Coming From/Via: Grand Portage, Voyageur (I hope)

Itinerary: Get off the boat at Rock Harbor and hike to Lane Cove
stay at Moskey Basin
Chickenbone (might even stay at East for kicks)
Hatchet
South Desor
Washington Creek

I was planning to go in late September but plans have changed over the last two days and I have this open window next week. I just hope there is room on the Voyageur for me--otherwise it could be a short trip. Their office is closed on the weekends (now) and I just figured this plan out last night. I'm driving up tomorrow (Sun.) and crossing my fingers until Monday morning.

Aug 29: Rock Harbor
Aug 30: Chippewa Harbor (depending on weather, crowds, might move to Whittelsey on this first day)
Sept 1-2: Whittelsey
Sep 3-4: Wood Lake
Sep 5: Siskiwit (Malone Bay)

Any fishing advice for these lakes? Specifically, walleye spots on Whittelsey and Lake Trout spots on Siskiwit? How long does it take to portage a canoe from Chippewa Harbor to Whittelsey? Thanks for any info you can provide!

Kevin

kevin riach wrote:How long does it take to portage a canoe from Chippewa Harbor to Whittelsey?

Last time I did it, 1 hr 10 min. That's four 40-something brothers and Dad, none in real good shape.

kevin riach wrote:Aug 29: Rock Harbor
Aug 30: Chippewa Harbor (depending on weather, crowds, might move to Whittelsey on this first day)
Sept 1-2: Whittelsey
Sep 3-4: Wood Lake
Sep 5: Siskiwit (Malone Bay)

Any fishing advice for these lakes? Specifically, walleye spots on Whittelsey and Lake Trout spots on Siskiwit? How long does it take to portage a canoe from Chippewa Harbor to Whittelsey? Thanks for any info you can provide!

Kevin

Kevin, welcome to the forums!!
Check out colvinch's TR under Trip Reports. He just returned from IR and fished Whittlesly. He should have some good info about walleye as he caught some.

As far as Siskiwit, I assume you will be staying on the East end of the Lake? Try the Islands area in the AM jigging the deeper waters as lakers are deep at this time of year.

Good luck and have a great trip!!!

Kevin, there's only room for one of us Kevins around here. Just kidding and welcome.

Whittlesey is my favorite lake to fish. If it's the right time of year when the loons aren't nesting (check the campground bathroom for info), fishing around the big island can be productive. I like to drift through the channel on the opposite side from the campground (opposite side of the loons too) and cast or troll as I go. Helps if the wind is right. I've caught more pike than walleye there.

Wood Lake can be productive too. Both of those campsites are awesome. Last fall there was lots of wolf activity around there.

Great info- thanks guys!

jeastbur wrote:

jeastbur wrote: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

Leaving in 4 days!!
Sadly, one member of our group broke his collarbone last week and won't be joining us.

I'm considering this alternate itinerary which would log fewer miles:

August 26 - Arrive in RH via Queen IV, take water taxi to Chippewa Harbor, camp @ Chippewa Harbor
August 27 - Hike to Moskey Basin
August 28 - Hike to Daisy Farm or Lane Cove
August 29 - Lane Cove
August 30 - Hike out to RH, leave on Queen IV

DonNewcomb, it looks like we might see you between Chippewa and Moskey. Anyone else going to be along our path?

Josh

About to leave for the airport to start my journey.
Charlotte --> Minneapolis --> Houghton --> Copper Harbor --> Isle Royale!

I'll be sure to post a trip report upon our return.
Josh

I'll be at Daisy Farm on the 27th and probably Chippewa Harbor on the 28th. I'm usually up at dawn and on the trail very early. Maybe our paths will cross. If you see an older guy it's probably me. Enjoy yourself.

jerry

[quote="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:
August 28th - Overnight at RH (no water taxi available)
August 29th - water taxi to Chippewa/Chickenbone W
August 30th - Hatchet Lake
August 31th - Little Todd Harbor
September 1st - Todd Harbor
September 2nd - McCargoe Cove
September 3rd - Daisy Farm
September 4th - Rock Harbor or Lane Cove if we feel up to it
September 5th - Ranger back

Notes/Other:
Hiking with my son - I will be the one in the back puttering along

quote]

Heading out tomorrow for the drive to Houghton...hope to see some of you all on the trail!

Name: Lisa Schillace
Email: Lbelangerschillace@wowway.com
Hometown: Ferndale,MI
Arrival Date: August 31
Departure Date: September 4
Coming From/Via: Houghton/seaplane
Itinerary: Windigo/Rock Harbor via the Greenstone

Windigo to South Desor
S. Desor to Hatchet
Hatchet to W. Chickenbone
W. Chickenbone to 3 Mile
3 Mile to Rock Harbor

Super excited! This will be my third trip. first year-Rock Harbor end, year 2 Minong W to RH, year 3 Greenstone!

Names: Nate and Marty Dorough
How to Identify Us: Two out-of-shape 5'6 over 200 lb men that look like twins that were born 25 years apart (dad and son). We'll probably be the ones you ask "Man, are you OK, you don't look so good?"
Hometown: Howell, MI
Arrival Date: Monday, August 31
Departure Date: Friday, September 4
Taking the Queen in and out of Copper Harbor to Rock Harbor

Monday night - Lane Cove
Tuesday night - Daisy Farm or McCargoe Cove
Wednesday night - McCargoe Cove or Moskey Basin
Thursday night - Three Mile
Friday night - Motel 6, warm showers, and a huge burger somewhere

2nd time on the island for me, 1st for my dad. He's got this idea that we're going to saw off 12-13 miles a day, and I've quickly corrected him. But how bad is Lane Cove to McCargoe Cove? Well aware that there's no water pretty much the whole way. And that it's a ton of elevation up and down. But for a relatively out of shape guy such as myself (with an ultralight pack), am I going to ruin the rest of my trip by trying this on day two? I REALLY want to hit both McCargoe and Lane without making for a breakneck day one of the days, but I don't want to spend my days crying with terrible blisters. It IS a vacation, after all.

Hope to meet some of you fine folks on the trails!

kevin riach wrote:Aug 29: Rock Harbor
Aug 30: Chippewa Harbor (depending on weather, crowds, might move to Whittelsey on this first day)
Sept 1-2: Whittelsey
Sep 3-4: Wood Lake
Sep 5: Siskiwit (Malone Bay)

Any fishing advice for these lakes? Specifically, walleye spots on Whittelsey and Lake Trout spots on Siskiwit? How long does it take to portage a canoe from Chippewa Harbor to Whittelsey? Thanks for any info you can provide!

Kevin

.
I think it took us about an hour to do that portage and that was doing it in 2 trips and a heavy pack...I timed our way back and it only took 15 minutes with no gear.
I love Lake Whit, great camground and good fishing. Just past the islands there is a rock face, that is good fishing and then the cove across from there (north side of lake and about 1/4mile from camp) Would love to drive up right now and join you.Have a great time