Isle Royale Forums

My buddy and I plan on returning in May for 5 full days on the island. This will be our 3rd straight year on the island. Did the entire Minong two years ago and stayed somewhat on the Greenstone last year.

The game plan this year is to fly into Rock Harbor.

Day #1 - Stay on the trails and hike to Moskey Basin

Day #2 - Take a left just before Lake Richie and work our way South before heading Southwest into the bush towards Lake Whittlesey. Depending on the conditions, we either stop there or continue on to Malone Bay.

Day #3 - Stay off trail and hug the coast. Our goal for the very long day is Siskiwit Bay.

Day #4 - Back on trail. Siskiwit Bay to Feldtmann Lake.

Day #5 - Fedltmann Lake to Windigo.


My question concerns days #2 and #3. I'll be bringing my Garmin Colorado 400 GPS. Ideally, I'd find some people out there that have hiked this area before and know of some solid waypoints to shoot for and/or can offer up any other advice about our proposed hike.

Thanks in advance!

Steve

You are in for the experience of a lifetime.

Bob

I have done a bit of off trail exploring in the Malone Bay area. I use a map and compass and don't have any GPS points to speak of (othere than moose remains I came across). Be prepared to "hike" the water along the shore as there are places where that is the only way to go, short of backtracking and heading inland to avoid the thick stands of spruce and cedar along the shore. If you do come across moose remains, mark their coordinates and pass them on the ranger at Windigo.

Look carefully at the map, the low areas bewtween ridges will probably be swampy in the Spring.
Allow enough time to do the backcountry travel youare talking about doing, sometimes 5 miles of travel is a good day.
Take pictures, I would love to see them!!

See my threads on the "Missing trail" below and my trip report. For XC camping it is recommended that you go as early in the season as possible. Also, don't be surprised if someone with NPS wants to be very picky about exactly where you will be every night when you camp XC.

I have done quite a bit of travel near this area. Mostly in the Mount Saginaw area, but this is similar. You are on higher ground and there is a lot of exposed rock. There are still areas of water and marsh, but not to many. You should be able to identify these on a map. May should be alright for bugs, but I would be prepared for them. I was out a few years ago in early May and the mosquitos were already bad. Be sure to check with the rangers about the area you want to camp in. They have a coded map you can use, but there are certain areas or 'zones' as they call them, that are off limits to cross-country camping. The travel can be very slow at times, but if you can read a map and compass you should be able to stay on high ground that is exposed and travel should be a little easier. The travel on the shore is touch and go. It can be easy traveling for awhile and then turn bad in a second. The tree cover from the lake inland is very dense and difficult to travel through until you reach higher ground. The lake can be worse travel than inland at times. Enjoy your trip.