Itinerary questions for a first visit

[stonesthrow]

My girlfriend and I will be on the island for the first time Saturday August 14 to Thursday August 19. We're coming into, and leaving from, Windigo. Our boat is scheduled to arrive at 11:30 AM CT. We're in reasonably good shape, generally make good time on the trail, and have previous overnight backpacking experience. It seems like we might have an extra day or so if we just do the Feldtmann Loop, so we're kicking around a few of ideas and would appreciate some input from those who have been on the island before.

Option 1 is hiking the Feldtmann Loop. We would stay at Washington Creek on Saturday night and tackle a quarter of the loop each day, getting back to Windigo on Wednesday. We like this because it leaves a lot of cushion in the schedule. We don't like this because we feel like we're sitting around too much on day one, and on the day we would hike Siskiwit Bay to Island Mine. We're not sure we're seeing all we could see with this option.

Option 2 is again hiking the loop, but stretching the Siskiwit Bay-Island Mine day into Siskiwit Bay-South Lake Desor. This would have us getting to Feldtmann Lake on Saturday night. Is that too much on Saturday? Is it worth adding a one-way-in, one-way-out section of trail to see Lake Desor? We like this for the possibility of making it to Lake Desor by Monday and day-hiking to enjoy the Lake, see Ishpeming Point, etc. We don't like it because it seems Island Mine to Desor isn't exactly scenic, and Desor to Washington Creek seems like a long day.

Option 3 is, surprise, the loop again. We would again make it to Feldtmann Lake or Island Mine on Saturday night, and get back to Windigo on Tuesday night. We would then day-hike the Huginnin Cove Loop on Wednesday. If we were to get no feedback, this would be our itinerary.

Obligatory non-trip-or-campsite-related question: Anybody have a feel for how the bugs will be at that time?

Well, thanks in advance for reading, and thanks in advance for any comments, suggestions, or advice you can provide.

Kyle (and Laura)

[Midwest Ed]

I like option 3 best. It gives you the best cushion because the Huginnin loop can be optional at the end if your slack gets eaten by weather or whatever. You

I’ve never been on the Windigo to Island Mine trail so I can’t confirm its traverse time is less than Windigo to Feldtmann Lake. This might affect your choice of Feldtmann loop direction based on actual arrival time on Saturday.

If you have extra time you can always include an in and out to Mt. Desor on the same day you are headed to Island Mine or Back to Washington (depending on loop direction).

~Ed

[jerry]

Options 2 and 3 are do able. I'm old and just did N. Desor to Washington Creek with a detour. I'm sure either way you go is going to be fine. Bring a head net and deet, just in case. Mom and her twins (Moose) should be visiting when you get to Washington Creek. Enjoy.

[Keweenaw]

Option 2 is again hiking the loop, but stretching the Siskiwit Bay-Island Mine day into Siskiwit Bay-South Lake Desor. This would have us getting to Feldtmann Lake on Saturday night. Is that too much on Saturday? Is it worth adding a one-way-in, one-way-out section of trail to see Lake Desor? We like this for the possibility of making it to Lake Desor by Monday and day-hiking to enjoy the Lake, see Ishpeming Point, etc. We don't like it because it seems Island Mine to Desor isn't exactly scenic, and Desor to Washington Creek seems like a long day.

I would take this option. Saturday Windigo to Feldtmann Lake is only 9 miles, so no problem. Monday to Siskiwit Bay. Tuesday to Desor South. Wednesday to Windigo and Thursday morning hang out in Windigo. Island Mine to Windigo is a nice walk in the woods, if not scenic. Desor to Windigo is mostly downhill; I have gotten off the boat and hiked Windigo to Desor several times - the Greenstone Trail on that end of the Island is an easy walk.

Obligatory non-trip-or-campsite-related question: Anybody have a feel for how the bugs will be at that time?

Black flies and other biting flies should be all gone; mosquitoes are always a crap shoot - depends on rainfall previous to your trip, etc, but they are usually only bad early morning and late evening if at all.

Bob

[stonesthrow]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Our plan is to hike the Feldtmann loop and tack on the Hugginin loop on the last day. If we're feeling frisky and energetic, we'll forgo a second night at Siskiwit and head to Desor for that evening.

Thanks again!

[emerysar]

Stonesthrow--

Hugginin is beautiful, and we didn't see a SOUL out there the last week of July 2010. Campsite #1 is THE BEST. The west loop going up seems longer and more difficult than the east loop seemed coming back to Windigo--the home stretch was a breeze--the going up was pretty rooty and thick at spots.

If you stay at #1 up there, the camp fox will probably come down the trail by the moose shed about 9:30 pm to scope out your camp! Hang your food and garbage.

[lisahikes]

We're planning a first-time trip that will run Monday, Sept 7 through Sunday, Sept 11 leaving from Grand Portage and a planned return from Malone Bay. We're in fairly good shape but I'm about 12 weeks pregnant, so looking to make sure we have lots of time to stop and hydrate and stay cool.

We were planning to stay in Windigo the first night, but it sounds like it is do-able to hike to Feldman the first day? I don't have a good sense of the elevation changes or terrain. Also I'm seeing that Island Mine is not a great spot to stay -- would people recommend going on to Lake Desor S instead of stopping there? If we end up with two extra nights, what would you recommend doing with them? Are there sites you'd recommend hanging out in?

Anyway, here is what we were thinking:

Monday boat to Windigo, camp at washington creek
Tuesday hike to feldtmann lake
Wednesday hike to siskiwit bay
Thursday hike to island mine
Friday hike to lake desor south
Saturday hike to malone bay
Sunday boat to Grand Portage

[johnhens]

We're planning a first-time trip that will run Monday, Sept 7 through Sunday, Sept 11 leaving from Grand Portage and a planned return from Malone Bay. We're in fairly good shape but I'm about 12 weeks pregnant, so looking to make sure we have lots of time to stop and hydrate and stay cool.

We were planning to stay in Windigo the first night, but it sounds like it is do-able to hike to Feldman the first day? I don't have a good sense of the elevation changes or terrain. Also I'm seeing that Island Mine is not a great spot to stay -- would people recommend going on to Lake Desor S instead of stopping there? If we end up with two extra nights, what would you recommend doing with them? Are there sites you'd recommend hanging out in?

Anyway, here is what we were thinking:

Monday boat to Windigo, camp at washington creek
Tuesday hike to feldtmann lake
Wednesday hike to siskiwit bay
Thursday hike to island mine
Friday hike to lake desor south
Saturday hike to malone bay
Sunday boat to Grand Portage

Congrats on the baby!
Siskiwit and Fledtmann are nice as is Malone. You could spend an extra day at any of them.

[Keweenaw]

We're planning a first-time trip that will run Monday, Sept 7 through Sunday, Sept 11 leaving from Grand Portage and a planned return from Malone Bay. We're in fairly good shape but I'm about 12 weeks pregnant, so looking to make sure we have lots of time to stop and hydrate and stay cool.

We were planning to stay in Windigo the first night, but it sounds like it is do-able to hike to Feldman the first day? I don't have a good sense of the elevation changes or terrain. Also I'm seeing that Island Mine is not a great spot to stay -- would people recommend going on to Lake Desor S instead of stopping there? If we end up with two extra nights, what would you recommend doing with them? Are there sites you'd recommend hanging out in?

Anyway, here is what we were thinking:

Monday boat to Windigo, camp at washington creek
Tuesday hike to feldtmann lake
Wednesday hike to siskiwit bay
Thursday hike to island mine
Friday hike to lake desor south
Saturday hike to malone bay
Sunday boat to Grand Portage

Hi Lisa,

I would not camp at Windigo right off the boat just because I would be itching to get on the trail. As I recall the trail to Feldtmann it is not too tough. It does go up a small ridge out of Windigo, but you will have plenty of time to get to Feldtmann. A rest day at Feldtmann would allow you to take the little trail across to Rainbow Cove and do some beachcombing and exploring. Good chance of seeing/hearing moose at Feldtmann; we were there in October one year and the bulls were vocalizing all night from across the lake.

As for Island Mine, I don't care for it, but you have to go right past it anyway so you can just decide when you get there. The trail up from Siskiwit is a little steep in places but not bad. I recall one steeper section between Island Mone and the Greenstone Trail junction, but after that the Greenstone has a pretty easy grade up to the Desor turnoff.

Malone is a nice place to end up and would be a good place to spend an extra day as well. The trail into Malone goes around the end of Siskiwit Lake on a long boardwalk that is about 3 feet above the water in places and pretty narrow (no handrails), so if your pregnancy is affecting your balance you will want to be careful and perhaps have your partner take your pack across if you are feeling unsure.

Bob