Desor North - Windigo

[csavolt]

I have an 8 day trip planed out. Our last day is the 13 mile treck from Desor North to Windigo. We will also be catching the 3pm ferry this day, has anybody out there done this before? Is it a long shot? I have heard that stretch can be very dificult, this will be our last day and our packs will be almost empty so that's a good thing! We plan on hitting the trail as soon as day breaks, think we'll make it in time folks?

[philranger]

I did this hike back in 2005. It's long and goes on forever. Luckily, once you reach the turnoff for Island Mine, the trail is mostly downhill. Personally, I would add another day and hoof it to Windigo, grab a shelter, maybe do a day hike to Huginnen Cove and catch the Ranger program. Doable? sure, but that's a long way to hike. What is your schedule before this segment?

[Tom]

Philranger's right, the trail just goes on for ever and ever..
My notes from a couple years ago indicate we did it in 7 hours, with 5:35 of that actually hiking. We're moderate pacers, normally between the 2.1-2.5 mph on IR trails.
The biggest issue is that you just go up, and down, and up, and down, and repeat that for like 15 times, and so it's an endurance hike more than anything. Not nearly as tough on the feet as the earlier segments of the Minong, but really tough on the knees and legs.
You could PROBABLY make the boat, but that doesn't leave you any options should someone take a fall, have problems, etc. Personally I'd plan for a night at Washington Creek just for the buffer... Plus, it's fun to relax that last night, knowing the next day's hike is like .3 miles...

[csavolt]

We do have an extra day planned in, i was just hoping to take it at Lake Desor South or Hatchet Lake. We're planing for a Saturday out on the Wenonah, worst case we could hopefully hop on the Voyageur II on sunday

Heres our route..

Windigo--Rainbow Cove--Siskiwit Bay--Desor South--Hatchet Lake--Little Todd Habor--Lake Desor--Windigo

Done any part of this before? Suggestions? This will be my first time on the west end of the island, I've pretty much conquered everything to the east of Hatchet Lake.

[Tom]

Are you spending the first night at Washington Creek/Windigo? You could easily hit Feldtman for night one.. I'm guessing that's the camp you meant by Rainbow Cove, unless you're going to try to request to backcountry site there, but then you're missing out on perhaps my favorite campsite on the Isle, Feldtman #2... (Plus, I'm not really sure where you might put a tent at Rainbow that isn't a bit rocky..)
While I haven't done that exact route, I've hit those trails and camps several times, and think what you have planned would be a great way to spend some time on the Isle. You'd be missing the luxurious downhill path from Island Mine to Windigo, but you're getting a fair trade in jumping over to the beauty of the Minong.
You may discover why many of us prefer the West side!

[philranger]

Siskiwit and Desor both have great beaches and water for swimming.

[csavolt]

Tom-

Yes i ment Feldtman Lake for our first night! Thanks for the tips

[Gimp]

I did this route in reverse in late May. I left Washington Creek at 8 AM and was soaking my feet in Lake Desor by 3:30 so that was 7 1/2 hours for me. Enroute I took a long lunch on a ridge top, a number of 5 minute breaks, a moose photo session, and had to drop my pack to really search for the leaf covered trail once. It was my first day on the trail so I was fresh and my feet weren't sore although I had a full pack. The trail is rough and I don't think it's possible to safely have more than a moderate pace. The path from Little Todd Harbor to Desor North is rough and it's going to give you a workout the day prior to this so you will probably be feeling a bit worn.

Due to the terrain, you really won't have a good feel for your progress on the trail until you reach the Hugginin Cove Trail intersection. If I were backward planning, I would want to be at the dock by 2 PM for my 3 PM ferry. That means you need to be on the trail no later than 6:30 or 7 AM that day. It's a risky schedule that doesn't allow for even minor delays. It could be raining, you could have a heavy ground fog, or someone may be limping. My advice would be to arrange for your final night at Washington Creek (watch the moose), or Hugginin Cove and you'll remove the risk and a lot of worry. You wouldn't regret staying at either of those locations.