I’m curious about a park regulation regarding alcohol

[Midwest Ed]

I see that two campsites (Siskiwit Bay and McCargoe Cove) have a “No Alcohol” regulation. I can think of several reasons why hikers and campers could get upset over loud and boisterous fellow campers, presumably boaters but not necessarily so.

My question is not about the alcohol ban per se but rather why just those two places? They must have some sort of “history.” My guess is that these two places are the scenes of past disturbances and the NPS management imposed the limited ban as a compromise and/or a warning.

Personally, I no longer imbibe but this did make me curious.

~Ed

[Ingo]

I see that two campsites (Siskiwit Bay and McCargoe Cove) have a “No Alcohol” regulation. I can think of several reasons why hikers and campers could get upset over loud and boisterous fellow campers, presumably boaters but not necessarily so.

My question is not about the alcohol ban per se but rather why just those two places? They must have some sort of “history.” My guess is that these two places are the scenes of past disturbances and the NPS management imposed the limited ban as a compromise and/or a warning.

My understanding (from a ranger) is that your presumptions are correct--they have a history of problems with boaters, but I don't know the specifics. Personally, I've only had good encounters with boaters and have been given lake trout on more than one occassion . Classic case of a few bad apples...

[Midwest Ed]

I've only taken alcohol once. My partner and I shared a half pint of a nice Kentucky Bourbon and cigars at Wood Lake.

Maybe that's why I have such a particularly fond memory of that campsite.

[DonNewcomb]

My experience at McCargoe Cove was a group of young men sitting up around the group campfire until midnight or 1 am, telling lies. I can readily see how this campground has a history, particularly with no ranger in residence. If you have a tot of rum at your shelter I doubt there will be any problem. It's sitting around that damned campfire telling lies and drinking that they are trying to avoid.

[Tampico]

It's sitting around that damned campfire telling lies and drinking that they are trying to avoid.

So besides being drunken liars, were they boaters?

This really bothers me. I've been to ISRO twice on my boat (travelling alone), and yes I drink alcohol. I don't make noise, I don't play music and I generally don't sit around telling lies.

I have given hikers food, water, beer and other supplies. I gave a hiker a lift from Daisy Farm to Tobin Harbor (presumably saving him a lot of money. Sorry Captain Don).

In 2007, I met up with some friends, also in small boats, on the island. One of my group took two hikers fishing, and when they returned, another of my companions cleaned their fish, expertly seasoned, and deep fried it for them. They ate like Kings.

This is from a diary or journal at Rock Harbor (one of my group took the picture).

http://home.comcast.net/~davepen/images/logbook.jpg

I was one of the "Cats" in a Boston Whaler.

Are there "bad" boaters? Maybe. I shared the Belle Island dock with a dive boat that I thought made too much noise. Are all boaters bad? No, and don't make the mistake of ASSUMING that they are.

[DonNewcomb]

It's sitting around that damned campfire telling lies and drinking that they are trying to avoid.

So besides being drunken liars, were they boaters?

I don't know who they were. There was one sailboat at the pier. The shelters were all occupied. Many in the people in the campground were trail maintenance crew. My post had nothing to do with boats or how people got to McCargoe Cove. It had to do with the idiotic practice of building a big camp fire and sitting around chewing the fat until the wee hours.

[Capt Don]

Bravo, evidently the powers that be in the park recognized the "few bad apples", "isolated incident", "overreact and regulate" scenario as well, the alcohol bans in place were lifted at the beginning of this season. Maybe, just maybe, this overblown conflict atmosphere can finally be laid to rest.

P.S., Daisy Farm to Tobin...not even a route, glad you could help.

[Keweenaw]

It's almost humorous in a way. The alcohol bans were enacted because there weren't enough law enforcement rangers to police drunk & disorderly behavior, so how is another regulation that the same few "bad apples" will be happy to ignore going to help??

[fonixmunkee]

I as well have always assumed the alcohol ban at those two spots is to prevent boaters from partying it up too much. This isn't stereotyping boaters, but it's a lot damn easier for boaters to bring a few cases of beer than it is for me and my backpack.

I always bring a little flask of a good 12-year whisky for an evening treat. I couldn't imagine a better way to end a day on the island.

[DonNewcomb]

I always bring a little flask of a good 12-year whisky for an evening treat. I couldn't imagine a better way to end a day on the island.

We normally start out the first few nights of a trip with a good Merlot with dinner. You know that Platypus makes bottles especially for wine? After that's all gone we switch over to brandy and whiskey; Tullamore Dew being at the top of that list.