Plannng a trip in mid-September does point of arrival matter

[Mollie O]

Hi,

I am planning a trip for mid-September this year:

Want to stay approximately 3 nights 4 days,
Hiking from camp to camp

Would it matter if we entered the park from Grand Portage versus Copper Harbor. Would there still be good hiking opportunities for a 3-4 day stay on that western end.

If so, any recommendations would be appreciated.

Also, there is a possibility that I will be by myself rather than with my brother. I am pretty brave and careful but is it relatively safe for a single woman hiker/camper?

Thanks!

[MikeT]

Welcome to the board!

It absolutely matters where you enter. It depends on where you are comin from...?
Let everyone know that and you will get a multitude of suggestions from the experts.

There are many solo men and women on the trail. You will (in my experience) find them all GREAT.

That is a great time to be there!

[LeftOvers]

I agree that you should be pretty safe if you go alone.

There are good choices for 3-4 night loop trips on east end of the island. On the west end you pretty much just have one loop through Siskiwit & Feldtmann Lake campgrounds. Some stretches are fairly long.

Check the boat schedules for mid-September. One of the boats from Grand Portage may still be going around the whole island and would be able to drop you at mid-island by reservation. You could hike to Windigo or Rock Harbor. That gives you a lot more choices than just loops.

[LeftOvers]

I've been thinking more about your safety concerns. I'm not too concerned on Isle Royale, but lately I've been taking more precautions when primitive camping in areas where people live.
I try to make it look like I'm not alone. Once camp is setup, I lay out two chairs or several "place settings" of dishes. A couple of walking sticks leaning against a tree works, too. If I'm camping out of a car, it's easy to carry two sleeping bags. Anyone asks - "Oh, my son is off taking some pictures." (My son would be 30 or 40).
The Ice Age Trail (Wisconsin) organization offers these good safety tips (and not just for solo backpackers):
•Leave an itinerary of your trip with family or friends.
•Stay in contact with home or friends on longer hikes. Let them know your location.
•Carry a cell phone, but realize it may not work in remote sections of the Trail.
•Avoid camping within a half-mile of road crossings.
•Do not tell strangers where you are headed or plan to camp.
•If you run into a suspicious person, consider moving on to another location.
•If you must hitchhike, avoid doing it alone. Be choosy; turn down rides or get out of the car if the situation does not seem right.
•Always trust your instincts.

By the way, we may run into each other, since I'm planning a trip in mid-September, too. Just don't tell me where you're headed or planning to camp.

[Richard1961]

I too am planning on being on the island the first 3 weeks in September. If on one of your stops you see a man and his son on a 26ft sailboat, Come on down and say hello, we don't care if your son is off taking pictures. On the other hand if you want to avoid us our trip is posted on the ISRO calendar page. I also think that another fourm member Rafiki will be on the island mid September with his friend. He went on a solo hike earlier this year and could share some of his experence with you. What ever trip you chose Have fun. Richard T-49 days and counting down, I can also almost count the hours till I leave