Isle Royale Forums

From the NPS:
The Minong Trail has been closed this week between the East Huginnin Cove and North Lake Desor trail junctions because of a lightning-caused wildfire in the same area as earlier this year. The North Desor and Huginnin Cove campgrounds remain open, and NPS staff continue monitoring the situation.

Update this morning (9/21).
The fire is still burning, apparently it can be seen from the Greenstone.
Hoping for an update this afternoon.

I will be on that trail segment on Oct 4 following my plan - should probably be back open by then? Don't really want to cross country it from North Desor to Sugar Mtn instead - that messes up the nice loop trail I have planned around the whole thing

fishmonger wrote:I will be on that trail segment on Oct 4 following my plan - should probably be back open by then? Don't really want to cross country it from North Desor to Sugar Mtn instead - that messes up the nice loop trail I have planned around the whole thing

Can't say for sure. After the fire was out in the Spring the NPS kept the trail closed till they got in to remove snags.

guess I will need to ask when I get there - doubt they'll hike out there for the last hiker of the season to remove the closure signs

The fire is still burning (according to a boater who contacted the NPS); The Minong will not reopen this year.

Bummer. Sorry to hear that for all of those of you that were considering a fall trip on the Minong. If it makes you feel any better, if this is one of your first trips to the island and this wasn't a section of Isle Royale you were hoping to complete because you have tackled all of the other foot trails in past visits, you still have a lot to look forward to. I actually love detouring off of the Minong Trail at Todd Harbor and veering over to Hatchet Lake. While Little Todd is a wonderful place to camp at, I could do without the hike from Little Todd to North Desor and for that matter North Desor in general. Not everyone will agree with me on this matter. While the Minong Trail does not brutalize my 30 year body (no disrepect to the older or younger crowd with what I am about to say), I don't see many out of shape seniors or teenagers enjoying this hike if they have anything more than a moderately light backpack.

As of yesterday October 5th the fire is still burning. In fact when I arrived back in Grand Portage I was told the smoke could be seen from the mainland and was possibly increasing. Maybe someone can find a satellite image???

Two days while in the Washington Harbor / Rainbow Cove area during our trip, we could smell it. When in Windigo on October 4th, they closed the doors on the ranger station to keep the smell out.

Mike,
If you were at Island Mine, was there any water there?

Thanks
John

Latest MODIS imagery:
http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/modis/ ... 3.250m.jpg

Looks like wisps of smoke West of Lake Desor along the Lake.

We didn't go to Island Mine this trip. We were with the elders (76 and 80), so hiking wasn't an option.

NancyT wrote:We didn't go to Island Mine this trip. We were with the elders (76 and 80), so hiking wasn't an option.

Thanks,
How was the trip?

Phenominal!!! Couldn't have been better.
Will post a trip report soon, we just got in a couple hours ago.