Isle Royale Forums

Name: Jim (aka Ernest T. Bass)
Email: Contact through boards (PM me)
Hometown: Iowa City, IA
Arrival Date: August 16, 2013
Departure Date: August 24, 2013
Coming From/Via: Houghton (via seaplane)

Itinerary:
Fri, Aug 16– Fly into Windigo; camp @ Washington Creek; day hike Huginin Cove Loop (Mileage- 9.1)
Sat, Aug 17– Washington Creek to Feldtmann Lake; day hike Rainbow Cove out & back (Mileage- 10.7)
Sun, Aug 18– Feldtmann Lake to Siskiwit Bay (Mileage- 10.3)
Mon, Aug 19– Siskiwit Bay to South Lake Desor (Mileage- 9.9)
Tue, Aug 20– South Lake Desor to Todd Harbor (via Hatchet Lake) (Mileage- 11.7)
Wed, Aug 21– Todd Harbor to McCargoe Cove (Mileage- 6.8 )
Thu, Aug 22- McCargoe Cove to Moskey Basin (via WCB Lake & Lake Richie) (Mileage- 8.6 )
Fri, Aug 23– Moskey Basin to Rock Harbor (via Mt. Ojibway & Franklin; Tobin Harbor Trail) (Mileage- 12.9)
Sat, Aug 24– Fly out of Rock Harbor to Houghton (consider Scoville Point time permitting)

Notes:
THERE'S JUST TOO MANY ROCKS FOR ME TO STAY AWAY!!! My wife and I are backpacking Isle Royale for the second time (we did the counterclockwise Feldtmann Lake loop last September), and this time we are bringing our 24 year old daughter. We wanted to do a longer trip, and Mrs. Bass wants to through hike the island. We wanted to include the FLL, since we liked it so much. My wife and I are both 51. We are currently hiking with simulated pack weights to get ready, I will be about 40 pounds and the two of them will each be at about 24 pounds (this includes all gear, all food, and daily water).
I tried to get a nice mix of inland lake camp sites and Lake Superior camp sites. Also, I tried to either stay or hike through many of the places that forum members speak of so highly. We also have some things in the schedule that are elective and could be omitted if we needed to shorten our distance, such as the two day hikes toward the start, and also going via Mt. Ojibway near the end. If something wild happened at the start of the trip, we could always omit the Feldtmann Lake Loop.

Thanks in advance for the feedback and suggestions!

Cheers,

ETB

Looks great Ernest T.!
You sure are packing a lot into those 8 days! That last one, Moskey to Rock Harbor will be a long day but, by the time you hit that, you guys should be light and flying down the trail.


Mike T.
http://www.isleroyale.info
"half the fun is in the planning"

Certainly looks doable with the packs you suggested. I just got back and went out from Moskey to RH. The climb up the greenstone from Daisy will be a tiring hike but you can rest at Ojibway. I'd recommend lunch at Mt Franklin if you didn't take it at Ojibway.

You are going to hit all my favorites (Rainbow Cove, Siskiwit Bay, Todd Harbor sunset, McCargoe Cove, Moskey Basin and most importantly Greenstone Ridge vistas.) I made almost the same route in 1975 with a starting wet weight of 55 pounds but had some shorter days with more stops over 13 nights.

I'd love to be there, throwing some rocks with you in August.

I am pretty jacked up about the trip for several reasons. Our daughter is coming from Tacoma, WA and I know she is going to think this place is just the coolest thing ever. When MySweetRamona and I went last year, we had planned to hit Rainbow Cove, but got on the trail in Windigo a little later that we should have, so we passed on this. Also, we had hoped to hit Huginin Cove as well coming back, but again did not get there because of the need to downsize on the fly. Now we're a little older and wiser about the island. We are going to be more shrewd with our gear this time. Also, she won't be packing (I guess I should say, I won't be carrying...) 6.75 pounds of wine and library books. I still poke fun at her about this.
I am really excited to through hike to Rock Harbor (actually her idea, so she is paying close attention), and also to hit some of the other great areas that so many here speak of with such great affection. I'll think of you Ed, and will throw a whole handful of rocks for you.