Isle Royale Forums

Unfortunately due to the unexpected death last year of our (my brother is part of the group also) brother-in-law the day before we were to leave Ohio, we had to postpone our trip to Isle Royale to this year. We are coming next month! It's still the same six guys; the only difference is that our average age is now 66!! Our planned itinerary is still the same as last year's, BUT if anyone has any suggestions/reactions, etc. please do not hesitate to share them.

September 8: Arrive in Copper Harbor, hopefully before sunset after 15+ hours on the road beginning in SE Ohio.
September 9: Board the Isle Royale Queen for the Island. After registering, hike to Threemile via Tobin Harbor Trail.
September 10: Hike to McCargo Cove via Mt. Franklin/Greenstone/East Chickenbone Lake Trails.
September 11: Hike to Lake Richie via Indian Portage Trail.
September 12: Hike to Chippewa Harbor via Indian Portage Trail.
September 13: Either stay a second night at CH or hike to Moskey Basin via Lake Richie Trail.
September 14: Depending upon what we did on 9/13, either hike to Moskey Basin OR stay a second night at MB.
September 15: Hike to Threemile.
September 16: Hike to Rock Harbor via shoreline trail. Possible "day hike" to Scoville Point before catching the ferry back.
September 17: Back to Ohio

Just a FYI, we backpacked 55 miles in Yosemite over 6 days in September, 2011. We did end up going to/hiking in the Smoky Mountains for five days after the funeral since we were all packed and had the time off. We are up in years, but also fairly experienced and in decent shape.

Most of us plan to fish whenever we get a chance and are aware of the license regulations. I must add we were very appreciative of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Isle Royale Queen staff and the Tamarack Inn staff in Copper Harbor for graciously refunding all of our deposits/reservations, etc. that we had made for last year. Their understanding and thoughtfulness was greatly appreciated by all of us!!

If anyone out there will be in the same area, we would really enjoy hooking up and sharing time and stories together. We are looking forward to a great experience/adventure!! Hopefully we will make it this time!!

Hi Ulmer,

First off, I am sorry about the loss of your brother in law last year.

I really have no suggestions because it looks like you have planned it pretty well and it looks awesome to me.

What I really wanted to say is that I think it is great that you are going to do this trip, and you are an inspiration to us all! 66 and still backpacking, just awesome. I am 33 and have 2 steady backpacking comrades, one is 27 but the other is 60! Unfortunately she had knee surgery recently and isn't able to do any trips for the rest of the year. She has joked about not backpacking any more on almost every trip, I am going to use your post as inspiration. I wish I were going around the same time as you I would definitely meet up to swap stories!

Happy trails Ulmer, keep it up!

Th3rn

Hey Th3rn -Thanks for the kind reply! We actually range in age from 61-72, an average of 66. I am
not quite at the average yet, but just glad that we can still continue these adventures together. I plan to go from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon next year and do a rim to rim to rim. I have gone to the Colorado from the North Rim twice, but never gone all the way up to the South Rim. Not sure how many of the gang will join me, but my youngest son (23) is wanting to go.
Depending on our experience next month, we might want to come back next September and see more of Isle Royale. Maybe someday down the road our paths will cross!!

I should have listed the Minnetonka Resort (rather than the Inn) at Copper Harbor when expressing our appreciation for their cooperation last year. It's heck trying to rely on one's memory when you get in your "senior years!"

Look me up when you're in McCargoe Cove on the 10th.
Take some time to enjoy the view from Mt. Franklin - it seems to show every eco system on the island. I hope you have good weather that day.
I'd love to hear what you think of IR.

ulmer1, Your plans look good to me. I've done the Minong Ridge Trail when I was in my 60s. We older hikers don't need to be couch potatoes. You folks should enjoy ISRO NP. I encourage you to also do the rim to rim at the Grand Canyon. I did that 10 years ago when I was 59 from the south to the north rim. Look forward to a trip report. jerry

LeftOvers - I apologize for taking so long to reply (this is actually ulmer1)! I was in Alaska salmon fishing, returning last Saturday and have had a heck of a time logging in. I ended up re-registering under a new name (which I hope isn't a problem) so that I could tell you that we look forward to seeing/meeting you at McCargoe Cove on the 10th. Will you be alone? Staying overnight? One of our guys has kidney stones, so we are down to five. We would be glad to meet anyone else who will be at any of the campsites during our stays!

jerry - My game plan is to begin at the Grand Canyon's North Rim in late May and just go roughly seven miles each day; Cottonwood, Bright Angel, South Rim, Bright Angel, Cottonwood, North Rim. Hopefully us "Seniors" will have some younger guys with us that we can use as pack mules!!

Senior packer, When you do the G. Canyon I hope you come across this older gentleman who hikes from rim to rim. Met him and his grandson on my way up to the north rim. I asked the grandson where they had camped overnight. He said he and grandpa left the south rim yesterday morning and made it to the north rim in time to put up their tent for the evening. Now they were going back to the south rim before dark (this encounter happened just after sun up). Look forward to seeing you at Isle Royale in the future (fellow Buckeye).

Hey Jerry - What that grandfather and his grandson did is very impressive, BUT during my two previous hikes in the GC (like I prefer to do next week) I slowed down and took in as much as possible what the Good Lord has given us to enjoy and cherish rather than bustin' my butt just to say I did it!! I can still say we went "rim-to-rim", just took a little longer to do it! I also realize that our schedule for next week is a little strenuous, but hopefully if we are able to return down the road, we can slow our pace down!!

Senior Packer - I'll be staying in McCargoe Cove for a few nights, by myself, since my wife still works for a living. I'd like her to retire, too. Then she could come along and carry my gear.
I'm driving up to Grand Portage tomorrow, out to McC on Monday (rain, they say).
Have a good trip north.

Hey Leftovers - Not sure if you will be seeing this or not before you arrive on IR, but looking forward to seeing you on the 10th. I have been watching the forecast and saw chances of rain for several days next week, but all we can do is take what the Good Lord gives us!! IF WE DON"T SHOW UP, it will be because we decided to reverse our "route". This might happen because of the probability of rain on Monday and that it would really hamper our views while hiking on the Greenstone Ridge. Obviously we have no idea what the following Sunday will bring, but . . . . . probably won't reverse but up to the majority once we get to Three Mile on the 9th. Happy Trails!!

Sr. Packer, Look forward to your report.
P.S. You're right about taking in the sights (either at Isle Royale or the Grand Canyon). Slow and easy at the Gr. Canyon for me was 4 days to go from the S. rim to the N. rim. jerry

Senior Packer,

Just got back from the Northwoods - no, I didn't see your post before I left.

And, I didn't see you at McCargoe on the 10th (with rain), so I'm guessing you did reverse your route. You missed out on a great cornbread I planned to cook and share with you, but I did find others willing to help me eat it.

How did your trip go?

Hello Buckeye Seniors!!

It was great to meet up with you on the trail from Lake Ritchie and at Chippewa Harbor! Hope all went well with the rest of your trip and travels back to the mainland.

So - after your time on the island... will you be back?

wildknits - Sorry that it has taken me so long to reply!! Enjoyed running into you also! The rest of
our trip was great! An extra special moment was seeing a beautiful bull moose in a marsh on our way back to Three Mile Campground! As far as returning, I doubt if we will. Most of the guys weren't crazy about not having any connection with their families back home. The mother of two brothers was 93 at the time, in good health, but . . . . . . Plus when we did get back to having cell phone service we learned of two friends that passed away and two others that were hospitalized while we were gone. Granted we couldn't have done anything even if we did know about it, but again it truly made them understand how isolated we were. I tried to make it clear how things were going to be before we left, but they didn't totally get it until we were on the Island. Also, a couple of them probably should have done a little more to prepare for the physical demands of carrying everything on their backs for the entire week. In other words, they had too much weight, plus they hurt for a couple weeks after they got back. I really enjoyed our entire experience, but am looking for another outdoor adventure somewhere else for this year! Happy Trails wherever you may go!!