Isle Royale Forums

Is this someone we know? He’s setting up a pay-to-play website for advice and training modules on Isle Royale.

A fellow on the Facebook group named Duane L'Esperance posted about it a week or two ago. Didn't realize they were monetizing though...

Training modules?? No thanks. Haha. There’s free info here and on the Facebook pages.

Are you speaking of this?

https://courses.wiseoldmanofisleroyale.com/

Yeah, I was wondering if this was someone who is active on the forums? The gist appears to be they will teach (via canned modules) and help with trip planning, for a fee. I have often wondered what our collective knowledge is worth, and our years of experience, freely shared with anyone who asks.

As someone waiting to make his first trip this summer, I would tell you all that you guys are incredible. Learning lots from this site!

Maybe the forums should buy ad space on the site, to direct some traffic here!

I followed the link to the site, and all the courses posted so far (hydration, cooking, maps . . .) look pretty backpacking boilerplate, that is, not IR specific. I wonder if the site is part of a more general effort? This might enhance its money-making prospects.

My "esperance" is that folks will still find their way here.

Actually, truth is, this kinda profiteering sort of rubs me the wrong way. Especially if someone asks him a question, he comes to the forums with the question, gets lots of good answers, then sells that information to the original asker who is his client. We had a guy doing this on another backpacking forum I'm part of, until we figured it out. Also, if he's helping people plan trips specifically to Isle Royale, does he need a commercial use permit from NPS, even if he never physically takes his clients to the Island, just sends them there?

torpified wrote: ↑Tue Feb 16, 2021 7:45 am Maybe the forums should buy ad space on the site, to direct some traffic here!

I followed the link to the site, and all the courses posted so far (hydration, cooking, maps . . .) look pretty backpacking boilerplate, that is, not IR specific. I wonder if the site is part of a more general effort? This might enhance its money-making prospects.

No background on the experience of the site owner listed on the site.

From an old man and maybe one not so wise who has been going to Isle Royale in all seasons since Moby Dick was a minnow my knowledge of this wondrous place is free for the asking, as it is from all the other old hands on this site. Thanks everybody.

chief54 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 19, 2021 6:56 am From an old man and maybe one not so wise who has been going to Isle Royale in all seasons since Moby Dick was a minnow my knowledge of this wondrous place is free for the asking, as it is from all the other old hands on this site. Thanks everybody.

Same here (maybe not since Moby Dick was a minnow)

dcclark wrote: ↑Sun Feb 14, 2021 3:46 pm A fellow on the Facebook group named Duane L'Esperance posted about it a week or two ago. Didn't realize they were monetizing though...

Yeah, it's Duane and his wife, Beth. Interesting. The guy is a wealth of knowledge and seemed to freely share it on the facebook page.

There was some sort of announcement on the Facebook page that all of the "Wise Old Man" stuff is free now.