Isle Royale

“Rode the IR Queen the first time (apparently it's been lengthened since) and the crucial decision was to not eat breakfast before boarding. We had coffee in the little restaurant across the street, and everyone else was packing away pancake, eggs & hashbrowns, etc. We picked seats in the center with backs to a bulkhead, and a good fixed focal point for staring at when it got rough. We were okay, but all the big eaters were green and hanging over the side.”

“I hear the key to remaining barf free is the fixed focal point and staying to the rear of the ship (less rollin). I was nervous my first time,as a child I was sick everytime we went on my uncles fishin boat. My buddy bragged about how he never got sick...he was sick the entire time.”

“If you can stay on the centerline of the hull, the rolling will be much less pronounced than being on either side. So if you do have to puke, go to the center of the stern, not over the side or you will be getting even worse.

Also, don't puke to windward.”

“Veteran of the Wenonah here. Only 3 hours to Windigo. Just put the rain slicks on, stand in the front of the boat and let the waves crash over you. That's what I did.”

“Never been sick on a boat. (Knock on wood) Worst I've ever experienced was seven footers on Superior (on the Queen) and HUGE waves on the ferry back from N Manitou. No one was allowed to sit on top and all the passengers inside were sick. We rode in the front and got soakin' wet but didn't get sick. Went inside for a minute and the smell of vomit was strong enough to make me nausious.”

“So this is what I have too look forward too?

Great!

8|”

“Being seasick is the worst, you can't get off to make it stop. I was coming back on a boat from Catalina Island and we got caught in a storm with about 25-30 ft swells, I had never been sick prior to that.
Ginger works as a motion-sickness cure as well, at least for some.”

“I also made sure I kept my eyes on the horizon. That's supposed to help your brain figure out where you body is in relation to the motion.”

“You guys keep talking about geting sick I hope when I go there in August I don't get sick!

Yuck that would suck!

8(”

“It's a little pricey, but I prefer the plane out of Houghton. Gets you there in 1/2 hour (unless their fogged in), so you get there with the whole day ahead of you!”

“Does anyone know how much more stove fuel cost on the island? If you take the plane, you can't fly with your fuel, right?”

“That's a good question, Laqtis. Don't know the answer about the plane. On the boat, they put your fuel in a special place, away from the rest of your gear.

I think as a general rule, anything you buy on the island is costly.”

“The store charges alot more than usual and then tacks on a 20% tax for national park stuff. A cheeseburger and fries cost us $12 last trip. It was damn good though.
I think you should be able to take fuel on a small plane. Call them and ask. I do know ya only can take 35 lbs of gear and it was around $230 last time we checked into it. That was several years ago.”

“Just checked (at intermission, I'm doing a show right this minute). From what I can tell, no, you can't take stove fuel on the plane. I write more when I get home tonight. Chow! (that's a show biz term, ya know...)”

“lmao laqtis”

“$230 is alot!

I guess I get sick on the boat.It won't be that bad.

I hope!

8)”

“The boat you'll be taking is the tiniest one there is Mike. BUT it's also the shortest route.”

“Anyone ever been to Beaver Island? Is there backpacking?”

“Not been there but there are trails enough for a day or two at least. I've heard it's quite lovely but also populated.”

“This might be old news but two web sites I found to be very helpful for planning my trip to IR are:
www.isleroyale.info/faq.html
www.isle.royale.national-park.com

Recalled from memory but you should be able to get there”

“Laqtis, I found my Isle Royale book if you still want to borrow it. Just let me know.”

“That would be great!”

“Im so glad Im goping in August!!!”

“Laqtis, Want me to snail mail it to you, or wait until I see you again?”

“Just wait for when ther all get together for one of our day hikes. There no rush. You guys have fun this weekend! It gonna be a tad chilly. Keep warm.”

“Rolf Peterson is speaking at a dinner in Grand Rapids on Thursday. Wish I could make it!”

“That would be cool. His son Jeremy was a junior ranger on IR when I first went. He stayed at Daisy Farm and gave lectures on the moose/wolf saga every night. It was really neat. A few years after that Birch and I saw a documentary on the Petersons and their life on Isle Royale, studying the wolf/moose populations. Jeremy was about six on the documentary. It was funny, he was about six ft 4 when we saw him in person. What a cool childhood that kid had!”

“We need to be sure we pronounce it Roy-AL for Budder's sake. He hates it when people call it Royal! LOL!”

“In my mind I always do! And I do it to the tune of the Beasties' song about Jonny Roy-al. =)”

“I can't wait to go in August!!!!!


Its going to be great!!!

8)”

“Technically it's illegal. I've always purchased fuel on the Island, but only a pint or two, so the cost isn't that much. But have discovered other people on the plain have carried fuel, and the pilot never asked. He seemed to be a real bush pilot. Those are the best.”

“Dude I can't wait untill I go on the trip in Aug!!!!!

2 great trips this year!!!!

8)”

“ISLAND OPENS WITHOUT SEAPLANE: Isle Royale National Park is
open for the season, but the private Isle Royale Seaplane
Service has gone out of business. Park officials say a
Duluth-based company has expressed an interest in providing
the service. They hope to have a new vendor this summer.”

“Just visited the Isle Royale website, there is no plane service to the Island this year. The contractor didn't renew, and they couldn't find anyone for this year, but found someone for 2003.”

“Yep, I posted that a couple weeks back. Looks like you'll all be takin' the barf barge!”

“Sorry, Smiley missed your post.”

“I get a weekly newsletter from Michigan Tech, and it had that info in it. When there's other pertinent info about the U.P. in the newsletter, I try to post it here.”

“Woke up this morning to find everything covered in white. It continued to rain/snow all day. The ground is still coverd in white. IT'S MAY!!

Mother Nature, YOU'RE FIRED!”

“How do you fire Mother Nature?

8)”

“Apparently, I don't know. It's still snowing!!”

“I gradutated somehwere around the middle of June, 1996. There was still snow on the ground in some areas. I have pictures to prove it.

Although the winter seems to drag on forever, summers in the U.P. are incredible. I miss it up there!”

“I'm on vacation - and I have reservations for the IR Queen Mon. 12 days on the island. I'm packed and ready and jazzed !!! ”

“Enjoy it !!!!!!!!!”

“Have fun.I will be there for a week in Aug!

8)”

“Someone help me out on this one. Why would you $1200 to go on this hike??



ISLE ROYALE INSTITUTE SPONSORS COURSE: The Isle Royale
Institute at Michigan Tech is sponsoring a "leave no trace"
in the island's back country this summer. The August 11-17
trip is limited to eight and costs $1,200. For more
information, see
http://www.edopp.mtu.edu/sap/ci/isle_royale/backcountry.htm”

“It's probably a college credit or two.”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

“In the details it says you get a Nationally Recognized Certification.”

“Yeah, but that was only $500! What's the other $700 for?? That's an expensive LNT lesson!”

“Let's see, fare on the boats, paying for staff salary and everything else provided.”