Michiganders - Minong Ridge, weeklong tr ip

“I'll already be taking a week off sometime in Aug/Sept. Thanks for the invite, though.”

“do i have to be a michigander?

i could probably find my way up that direction around then”

“Would that be Michigeese, lyra?”

“too late! i've left TT!

hiiiii, bitpusher :-)”

“Don't have to be a Michiganwhatever Simer.

I'm trying to work out the logistics of ferrying. Schedules thin out after Labor Day from the Michigan side. From Copper Harbor (Isle Royale Queen III) the boat travels Mon and Fri only. The Ranger III goes on Tuesdays and Fridays and returns on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Plus to get to McCargo Cove from Rock Harbor the ferry from WI goes all the way around the Island with an overnight layover at Windigo????

Other plan is to hike Rock Harbor to McCargo Cove, go across on the Minong and then ferry back from Windigo to Rock Harbor to home.

Anyone have any tips or is it as complicated as I think it is!!! Hiking the ridges will be easier.”

“umm... ok... sounds confusing to me, if u don't mind me taggin along i could see what i'm up to around that time, little bit of a drive, but i can make it, just tell me where to meet ya”

“up right? i can make it there anyway, i tend to stick to my side of the lake, superior hiking trail, i could make it to isle royale from this side”

“Actually simer, maybe we should just all drive around the lake. The transportation issue is no big deal from there, the ferry leaves 3 times a week and circles the island. It's quite a drive but may be worth it to avoid the Michigan Ferry nightmare. Let's just keep cypherin' and we'll get it together soon. le subtil, any tips, you were just there in May.”

“mn side, i can make that, i was just up that direction, be easier for me than drivin to the up”

“I'd just bite the bullet and hike from Rock Harbor. Either driving, or the water taxi, will chew up valuable hiking time. Hit the dock running at RH and get up on the ridges. You can make a shortcut at Hatchett lake and do a loop partially on the Greenstone and partially on the Mining.

The Minong ridge does get more interesting past Todd Harbor, though. I do think you'd hit some of the best of the Greenstone.

It's not like any of it is less than spectacular! The last hike I took, from RH, was a short loop called the Stoll Trail, and it was awesome!”

“keep in touch, let me know, 'cause it sounds good to me”

“Hey Le Subtil, we did the Stoll trail on our last day up there, waiting for the ferry. It was pretty spectactular, to get to the very end of the island. I remember lots of blueberry eating on the way, too. :)”

“I just finished looking at the possible routes for this trip not including the long drive to Copper Harbor. The winner is... Monday ferry to Rock Harbor, hike to Chickenbone or McCargo, day 2 - Little Todd Harbor, day 3 - to Windigo or somewhere between, day 4 ferry back to McCargo camp at Daisy Farm, day 5 hike to Rock Harbor Friday ferry to Copper Harbor. If the plan goes awry I'll have 1 extra weekend to hike (is there a way to cache food at Rock Harbor????) and ferry back on Monday. I'm getting seriously lighter with equipment for this trip, there was so much room for improvement. That should help with the distances.

Any thoughts experts? Or interest in coming along?”

“I have a friend in Minneapolis who is still trying to get to Isle Royale this year. Her trip in June was cancelled. I'll check to see if she'd like to join up with you. I'll be starting school, so no trips for me!”

“Sounds fantastic. Wish I could go. Hope you have a blast!”

“Dhutch, There were lockers at Rock harbor last time I was there. You should be able to call the rangers in houghton and ask if they're still available. They were yer average skating rink type/size.”

“BTW, are you palnning on E chickenbone or W chickenbone? E was loaded with bugs and had about a 1/4 mile downhill hike to water. I'd go for West myself.”

“I don't know how late in the season they run, but you can get a water taxi that will take you from Rock Harbor to Daisy Farm and I THINK all the way to Moskey Basin and Sentner Point. Gives you time to check out the west end of the Isle, and still take your time.”

“Stumprider, August is peak season on the island, the taxis will be running then.”

“But the trip has a "Finalized itinerary - Sept 8-13 " according to dhutch. That's after Labor Day, so I wasn't sure if the the water taxi would be still running.”

“Great input, thanks! I don't want to go past E. Chicken to W. Chicken it adds miles towards McCargo. I planned to get water at Daisy and McCargo. Mostly I'm looking at the mileage. I was figuring about 2 miles per hour in most places. The books say it's rough, Sass you know my hiking, am I way off? Keep in mind Sans Shane.”

“dhutch, when i was there, we did about 2mph. i think that's a safe pace to plan with.”

“It is rough. Be prepared to fall down, lol. Bring lots of extra large band aids. 2mph-3 is a good estimate. It varies on which trail you're on. Rock Harbor to Daisy Farm is worse than most so don't get discouraged on your first day.”

“Rock Harbor to Daisy was the first trail I ever did. First time I carried a backpack. No wonder I keep trying this backpacking thing. I've already experienced some of the worst! :)”