Da Moose-a-palooza

“Prosecutor, those sound like tasty dishes we would expect from you.

Do you by chance have that recipe handy for the spicy curry chicken dish you made at Yellow River? I wouldn't mind trying my hand at that.”

“Hubcap, I modified the recipe to make it lighter and easier to cook. The following is not the final version:

Thai Curried Chicken

At Home:

Package in a pint freezer ziplock bag:
¼ cup dehydrated carrots
¼ cup dehydrated chopped onions
¼ cup dehydrated peas
¼ cup dehydrated corn
3 tablespoons dehydrated red peppers
¾ cup rice

Package in a second ziplock snack sized bag:
1 50 gram package of Chao Brand Coconut Cream Powder
1 ¼ teaspoon curry powder
¼ teaspoon dried vinegar
1 teaspoon chicken broth powder

Also bring:
1 seven ounce pouch package of Tyson’s Chicken
1 ounce olive oil

On the Trail:

Rehydrate contents of pint ziplock bag of vegetables in 2 ½ cups water in a one liter pot and wait one hour. Add rest of the ingredients and boil for 15 minutes.”

“*drooling* I love Thai and curry anything.

That sounds better than the Switchback Spaghetti that I'll be bringing.

I just might buy a stove in time for Isle Royale and try my hand at some bp cooking/baking. After partaking of Cow Patty's most excellent pineapple upside down cake last weekend, I realize it's time to expand my culinary horizons on the trail.”

“Are the dehydrated red peppers the hot kind? Cayenne or something? I recall smoke was coming out of the ears of a few people and don't think the 1.25 tsp curry powder would do that by itself. Maybe this is a tamed down version?

Ruby, I think this one may be doable on an alcohol stove. You might have to re-fill/light the stove part way through to complete cooking it though. Myself, I would consider this more than one serving. If you halved it, the pepsi can stove may be able to handle it better.”

“Hey hubcap, I've been meaning to ask you, what do you think about PhantomSoul, you and me driving up together? I'm picking PS up from Midway on Saturday afternoon.”

“Ruby, car pooling sounds good to me.”

“The dehydrated red peppers are NOT the hot ones. Typo above, it should read a 60 gram packet of Chao.

The change is from fresh Curry Paste to Curry Powder. I used fresh Curry Paste I brought back from Thailand when you had some.”

“Bring on the recipies; I might even learn to cook on this trip...

As for gear, I need to pick up a chair (something I've been meaning to do for like ever...) I'm bringing my all-season bag (can't go wrong with that -- I think it's rated for 0*F (I survived camping in the Northeastern winter with it) and it opens up completely if the weather is too warm.

Also need a giant duffle bad to pack my backpack in for the plane. Ahh, how the shopping list grows...”

“What kind of vehicle do you have, Hubcap? I've got a RAV 4. The three of us can fit with our gear, but it might be tight. I'm happy to offer my vehicle though if that will be the better option.

Is there a good place where we can rendevous on Sunday morning to depart from on your side of the city?”

“Hey PS, check out the "Chair Suggestions" thread. Check out the Sling-light!!!”

“I have an RSX. I'm happy to drive, but I'm afraid it would be two plus gear max. If we all can't fit in one vehicle, it's no big deal to me to drive separate.

As far as meeting Sunday, that might somewhat depend on what the plans for Saturday night are.”

“Let me drive then. I know we can fit two full packs at least in the back storage area, possibly three. If need be, the person in the backseat will have a pack next to them. You guys must bring good music for the drive.

WoundedKnee and I are nailing down the Saturday night details. (I must talk to him.) As of now PS is going to stay at my place on Saturday night, but we will be going in the opposite direction of where we need to head on Sunday. I was wondering if there is a campground north of the city that we could head to after Saturday's festivities. Does anyone have any suggestions? Or perhaps it will just be best to sleep at my place that night and plan an early rising.”

“You don't need no stinking chair. Every shelter has a picnic table, and some tent only campsites have picnic tables.”

“Ok then, chair's out. At least that's one less thing I need to pick up.

Ruby, I'm all up for camping Saturday night if it works out -- hey, that's one more bag night for the ol' scoreboard. (I'm now up to 16 this year by the way...)”

“Hey, Big Talker, so am I. 16 for me. And I'm not counting the night in the back yard or the night I spent in my car rather than set up my tent last week. AND I didn't start until late March and didn't do much for about 3 months of the summer. So there, ppphhhhht!






Wanna race? Highest number on December 31 wins. ;-D












Anyway, I'll see what I can learn about campgrounds north of Chicago. Any TTer out there have a suggestion? (Maybe I better start a new thread.)”

“When going on a trip do any of you share gear? Water filters, stoves and what have ya. I'll share my Pocket Rocket with somebody, wait that didn't come out right.”

“Heya Ruby I still have that car top carrier if you guys need to borrow it :)”

“If there is a competition for most bag nights, can I enter?

No good campgrounds along your route of travel until you are north of Milwaukee. There may be some KOA, or Jellystone Park type car campgrounds, but I would be to embarrassed to list that type of camping for a bag night. You like the sounds of genrators running all night?”

“Thanks, UPLuver. As we compare gear loads, I'll let you know.

So Hubcap and PhantomSoul, are you planning on taking more than a pack with you? I have room for each of us to take a full pack with room for a community cooler. If you need more room than that, speak up now.

Klr, you are fitting in here at TT just fine, offering your Pocket Rocket and everything. he, he, he

But seriously, I'm willing to share stuff. That's a good idea. Shall we take an inventory? I have a water filter. On stoves, so far I just use a Pepsi can stove (thank you StoveStomper). What else is there to share?

I am so looking forward to this trip. My childcare issure is resolved and confirmed, but I'm a little nervous about my blister problem. That's my biggest concern right now...that I won't be able to keep up with you hardcores.”

“Ruby, I’m not sure where a decently close place to camp would be north of Chicago. I would guess that there are some RV vacation type places, but I don’t know where a close tent-camper-friendly place would be.

You guys are welcome to stay at my place in the western burbs Saturday night. Mapquest says there is only a 15 min difference (though completely different route) in getting to Copper Harbor from here vs. downtown Chicago.

Advantages of staying here: someone gets the extra bedroom (and someone gets the sofa or floor), convenient place to shower/clean up/organize, good kick off point for our road trip.

Disadvantages: won’t count as a bag night unless you set up your tent in our living room or sleep on the patio (I’ve done this one testing out sleeping bags).”

“I usually travel quite light and plan to be self sufficient. My pack will be small. I have a filter but was not planning to bring it (Aqua Mira instead). My pack is generally capable of comfortably carrying more weight than I put in it, so I'm flexible with sharing the gear load.”

“Anything extra I bring will just be little odds and ends to fit along side of the backpack -- maybe a spare change of clothes, dry shoes to leave in the car, and little things like that.

The only reason I mention the duffle bag is to have something to "wrap" my backpack with for checking onto the plane. I've never flown to backpack before and so far this is the most logical way I've heard of to pack. If anyone has better ideas, I'm all ears...”

“Gearwise, I have a water filter and a soda can stove. I also have 50 ft of parachute cord usually used for hanging bear bags (which I understand are not an issue at IR).

As far as accomodations on Saturday night (18 Sep), I'm up for whatever works out best. Just let me know what you decide on and I'm sure I'll adapt.”

“You mentioned a blister problem? Take lots of compeed and the thick moleskin. After just getting back from Isle Royale with more blisters than I can count, I will never go on a trip without either. Fortunately, there were lots of generous good samaritans/fellow backpackers that were more than happy to offer supplies. I even had one guy wrap my feet for me!...LOL Whatever you do....have fun! I know you will.”

“Thanks for the advice, Ivygal. I'm not familiar with compeed. Where can I find it? I've never tried duct tape, so I was planning on doing that, too.”

“Compeed is a bandaid made specially for blisters (hopefully you never get to that point) but you can find it at any department store/drug store with all the other bandaids. In the future, I will put it on as soon as I feel a hotspot. It might not be called "compeed" on the box but Johnson&Johnson puts out a good one. They apparently designed it for the army. That didn't really impress me...lol...but the bandages did. And yeah...take tape or a breathable wrap. I've never tried duct tape so I don't know how that would work. Once I got my hands on some thick mole skin instead of the thin junk I had, that is what really saved me from a lot of pain.”

“So, is this new boat going to be running out of Copper Harbor when we do this trip? I understand that it will make the ride an hour faster than the old ferry.”

“There are quite a number of places to camp north of Chicago and just over the State line into Wisconsin. I don't remember the details of the trek, but if memory serves me right, the trip is post Labor Day. Most of us flat-landers stop camping after Labor Day, so campgrounds should be fairly accessible.”

“In my past experience the blister pads from johnson and johnson don't stay on. They wrinkle and scrunch and make worse blisters.
I found moleskin and medical tape or molefoam (the thick moleskin) and medical tape work best. Apply an alcohol wipe first so all the adhesive sticks really well.

Here's alittle tip for you guys:

You can buy a shower at rock harbor, in the store, (with a bar of soap and a towel) for something like $4. Last trip we took a drybag (or ziplock) of fresh clothes and hid them near rock harbor (someone even hid a bottle of wine too, for last night on the island), showered and changed before getting on the ferry. After 9 days it was pure heaven. I highly recommend a cheeseburger if the snack bar's still open, definately worth the $9.”

“Hey Dude, I have a pretty large duffle. I use it to store Softball/Baseball gear in. It should fit your pack. If your interested, let me know, you can borrow it.”

“I have happy little troll feet. I have not gotten blisters or lost any toenails. :o)”

“I have all of the above on mine.

I want your feet, Sunshine.”

“BTW, Sass, THANK YOU for the tip!!! That sounds like a really, really good idea.”

“When we were up there last fall I was talking to the ppl at the store and they told me for a small fee(can't remember how much now...thinkin it was like $5 or so) they will hold a bag of clean clothes for ya there at the store.
At least there you wouldn't have to worry about a fox running off with them...cause they WILL if they have half a chance :)”

“The shower is GREAT at the end of the hike. Beforewarned. If you try to two or three showers for the price of one....they used to go into the room where the hot water heater(s) are and shut off the hot water. The guy at the store a few years ago said "That brings 'em out pretty quick!" With a big smirk.

The only nasty part (re.: blisters) was along the southern shore line trail west of Daisy Farm Some nasty rocks and ankle biting trail there.”

“UPluver....your right on about the fox

ChicagoMark...that was my favorite trail between Daisy Farm and Moskey Basin. It was tough but fun. I hiked it in sandals (didn't have much choice) and I did worry about ankle support but I didn't have a problem...luckily.”

“I suspect most of my fellow trip goers have seen this thread over on the other site. But in case you haven't, it is getting a fair number of brief TRs from people recently returning from the island.”

“Ok, so I just spoke with Isle Royale Line and they said that space will not be a problem on the boat and confirmed that they will be running on schedule. They also told me that reservations were not necessary due to the ample space. Wahoo!

Also, I'm assuming that the seven definites are in -- 4 of you that have responded since my role call plus myself are in for sure.

Y2 and the goat, I'm assuming yous are in, since you're still definites. If not, please update your status. Also, those of you signed up as maybe's, I'm assuming you're out. If not, please update your status accordingly. Thanks.”

“Sorry, I've been traveling.
Yes, I am still in.
This has been an odd summer all over North America. Elderly folks in Northern Minnesota can not remember ever seeing frost prior to Labour Day. Bean fields have been bitten, and are now being bailed. Corn which has not tassled is now brown.
And what does this information have to do with a hike on Isle Royale, you ask? Fall colors, I say. Many trees are already loosing their leaves. There shouldn't be a whole lot of bugs to deal with either.”

“Yeah, I noticed that around here as well -- many trees have already turned colors and are starting to lose their leaves, and it was only August then. We don't normally see that in NJ until latter October. What's up with that?”

“Was just up in the UP and the colors are definately on their way. The blueberries were in full swing, maybe you'll catch a few stragglers. There was a second hatch of bugs but I don't think they'll be around much longer! You guys are going to have an awesome trip.”

“Where in the UP were you? We're heading up next week.”

“Do you guys think I should treat my clothing with that permethrin stuff or is not going to be necessary?”

“ChicagoMark - The Fox River area north of Seney is where Sassafras is talking about, and some fall color was starting all along down to St. Ignace.

Ruby - It's likely you wouldn't need to spray on the permethrin, but it is odorless once it dries on the clothing & sure will help if you do need bug-off protection. Once the temps went from the 50s to the 80s in the same area the same week, we had skeeters everywhere.

Sounds like your group is gonna have a fun trip!”

“Oh it better be awesome. If it's not, I'll have to make it awesome. I put way too much time, effort, and money into this trip.

Less than 2 weeks to go! Can't hardly wait!”

“Oh, you'll get nice colors in a couple weeks. It'll be great! This pic was taken about 15-20 miles north of Seney (in the UP) on M-77 about 6 days ago and the colors were just starting to pop...




And, I agree w/ Sass wrt the bugs. I doubt very much you'll have too much trouble w/ bugs that late in the season.

Have a great time. IR is high on my list of favorite hikes!”

“I am definitely pumped for this trip. I cannot even concentrate at work. Cannot wait to see y'all there.”

“klr, have you seen the copper harbor thread? We are planning to meet on Sunday night, have dinner at the Mariner. Sunshine is meeting us. Not sure if anyone else is. And we're going to camp at Ft. Wilkins that night.”

“Only 10 days to go...”

“Wow, that's getting close, isn't it!

Time to start thinking about if there is anything I need for this trip that I don't have.”