Da Moose-a-palooza

“Ruby, yes I have been watching the thread. What is your guys ETA to Fort Wilkens?

I know the 4 of you are going to head up through Wisconsin. Y2, Goat how are guys getting up there? If you are heading through Michigan we could meet up and I could drive the rest of the way.”

“Not sure of our ETA. I think it's about 8 or 9 hours. I really should call Ft. Wilkens again. Perhaps the cabin has become available after all. That would hold 4 of us. If not, no problem. I'm sure we will just get a series of camp sites, buddying up together. I assume the standard 2 tents/4 person rule. We can leave notes at the registration area, wherever it is, as to our site numbers. And then head over to Brockaway for the sunset view. Or the other way around if it's getting late.

We will probably be able to pick each other out, you think? Hubcap, PhantomSoul and I will be in my vehicle, a Toyota RAV4 with Indiana plates. What are the rest of you driving?”

“Hubcap and PhantomSoul: Bring your favorites CD's along for the ride. You might get tired of listening to my Jessica Simpson CD after about the 5th time.”

“Your jesting about the Jessica Simpson CD...







...right?”

“What? You mean you don't totally adore her?”

“I'll plan to bring plenty of music.

You can decide what you like.”

“Of course I'm joking. I can't stand that kind of stuff. So don't think you can bring any Brittany Spears.”

“I will be driving a white Subaru Legacy SUS.”

“What!!

Brittany was sooo looking forward to this trip!”

“She can't come. She's toxic.”

“Got my NG Isle Royale map now. Getting excited.

I bought a big can of denatured alcohol. I figured I'd bring it up to Copper Harbor so everyone who needs to can fill up their fuel bottles.

Hubcap and PhantomSoul, I might be able to borrow a car topper thingy so we will have plenty of room in my vehicle. I'm bringing a large cooler for the ride and for anything we want for our night(s) at Copper Harbor. You are more the welcome to put anything in it that you need to.



I am really looking forward to this trip. I am really looking forward to meeting all of you. But I have to admit that I am very nervous that I will not be able to keep up with you guys. I will do my best. And I promise I won't be a burden. I figure among the six of you strong strapping men, you can all carry my pack. That's only 4 or 5 extra pounds each. LOL







I'm kidding of course.”

“Ruby...

At some time during the hike, if you feal that you can not keep up with "six of you strong strapping men", take a seat near the trail. For I shall be hiking by soon and would love to have someone to chat with while resting. LOL

Actually, if you feal a need to drop out, maybe we could make a base camp and stalk moose for a day or so.

At this time, I am not sure if I'll be bringing my pepsi-G stove or my whisperlite. If I hike with the pepsi-G, I'll need an achohol refill because I will surely be using it in Ely the previous weekend.”

“Cool, Mr. Goat. Glad we think alike. What I'm most nervous about is my blister-prone feet. I will do everything that I can think of to keep them at bay.

I will be using a Pepsi-can stove. I think PhantomSoul is as well. The gallon I have should take care of all of us I think and then some.

Have fun in Ely! More gorgeous country.”

“Gallon??? What are you going to be cooking?

I was thinking maybe like one of those pint-size Poland Spring water bottles would be plenty of fuel for me all week...

But then again, my breakfasts and lunches are usually cold. I guess you could bring the whole thing, and we'll just leave the extra in the car.

Besides the 5 days and 4 nights we'll be on the trail, how much food am I going to need. I'll probably just end up "ad-hoc-ing" that at a local supermarket stop or something along the way...

Can't wait to meet you all (except Prosecutor -- I already met him). 6 days to the flight...”

“TheGoat and I will be car pooling and arriving at the Fort Wilkins campsites Sunday after sunset, but before midnight in a green Ford Expedition, with Illinois license plates BCKPCKR.

To minimize the risk of blisters, keep your pack weight down and take one or two short practice hikes with your full backpack on to put weight on your feet to toughen up the feet bottoms.”

“Good Idea.

My practice hike was in the White Mountains (NH) yesterday, and I did fine. So, I think I am more than ready for this trip...”

“PS: I'm not taking the whole gallon on the trail. I'm just going to fill my Primus bottle. I bought that much for everyone to tap into. We'll leave the extra in the car. And on off-trail food, I was thinking the same thing. We'll wing it and figure it out as we go. We'll have the cooler for whatever needs to stay chilled (beer?).

Pros: Already have done some hikes with full pack with these boots. I am just nervous about blisters. That's all. BTW, you worked for Cook County; right? This past week I started reporting in Chicago. I thought about you the other day when I did the dep of a well-known defense attorney.”

“Quick question.

I'm thinking of getting a National Parks Pass. That will take care of the $4/day fee; right?”

“I have been going over our route on my map and I think the mileage might be a bit more than posted. I find that the days miles are going to be Mon: 8, Tues: 8.9, Wed: 11.2, Thurs: 16.2, Fri: 11.7”

“The National Parks pass covers "entrance fees" only. The four dollars a day is a "users fee". I tried that trick in July. It did not work.”

“Ruby:

I have a Park pass you can try to use. I don't know what the rules are with using other peoples passes.”

“A National Park Pass allows you and your the family memebers that are inside your vehicle to enter the park. It is not good for your friends or enemies.
I don't think there is an entrance fee to step off the ferry at Isle Royale. The ferry company will charge you for the round trip "Barf Barge" ride and the NP user fee when you show up at Copper Harbor.”

“okay, then I won't buy a parks pass now. I'll wait until I plan a trip to a NP that requires a fee that isn't sneakily worded”

“Ruby, what does your Primus fuel bottle weigh? If it is more than an empty soda bottle, reconsider your fuel holder.”

“16.2 on Thursday? You got to be kidding me. There's no way it's that far.

Although, to be honest with you, I don't know exactly -- my mileages are just guesses from the map on Isle Royale's website. I still can't buy the 16.2...”

“I looked on the map on the Isle Royale site and it looks closer to your numbers PS. Whew, 16.2 would make for a long day.”

“I'm using a National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map 2004 version



Todd Harbor camp to trail .2

Minong Ridge Trail, Todd Harbor to McCargoe Cove 6.6

Indian Portage trail; McCargoe Cove to West Chickenbone Lake 3.6

Indian Portage Trail; West Chickenbone Lake to Lake Richie 4.4

Lake Richie Trail; Lake Richie to Moskey Basin 2.1

Lake Richie Trail to Moskey Basin campsite .2

Actually, that adds up to 17.1

I'm pretty sure I'm reading this correctly.”

“Well, I guess we'll see which one is correct -- hope no one suffers from flat feet...

Either way, one of these maps has an incorrect scale, as it can't be both 11 miles and 17 miles...”

“I have extremely low arches. It tends to hurt on long hikes, but I'll live.

Ruby it sounds like you have the most accurate means to measure.

Has anybody else done that kind of mileage in a day? The most I have ever done is a little over 14. It was my ex-girlfriend and I's first time out. The relationship went downhill after that.”

“Hey klr, point of advice: don't bring the girlfriend to this one ;)

No, but serioiusly, I've done 15 miles in a day over rolling hills on the "Royal Soak" trip about 6 weeks ago. I was tired at the end of the day, but not dead tired. A good night's sleep took care of everything...

I'm still hoping that that stretch really isn't 17 miles, but I guess there's only one way to find out. The reason I picked the route that I did is because I really wanted to get to Todd Harbor. I guess this is what it's going to cost us.

I swear, this wasn't supposed to be a buttkicker...”

“Advice taken.

I am sure we will all be fine. If anything this is more motivation to lighten the load. What kind of load are you all planning to carry? I am hoping to be around 30-34 lbs.”

“My typical load is 30-35 lbs, and I've recently gone over 4000-ft mtns with it, so I'm pretty comfortable with longer day-distances at Isle Royale.

If I go extra-skimpy on what I bring (which there is no way that's happening on this trip because it's a week long), I've gotten my pack down to around 25 lbs. I might actually be closer to 40, but it really depends on how much food I bring I guess (I haven't quite figured that out yet)...”

“Guys, I really hope I'm wrong. My biggest day was around 16 miles on a solo. I was draggin' big time. I can do it, but I'll be slow. I already know for this trip I'll by making my GORP mix with Advil instead of M&M's. Obviously, I'm bringing my map. Everyone else can have at it and see what they come up with.

I'm doing my damnedest to keep my load to 30 and will be duct taping my feet every day.”

“Ooh, and miss out on the chocolatey goodness of the M&M's.
Ruby, like I had mentioned before some of us can share if needed. Not everybody needs there own water purifier, stove and toothbrush.”

“I had a 35 pound pack for 9 days, 8 nights in Yellowstone last week, so my pack weight for this trip will be around 30 pounds. Take your lightest tent since you probably will be in shelters most nights. If you do not have a light solo tent, suggest sharing with someone.

The Minong Ridge Trail between Todd Harbor and McCargoe Cove has a lot of ups and downs, and is the toughest trail section on the Island. Cooler temperatures will make the hike nice, and my older map shows the mileage between Todd Harbor and Moskey Basin is 15 miles.

Keep in mind, that backpackers do not have to keep the same itinerary that they put in for on Isle Royale. If during the trip one was experiencing difficulty in doing the distances, rather than suffering the shame of asking others to carry your weight, you could tinker with the route and/ or campsites to reduce some of the mileages. For instance, by swithing West Chicken Bone with McCargo Cove, and going direct, you shave 1.1 miles on that day, and by going direct to Todd, you shave 5 miles the next day. Since you have the possibility of actually having seven people show up, and the necessity of splitting up into technically two groups, you could have one group take the shaved routes, and another group take the longer routes. Stay flexible depending on your physical condition and weather.”

“Ruby, the mileges on your map are higher than those on the park map, the trails illustrated map and in Jim DuFresne's Ilse Royale guide.

the mileges shown by them are:

Todd Harbor camp to trail .1

Minong Ridge Trail, Todd Harbor to McCargoe Cove 6.6

Indian Portage trail; McCargoe Cove to West Chickenbone Lake 2.9

Indian Portage Trail; West Chickenbone Lake to Lake Richie 3.4

Lake Richie Trail; Lake Richie to Moskey Basin 2.1

Lake Richie Trail to Moskey Basin campsite .2

that adds up to 15.3

We hiked the same route our second to last day on our last trip there. It's a doable hike, especially since you're working your way up milege wise.

My main reason for logging on this thread was to tell you guys the showers at Rock Harbor close 9-5. =(”

“Thanks for the info, Sass. Suddenly 15 miles doesn't seem so bad. :) And about the showers, are you saying they are closed 9 pm to 5 am? I'm a little confused.”

“I agree w/ Sass. My map shows just around 15. And, if I recall, there's a little shortcut just before you get to camp at McCargoe Cove that allows you to skip the cg, and a few tenths of a mile, and hike right to the Indian Portage Trail.

I did that stretch with terrible blisters and while wearing my Tevas and didn't find it to be too difficult. Just slow going cause of my feet. But the terrain isn't too bad.

Enjoy yourselves. The Minong Ridge Trail was amazing!”

“No, they close for the season September 5th. =(

Hey, did that box find it's way to you? Something else coming for the guys (an envelope) soon.”

“Sass, I'm so sorry. I thought I emailed you. Actually, now that I think about it, maybe I posted on a "Hey Sass" thread. (?) But yes. The box came. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am going to use the pants next week. And the boots are going to be a good back up pair. Thank you so much!!!!

I owe you!”

“The weather is looking good so far.

I was getting excited about the 17 mile predictions for Todd Harbor to Moskey Basin. Giddy Up!

Prosecutor's suggestion is good. If you don't have a lightweight solo tent, consider speaking up. I'm just taking a tarp.”

“Some pretty cool photos of the Isle here.”

“Ruby, you owe me nothing! I'm just glad those damn boots will have a loving home now, lol. I haven't been as dilligent with TT as usual, just musta missed the thread. No appologies necessary, I just wanted to make sure I didn't send them to some stranger accidentally or something.”

“WOW! Great photos. I wished I was going with you guys.”

“I like these photos better:

http://community.webshots.com/album/168723697mrnCGz”

“Nice photos prosecutor!”

“Is someone gonna bring their MSR whisperlite on the hike? And If so, could I borrow it only in the evenings to cook up a meal and then bake a bread. I'll bring my own fuel.”

“Whisperlite? Too heavy -- I'm going soda can all the way...”

“?? What would be far out?”

“yup, whisperlite ain't all that light, but it is what I am use to working with. I've also got a pepsi-G, but not sure if my fuel supply will hold out.

It would be "far out" if someone was going to bring a whisperlite. I am working on cutting my pack weight. To do that many miles in a day is gonna be rough on this goat. Cameras and accessories ya know.”