Isle Royale

“What are your experiences with Isle Royale? I am from Chicago area and usually travel west for my week long trip each year but have had 3 different people recomend the Isle to me over the past year. I can't say I'm crazy about the cost of the ferry or the time it takes to get to the Isle. What are the experiences you have had and how long should I give myself on the Isle. Please recomend specific routes sites to visit as I do have to Topo map for the Isle. Also the NPS says June and July are bad mesquito months, other than that anyone recomend a great time to go as I am flexible to that part.”

“Do a search here. There are a number of strings about the Isle, and we were talking about several trails.”

“DADA,
I and a group of others from here were just there in September. I loved going then. No bugs. It was a little chilly, but I prefer that. It's a great destination. Go with a group so that the journey there becomes part of the trip itself. That's what we did. It was a great trip. Look for the thread entitled "Moose-a-palooza"”

“Forget the cost of the ferry -- it's sooo worth it. I traveled over there this past fall all the way from New Jersey. It was definitely the trip of the year, hands down.

Here, check out my pictures.”

“Oh, and don't forget to bring some Dramamine for the boat ride. We got lucky with an unusually clam lake on the way over there.

But the lake more than made up for that on the way back...”

“The park also charges a $4-per-person-per-day usage fee, which is collected upon arrival when you submit your itenerary. Once again though, this is still a more-than-modest fee for what is "critically renowned" to be one of the best backpacking experiences in the Midwest, if not the best.

EDIT:
Actually, I think the crew of the boat collected it for the rangers just before we got to rock harbor.
last edited: 1/08/05 4:48:45 PM”

“Here's a link to the trip I organized up there this past September.

A special thanks goes out to Crash Bang, who provided me with the trip name, original idea, and initial audience for it.”

“unusually clam lake???
You see a lot of clams did ya?
lmao
I have to agree with ya tho...it is DEFINITELY worth every penny!!
last edited: 1/08/05 5:35:05 PM”

“btw, the word "Moose-a-palooza" was my invention. you all owe me 2 cents for each and every use of the word in a sentence
last edited: 1/08/05 5:36:12 PM”

“DADA, the ferry fee and usage charges on paper may seem steep but after your trip you'll forget what those costs were. I have been 5 times from 6-9 days each and it a memorable place.

June is buggy but less people. August is nice but there are more hikers and the thimbleberries are ripe.

The minong ridge is GREAT. Get outta the east/northeast side fast and you'll have more privacy. The feldtmann loop is amazing too.

If you have any specific questions, email me. My email is in my profile.”

“Right, I'll send you a check for Monopoly money right away.”

“The guy must enjoy living on the edge. Ya give him a little credit and limelight and does he take a modest bow? No! He wants cash!”

“cash is always better than accolades : )”

“Phanton Soul you took some great shots there.. maybe one day I'll head up that way and check this place out.”

“Oh it's an awesome place. Most of us here on the east coast, myself included, are big "mountains" fans, which Michigan doesn't have a lot of. Isle Royale however, definitely holds its own though. The only place on the east coast that I can think of that even remotely similar is maybe Maine. But even then, Isle Royale is far more remote than Maine, as Maine is just too easily accessible to large population centers like Boston and New York.
last edited: 1/08/05 9:18:16 PM”

“I've done more than my fair share of deserts and some hiking in the northwest but none in the midwest... I guess I need to broaden my horizons huh?”

“

"cash is always better than accolades : )"
crash bang

I think you should have taken the accolades! You stated,

"btw, the word 'Moose-a-palooza' was my invention."
crash bang

Not quite! Plagiarism is taking someone's words or ideas as if they were your own. I'm viewing the idea of the title "Moose-a-palooza" as an idea taken from "montanapalooza 2002." My attorney will be contacting you soon.

LOL”

“LOL you guys never cease to amaze me!”

“Picture remote lakes, endless boreal forests, Northern Lights at night, wolves howling, moose... That's what hiking the upper midwest is like.

...dang, makes me want to go back there again...”

“Plus, don't forget this call.”

“Oh yeah, the loons! How could I be so forgetful? I guess they just kind of become part of the background ambiance of the place...”

“hey i didnt say it was an exceedingly clever invention : D”

“The loons calling rocked.

PS, looking at your photos again takes me back. Such a great trip.

What would I change? Hmm...8 ft waves on the way back made it tough to play cards, or to do anything else but hold on for that matter.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat.”

“So would I. Just post a trip, and I will do anything in my power to make it.

Yeah, this thread definitely brought back some memories. I re-read that book of a trip report that I wrote, and it was like reliving the entire experience again. Come to think of it, I really did an all-out job on that trip report. Perhaps I should submit it for the trails section of the site...”

“LOL @ crash bang.”

“PhantomSoul - Enjoyed your pictures. Thanks.”

“My piece of advice: Make sure you don't get too many blisters.

Oh, and watch where you go when walking on the trail to avoid walking into moose. They don't appreciate that so much. lol”

“I want to hear a loon. that was awesome”

“One of my very favorite hikes. The ferry and time do seem like a bit... but, like birch said, you'll forget about it as soon as you're on the island.

We were there in late Aug. And, as he also mentioned, kept away from the more crowded sections. Most nights, we had camps to ourselves (Minong Ridge and Feldtmann Loop)
Enjoy!!”

“PS, I went thru ur pics, very nice”

“hey i've never been up there and i live in michigan. i have always wanted to go. if anyone plans a trip this year, i would like to meet you up there.”

“If it weren't for the ferry and the distance, there'd be too many people. I'm glad it's hard to get to. Keeps those that aren't worthy at home. However, I did see a few that were marginal on my trip.

Go in September. The moose rut is on and the crowds have thinned.”

“what is the minimum length of trip you'd recommend if going to Isle Royale? Is it worth going for a long weekend (3 or 4 days on the island)? Its something Thinkbubelz and I want to do someday in the future.... but we think we may need some more backpacking under our belts before we attempt it.

BTW-- I don't like dramamine at all because it makes me so drowsy!

I find that taking bonine as well as eating candied (crystalized) ginger and ginger candies (they must be made with ginger, not just ginger flavoring) seems to keep my stomach from getting seasick. Used to get seasick every time I was on a boat, but during our Alaska trip, the Bonine and ginger kept my stomach calm.... AND... NO Drowsiness!”

“Pink - IR was my first BP trip, though I went with a couple of friends who had backpacked before. They certainly didn't have top of the line gear, or light packs like the rest of the MMers seem to be so good at. But, if you take a few weekend trips, I think you'd be OK on IR.

We took Bonine on the boat over there - I had never heard of it before that trip. Was good stuff!”

“Minimum - 4 days. To see the Island as it should be seen, you really need a week to 10 days. IMHO There are just so many great hikes.”

“I agree with Dhutch. There are some tough, rugged trail there so make sure your knees and feet are ready.”