Come Prepared for Mother Nature

I wanted to highlight this statement that Jay Brasher currently has posted with one of his wonderful Isle Royale photos. This statement is so very true of hiking and camping (in general) and especially on Isle Royale. On Isle Royale, weather can greatly impact your experience. So, plan and pack accordingly.

In any month that the park is open, you may wake up in the morning to temperatures in the high 20s or low 30s (and very windy). By afternoon, you could be hiking (on an open and exposed ridge) under the blazing sun --with temperatures in the upper 70s to upper 80s. (And, you may be consuming more water than you ever anticipated). By dinner time, a 2-3 day rainstorm may have settled in over the whole Island. Tomorrow, you may encounter severe lightning (when you planned to spend much of the day hiking on an exposed ridge with metal hiking poles in your hands). Plan for--and be prepared for-- all of this (and more).

"Mother Nature doesn't care in the least what your plan is for the day".

People may ask, "What is the weather going to be like tomorrow on Isle Royale?". Well, there isn't necessarily just one weather experience for the whole Island. Think of Rock Harbor and Windigo as being two "towns" located 30-40 miles apart. Even in our normal lives (on the mainland)--two towns (located 30-40 miles apart) can sometimes have very different weather. On Isle Royale, temperatures (and weather) can vary greatly from a location down by the Lake Superior shoreline and another location on an open ridge (or in a shaded, wooded, area in the middle of the Island). The weather can be different in different places on Isle Royale.

On Isle Royale, on any trip (during any month) come prepared to encounter almost any weather possibility. Realize that your hiking (and transportation) plans may be altered by heavy rain, fog, high winds, or lightning. Know that the weather can be very unpredictable and can change with little advance notice. Pack--and plan--accordingly.
As Jay Brasher wrote: "Mother Nature doesn't care in the least what your plan is for the day".