|
I saw some great advice today. I want to share it and slightly expand upon it.
1) Don't be overly concerned about whether there will be a few bugs--or many bugs. Always come prepared for many bugs--and enjoy. 2) Don't worry about what the temperatures will be. Always come prepared to deal with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to upper 80s....and then enjoy. 3) Don't worry about when it will be the rainiest or the driest. It will rain as little (or as much) as it is going to rain during your trip. Always come prepared to camp and hike in very heavy rains. Then--enjoy! 4) Don't worry about finding the "best" campsite and avoiding the "worst" campsite. Go to whatever campsite fits your "schedule" and your wishes---and enjoy whatever you find there. (This IS Isle Royale--even a "bad" campsite on Isle Royale is a great place to be!). 5) Don't worry about where you will see the most moose. The moose are free to go wherever they wish--and they typically DO go wherever they wish. Just walk and behave quietly. Keep your eyes and ears open. Stay alert--and enjoy whatever you encounter (whether it is moose--or not). The important thing is--ENJOY! 6) Don't try to hike so far, so fast, and see so much of the Island in one trip-- that you actually fail to truly appreciate and enjoy the parts of the island that you DO encounter. 7) Don't worry about having the best shoes, best boots, best tent, best backpack--or the best of anything. Pick whatever works FOR YOU--and go forth and ENJOY! It is easy to devote so much time to trying to have the BEST hike, the BEST camping spot, the BEST weather, hiking the BEST trails, kayaking the BEST lakes, obtaining the BEST mileage, seeing the BEST sites/sights -- and capturing the BEST photos --that one can fail to enjoy the experience while it is happening.
0 Comments
Just an observation. A couple of years ago, nearly "everyone" seemed to be recommending going to Lane Cove at some point in your trip (if you were arriving and departing from Rock Harbor). Now, it seems to be Moskey Basin is the campground that nearly "everyone" recommends.
Two things to note: 1) It seems that the "must-see" campground changes periodically. (How often do you see people in 2021 recommending Lane Cove?). 2) When you go to any of the "must-see" places mentioned in Facebook groups, there is a good chance that you will encounter a "crowd" because "all of the really cool kids" are now going there. I would invite people to be creative when they develop their itineraries. A) Use water taxis and the Voyager to drop you off at places other than Windigo and Rock Harbor. B) Hike "different" routes than "the crowd". C) Hike slightly longer distances each day and get to different places than the 5 or 6 most often visited campgrounds. D) Stay on the Island for more days and get to other places on the Island. E) Consider hiking on the Windigo (Western) end of the Island--and visit places other than Huginnin Cove and Washington Creek. F) If you choose to cross the Island--deviate from strictly following the Greenstone Ridge Trail -and go to places other than S. Desor, Hatchet Lake, and W. Chickenbone. G) If you have the experience and skills--consider getting a cross country permit and staying at places other than the established campgrounds. H) Travel by kayak or canoe (or other watercraft) and go to places where most other people do not go. |
Author
Jon Prain ("The Isle Royale Guy") has made 18 trips to Isle Royale. He shares his insights and opinions in this blog. Archives
March 2024
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed