This website and Jon Prain ("The Isle Royale Guy") are not in any way affiliated with Isle Royale National Park nor with the National Park Service. Always refer to official National Park Service websites and NPS documents for the latest and best OFFICIAL Isle Royale and NPS information. (CLICK HERE)
"Hey, aren't you the Isle Royale guy from the Facebook group?"
I never dreamed that I would one day become a VERY small-time online "social influencer" ---but it happened in 2021 --just a few months shy of my 60th birthday. I tend to comment a great deal (probably too much) in a particular Isle Royale Facebook group ("Isle Royale National Park Community". It is administered by Jenny Knuth and it has over 18,300 members). Some people like my online comments and advice. Other's dislike what I write. Most people don't care one way or the other. However, my frequent social media comments (and my Facebook profile picture being attached to those comments) apparently lifted me up from the realm of relative anonymity. In short, people began to recognize me. I was on Isle Royale for a 16 day hiking trip in August 2021. Nearly every day, a few different people would come up to me and say something along the lines of -- "Hey, aren't you the Isle Royale guy from the Facebook group?" (or "Aren't you Jon from the Facebook group"?). A few of them asked me to pose for selfies. Two people asked for my autograph. A similar thing happened on my 2022 Isle Royale hike. For a guy who is now age 61--and who likes to hike solo--the attention, the selfies, and the autographs were all very surreal. However, it is where I came up with the name for this website --"The Isle Royale Guy". I have also had several people suggest that I write an Isle Royale book or create an Isle Royale website. So, here's that website. I expect the contents of this site to grow as I create more new material--and as I go back and upload some of my older stuff. A little bit more about me. I am a Northern Wisconsin native who has been "living in exile" in the extreme flat lands of rural West Central Illinois for over 34 years. Dating, marriage, and employment opportunities will cause a person to do strange things ... including move to a very flat place in Illinois. I am married and have two adult children. Neither my wife--nor the children--particularly like wilderness activities. Their idea of "roughing it" is if the hotel room has bad air conditioning and/or no hot tub. I have been the pastor of a small congregation here in Illinois since 1991. I also spent nearly 13 years as a chaplain and officer in the Illinois Army National Guard. I was given my first backpack at age nine (53 years ago). I was in Scouting for roughly 45 years--both as a youth and as an adult leader. I am an Eagle Scout and a member of the Vigil Honor (in the Order of the Arrow) in Scouting. As a Scout and leader, I went hiking at Philmont twice and canoeing in the Boundary Waters twice. In addition to being the pastor of a congregation, in my "free time" I am also a "monk" in a Protestant religious order. Thus, when I am alone on Isle Royale, I tend to spend a lot of time in prayer and in other spiritual disciplines. (If you see me just staring off into space--or, mumbling, or chanting incoherently ... there is probably no need to be alarmed. I am probably just in prayer and not having a seizure--LOL.) I have hiked in the Rockies, the Smokies, North Cascade, Grand Teton and Yellowstone, parts of the Appalachian Trail, and parts of the Pacific Crest Trail, Ice Age Trail, Superior Hiking Trail, the Alps in Germany, the hills and bogs in Ireland, and many other places. As of 2023, I have been to Isle Royale 19 times--18 times hiking and once via canoe. Most of my Isle Royale trips have tended to be 8-17 days long. I have hiked every mile of the Isle Royale trails at least three times. I have hiked most sections of trail many more times than that. I have stayed overnight at all of the trail-accessible campgrounds and at some of the campgrounds that are accessible primarily only by water. You now know a little bit more about "The Isle Royale Guy" who will be handing out advice and sharing Isle Royale links on this website. Happy trails and happy waterways! 
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ABOUT THIS WEBSITE
I have several goals for this website:
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS
Jon Prain ("The Isle Royale Guy") is not a trained or professional trip planner or outdoor guide. HE IS NOT IN ANYWAY WHATSOEVER AFFILIATED WITH ISLE ROYALE NATIONAL PARK NOR THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. He is just a person who has been to Isle Royale many times and who tries to share what he has learned with other people in an attempt to be helpful. He accepts no money or compensation for the advice that he provides.
Jon Prain cannot possibly know (nor accurately assess) each person's skills, experience level, and physical health. Therefore, Jon Prain assumes no responsibility for the advice that he provides and the decisions that people willingly choose to make based upon that advice. Each person must assume full responsibility for the decisions that they choose to make. Isle Royale National Park is a remote wilderness area located on a group of islands in Lake Superior. Isle Royale has very limited boat and seaplane access. and no motor vehicle access. There is essentially no cellphone service available anywhere on Isle Royale. Thus, help or rescue can sometimes be hours (or days) away. Often, the closest place to physically go to even request help may be located many miles away. Therefore, every person must carefully weigh all decisions that they make regarding their Isle Royale trips and the activities that they engage in while at Isle Royale. Each person must carefully (and honestly) decide whether they have the necessary skills, experience, physical conditioning, and overall health to engage in such trips and activities. If you have doubts, always err on the side of caution and safety. In short... Be smart. Be safe. Be cautious. Don't take foolish risks. |