I will drop this here as it might inspire some folks to plan a trip there. I am ready and willing to be a contact if you have any questions.

Isle Royale

Thanks for sharing. I might have to make it up there some time.

Hex

Enjoyed your report MT.
I need to get there sometime. My wife and her family have been there a few times diving the ship wrecks.
Question, are there bears on Isle Royal?

quote LindenTree3: "Enjoyed your report MT.
I need to get there sometime. My wife and her family have been there a few times diving the ship wrecks.
Question, are there bears on Isle Royal?"

No bears.

The diving there has a following. The incredibly clear water, I assume, would provide an experience like no other and the cold water tends to preserve the wrecks. I seen some of the Dive boats and divers at the dock at Windigo. Specialized gear and experience for sure.

I couldn't help but notice the irony aboard the Voyager 2 water taxi service I used. They have that common saying on a sign that was hanging on board "The worst day on the water is better than the best day at work"............But immediately juxtaposed right next to the sign they had numerous pictures of sunken wrecks taken by divers.

Um, excuse me (hand raised ;-)

MT,

What make/model of boat were you paddling?

Thanks

quote rdgbwca: "MT,


What make/model of boat were you paddling?


Thanks"

That was a Superior Expedition made by Scott Smith in Michigan. He used to build / help build the famed Sea winds (designed by the legend Verlen Kruger). Scotts design was a bit more rounded racing style hull and in his words "I wanted to be able to stuff a full sized deer into the hull". Otherwise, in many respects they are similar.

I wanted a boat to paddle in the Ten thousand islands (Everglades National Park) and figured my little Bell solo was inadequate for some of the outside ocean travel I wanted to do. I looked into the Sea Winds and they were out of my price range but Scott had the Expeditions at almost 1/2 of what a Sea Wind cost so I didn't have to think to long and figured the price was only going up. I hurried up and placed a deposit on the boat and then asked my wife for forgiveness. (Funny story > she came home, I sat her down and said "I bought something". She looked at me in the eyes for 5 seconds and said "You bought a boat". I wish I was that smart ;-)

I had to wait a long time (telling him I was in no hurry did not expedite the process). I do not know if he is still in the boat building business or not. Water Tribe forum, who is into canoe racing quite a bit, would know as the Expedition was entered into the Everglades Challenge several times which is an endurance race around the peninsula of Florida (now THAT may interest Beav).

I just want to catch a few big Snook and have some margin for error when in the surf ;-)

At the end of my trip I got to watch a trio which were really good. I think they are from the Minneapolis area. I would definitely check them out.

The Last Revel

Glad you heeded the call. Sounds like a great destination and someday will surely find me out there. Thanks for a look into what to expect.

Great report! Were the shelters first come first serve or up for everyone or what?

Been there a few times, last year we hiked it end to end

quote ISRO: "Been there a few times, last year we hiked it end to end"

Awesome, amongst the serious backpacking crowd the Greenstone ridge has national status and is a "must do".

Joe, when you check in they ask your itinerary and permit you specific campgrounds on specific dates. The shelters are not available in the interior and are only at perhaps 75% of Lake Superior shoreside sites. Max stay at any campground is three nights. The shelters are first come, first serve. August is considered somewhat "off season" and the visitors are winding down. I never pitched my tent the entire trip.

Beav it took a while to "heed the call" as once I get fixated on something I can be a bit hard headed. But reality has a peculiar way of inserting itself. We have paddled the interior lakes and the 5 finger region and that is a good option if one opts for an open canoe with either water taxi service or the 1 mile Greenstone ridge portage or a combination of doing both. Once I picked up the Expedition decked canoe however I had always envisioned a circumnavigation of the island. I wrestled with that briefly and once again reality won out. I may have the boat but I do not possess the skill set, at least not yet. Maybe some day.

masterangler- now you have me looking at Isle Royale maps and thinking....

superior canoes- I think they are no longer producing boats. This is what I've read and I couldn't find a website for them- so it may be true.

WaterTribe florida events you mentioned- yes it does interest me. I am a member of the WaterTribe and have completed the Everglades Challenge twice now and will be trying again this upcoming March. I too would love to do some fishing in the glades and keys, but that is not possible during the adventure race. It's tough to not wet a line but I've gotten used to it.

quote BeaV:
WaterTribe florida events you mentioned- yes it does interest me. I am a member of the WaterTribe and have completed the Everglades Challenge twice now and will be trying again this upcoming March.


"

Whoa Nellie! You are one fascinating fellow! That is quite the event. Us mere mortals enjoy following your exploits. Perhaps you could allow us to "follow along"? You will be able to hear the members of the BWCA cheering you onward!!

In any event you are more than welcome to stop at my place if you need a pit stop. I am 1 hour east of Ft Myers. I would offer to take you backcountry out of Everglades City but it is likely wishful thinking on my part. I am usually slammed until May. I picked up the Expedition some 7 or 8 years ago thinking I could get 10 days in to trip in the Glades once a year but so far it hasn't worked out for me. Maybe this year.

quote mastertangler: "

quote BeaV:
WaterTribe florida events you mentioned- yes it does interest me. I am a member of the WaterTribe and have completed the Everglades Challenge twice now and will be trying again this upcoming March.



"

Whoa Nellie! You are one fascinating fellow! That is quite the event. Us mere mortals enjoy following your exploits. Perhaps you could allow us to "follow along"? You will be able to hear the members of the BWCA cheering you onward!!


In any event you are more than welcome to stop at my place if you need a pit stop. I am 1 hour east of Ft Myers. I would offer to take you backcountry out of Everglades City but it is likely wishful thinking on my part. I am usually slammed until May. I picked up the Expedition some 7 or 8 years ago thinking I could get 10 days in to trip in the Glades once a year but so far it hasn't worked out for me. Maybe this year. "

I don't want to hijack your thread so I'll just say the Everglades Challenge starts March 3rd and you can definitely follow along- usually a thread will be started on this site or you can go direct to WaterTribe site and they have a shared tracking map that shows all boats on the same map- pretty cool.

Fishing along that route- the Florida Bay portion of the challenge is where I'd like to fish some day. That's some beautiful water to hang out in!

The shared tracking map sounds like it would be fun. I know there is a variety of categories in the Everglades Challenge and I am curious as to what you are paddling. Hopefully a thread will be started with some info and a WaterTribe link to the tracking map. I know its hard core with guys catching a few ZZZ's in the bottom of their boats before continuing on. I can only shake my head and grin ;-)

OK......wish you the best on the race as I am sure all the board does, thanks for weighing in on my trip.

Very cool report, nice pictures !

Looks like a nice, long trip. Thanks for sharing!

Bass Pro and QM, two of my favorites, glad you liked it.

I finally had a chance to read your report and I'm so glad I did. Thanks so much for covering so many details and experiences. I have no idea how we would approach it but I have a feeling that a trip to the big island is in our near future.

quote DeanL: "I finally had a chance to read your report and I'm so glad I did. Thanks so much for covering so many details and experiences. I have no idea how we would approach it but I have a feeling that a trip to the big island is in our near future. "

How cool is that ;-)

Lots of options for a trip Dean. For starters I suggest Dufrense book on Isle Royale which details hiking and paddling options. From the info I gleaned from that book we put together a paddling trip for open canoes which may interest you. You can read about that in my "digital scrapbook" as well. Click on 2013 and go to the March option. (Pretty sure we went in July but I was a bit slower putting things together). If I can help, you need but ask.

Thanks for the great lunchtime read! Brings back very fond memories of my canoe trip there nearly 40 years ago. I was in HS and went with my dad in our 18' Alumacraft. We probably stayed in some of the same shelters you did.

We ventured out onto the big lake a couple times when it was safe to do so. Caught a bunch of small lake trout and a couple decent salmon flat-line trolling Loco spoons. We never found the big pike in the bays.

We had dead flat seas on our way out, so we paddled around Blake Point rather than portaging up and over to get to Rock Harbor. Very cool to see that desolate point, but I'm not sure I would make the same decision today. Any wind or waves that came up could easily be fatal; that shoreline is jagged! We surfed the canoe on an ore boat wake for more than a mile.

Rpike the fishing is sort of different than what one comes to expect in BWCA or the Quetico, particularly in Lake Superior where my last venture to the big island took place.

The learning curve there might be a little steeper at times than with other fisheries. On the other hand, if your on the location then it becomes rather easy. There is, it seems, lots of water which harbor few if any fish. But then all of a sudden bingo and your into good fish. For me its a fun area because its challenging.

I fish quite a bit with my Dad but he never got into the whole canoeing or camping thing. That must be a good memory for you.

quote mastertangler:

I fish quite a bit with my Dad but he never got into the whole canoeing or camping thing. That must be a good memory for you. "

I caught my very first fish from a canoe below a rapids on the Granite River with my dad. It was a decent smallmouth; I was about six. I've been hooked since! (yes, pun intended) My dad guided in canoe country out of Gunflint Resort when he was in college. I had the very good fortune to paddle with him many times, sometimes 3x/year in the BWCAW as a kid and young adult. We also did one epic trip on the Bloodvein River in WCPP. Sadly, cancer took him at 52 and cut our trips short. Best memories I have from my childhood, bar none.

Wow, 52....... Thats gotta hurt. Sounds like you had a great relationship. If the rest of us can take anything away its briefly summed up in this....... redeem the time with your loved ones while you can.

quote rpike: "

quote mastertangler:


I fish quite a bit with my Dad but he never got into the whole canoeing or camping thing. That must be a good memory for you. "

I caught my very first fish from a canoe below a rapids on the Granite River with my dad. It was a decent smallmouth; I was about six. I've been hooked since! (yes, pun intended) My dad guided in canoe country out of Gunflint Resort when he was in college. I had the very good fortune to paddle with him many times, sometimes 3x/year in the BWCAW as a kid and young adult. We also did one epic trip on the Bloodvein River in WCPP. Sadly, cancer took him at 52 and cut our trips short. Best memories I have from my childhood, bar none."

sounds like great memories! if you don't mind me asking... which resort did your dad guide from and what years?

quote Mocha: "

quote rpike: "

quote mastertangler:



I fish quite a bit with my Dad but he never got into the whole canoeing or camping thing. That must be a good memory for you. "

I caught my very first fish from a canoe below a rapids on the Granite River with my dad. It was a decent smallmouth; I was about six. I've been hooked since! (yes, pun intended) My dad guided in canoe country out of Gunflint Resort when he was in college. I had the very good fortune to paddle with him many times, sometimes 3x/year in the BWCAW as a kid and young adult. We also did one epic trip on the Bloodvein River in WCPP. Sadly, cancer took him at 52 and cut our trips short. Best memories I have from my childhood, bar none."

sounds like great memories! if you don't mind me asking... which resort did your dad guide from and what years?"

He worked for Bruce and Sue Kerfoot at Gunflint Lodge. That would have been around 1962.