Isle Royal

[OCDave]

Sounds like a great trip! Our itinerary was very similar in reverse, we went:

Day 1) Windigo- 8 miles into backcountry permit site
Day 2) Backcountry site to Little Todd
Day 3) Little Todd to Todd Harbor
Day 4) Todd Harbor to Daisy Farm
Day 5) Daisy Farm to Rock Harbor

I would love to go back and checkout the Huggin Cove Trail, so would love to hear about the Huggin campsite.

We got a back country permit for between Lake Desor and Huggin Cove when we did the Minong Ridge. I even lugged an extra few liters of water but, We didn't find any place real appealing to get off the trail. How was your back-country site?

[OCDave]

Yeah we would just chill at Huggin for the day and wonder down to Washington Creek to hit the AM taxi whenever we felt.

Here is what we're thinking now. no 18.5 mile day, and no duplicate Daisy Farm night.

Option 4
9/21 Rock harbor to Daisy Farm - 7.1 miles
9/22 Daisy Farm to McCargo Cove - 8 miles
9/23 McCargo Cove to Little Todd - 12.7 miles
9/24 Little Todd Harbor to North Desor - 4.6 miles
9/25 North Desor to Huggin Cove - 12.7 Miles
9/26 Huggin to Windigo 4.6 (10AM water taxi) + McCargo then to Chippewa Harbor - 11 miles (15.6)
9/27 Chippewa Harbor to Three Mile - 14.3 miles
9/28 Three Mile to Rock Harbor for 2:45PM IRQ departure - 3 miles

From what i remember about south desor is there were plenty of places to hang, and plenty of opportunity to get smoked by a dead birch. We could hear them crashing down in the wind all night.

That looks like a great itinerary but days are shorter in September. Your 9/26 is ambitious. I suspect it will be dark before you get to Chippewa Harbor on 9/26. I guess a lot depends on how fast you can get from Windigo back to McCargo Cove.

Post back here when you finish and let us know how it turned out.

[Boudah]

true, days are shorter, if we're feeling like we're running out of time when we get to Lake Richie we can always bail to Moskey Basin and cut short a few miles. My original thought was to backcountry half way on that L.T. to Huggin leg.

[INhammockcamper]

we had a backcountry permit and camped near but far enough off the trail. I wouldn't say it was appealing, but it was fine. it was about 1/2 way between windigo and north desor. probably about 7-8 miles from windigo. our second day from there to little todd was the one that really challenged us.

[HomeMadeHiker]

Following...........

[daltonivy]

Well We wound up doing rock harbor to daisy farm, Daisy to McCargoe, McCargoe to Todd, Todd to little Todd, Little todd to North Desor, North Desor to Washington Creek. We had planned on the shorter days to enjoy some down time at camp. Unfortunately the wife sprained her ankle on day two. Her ankle pain coupled with the ruff terrain made for some slower days. All in all really enjoyed our time on the island. We found it to be both rugged and beautiful. My one and only complaint was having to struggle to find a camp sight at the locations with a dock. Was a bit discouraging to walk a long day only to find most of the camp sights taken by people who just walked off the boat.
All in all Cant wait to go back.

[Donk_67]

Well We wound up doing rock harbor to daisy farm, Daisy to McCargoe, McCargoe to Todd, Todd to little Todd, Little todd to North Desor, North Desor to Washington Creek. We had planned on the shorter days to enjoy some down time at camp. Unfortunately the wife sprained her ankle on day two. Her ankle pain coupled with the ruff terrain made for some slower days. All in all really enjoyed our time on the island. We found it to be both rugged and beautiful. My one and only complaint was having to struggle to find a camp sight at the locations with a dock. Was a bit discouraging to walk a long day only to find most of the camp sights taken by people who just walked off the boat.
All in all Cant wait to go back.

Bummer on the injury, but glad she was able to continue on.


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[INhammockcamper]

Glad you enjoyed your trip! Sorry about your wife's ankle sprain.