30 July 2024
Ever since I learned about Isle Royale, I’ve wanted to hike across it, so last fall when we picked up a National Park Pass for our East Coast Roadtrip, I decided this would be the time to finally make my hiking trip happen.
I’ve been doing practice hikes all summer, with the goal of gradually increasing my pack weight and distance, but the weather didn’t really cooperate- the amount of rain we’ve gotten this year limited how much I was able to get out (though there’s a very good chance it’ll rain on my Isle Royale trip and I’ll have to hike through it regardless).
Before I knew it, the end of July arrived and it was time to see if my limited training was enough!
I’m always curious to see other people’s load outs, so here’s what’s all in my pack:
1 – Pack: Osprey Lumina 45
2 – Tent: Slingfin Portal 2p
3 – First Aid Kit / Toiletries
4 – Quilt: Hammock Gear Burrow 0°
5 – Pad: Exped HL Downmat Winter MW (+ schnozzle bag for inflating/storing sleep system during the day)
6 – Pillow: Outdoor Vitals UL
7 – Sleep clothes: Cotopaxi Liso top, Under Armour 2.0 leggings, Smartwool full cushion socks
8 – Hiking clothes: Outdoor Research Echo sun hoodie, North Face pants, Wright Socks w/ built in liners x2, underwear x3, bra
9 – Rain jacket: Under Armour Forefront
10 – Poncho/tarp combo
11 – Head net: Sea to Summit
12 – Bandana/sunglasses
13 – Camera: Sony RX10iv
14 – Phone: iPhone 13 mini
15 – Printed maps for each hike (with a crossword puzzle printed on the back for downtime at camp)
16 – Wallet w/ ID, Nat’l Park Pass, credit/debit cards, insurance card and cash
17 – Garmin InReach Explorer+ (borrowed from a buddy – thanks Turner!)
18 – Battery bank: Anker 10000 + cables, spare camera batteries, spare headlamp batteries
19 – Headlamp
20 – Water system: Sawyer mini + 2L CNOC pouch (not pictured: two 1L bottles)
21 – Bathroom kit: Trowel, TP, soap
22 – Sitpad: Thermarest Z-Seat
23 – Trekking pole
24 – Kitchen: Olicamp 700mL mug, Ti spoon, 100g fuel canister, Olicamp Ion Micro stove (+ small piece of aluminum foil for windscreen/pot cover)
25 – FOOD! Breakfast x8 (oatmeal), Lunch x9 (peanut butter crackers, granola bars and fruit strips), Dinner x8 (various dehydrated meals repackaged into ziplock baggies) plus a couple candy bars and powdered gatorade packets. Not pictured: odor proof bags x2
Until now, I hadn’t actually packed all my gear into my bag. Probably something I should have tried sooner, but I knew I could fit most everything into my travel backpack and that’s only 40L, so I was reasonably confident I could make it all fit, but food takes up a lot of space! and is heavy! My pack’s starting weight, including 2L of water, is 32 lbs. A bit heavier than I was shooting for. Good luck me!
Today is mostly a driving day- it’s about a 5 hour drive up to Grand Portage, where my boat will be leaving from, and since that’s not a drive I’d like to make the morning of, I booked a hotel and will drive up a day early.
Unfortunately, about an hour into my drive I hit this angry cloud:
And it rained (and hailed at one point!) for most of my drive, which meant I missed out on the awesome views of the north shore:
Fortunately, the rain had tapered off by the time I got to Grand Portage and, since my hotel room wasn’t quite ready yet, I decided to do a bit of exploring:
and hiking!
Just before the Canadian board is Grand Portage State Park- it’s free to visit and has waterfalls- I’m in!
The visitor’s center has signs with animals in English and Ojibwe since this area is Anishinaabe land:
Boardwalk at the start of the trail:
Across the river is Canada!
High Falls:
High Falls from a higher vantage point:
This portion of the trail was short- only about 1/2 mile out to the falls; there’s a longer trail that takes you out to a second waterfall, but at this point the sun had come out and it was getting warm (and the short portion of the extended trail I did hike was super buggy), so I called it a day and headed back:
This guy made quite the ruckus:
Hairy woodpecker:
By the time I got back to the hotel, my room was ready. I turned on the Olympics for a bit (the only time I watched this year’s games!) and called it an early night. Tomorrow will be an early morning!