Minong Trail East to West - August 14-20, 2004
Written by: Ed Heath
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We had a great time & I think we have finally cured ourselves of having to make long hikes.  I had 3 long days (15.4, 11.2 & 12.9).  Drew only had 2 long days (15.4 & 23.0!)  In retrospect, when you hike that far you are too tired to enjoy the scenery.  Next trip will be the Feldman, one campsite at a time.  The wildlife is supposed to be the good there and the views are excellent.  We plan to skip next year and come back the year after with both my son and daughter who will be 11 then.
 
The Minong was a very diverse trail.  Rock ridges, steep hills, swamps, lakes & deep forest.  One moment you are sweating over an impossible rock trail and 15 minutes later you are crossing a beaver dam (Some trail).  It was definitely more challenging than the Greenstone.
 
We were blessed with perfect weather on the trail.  It only rained when we were on a boat or in a shelter.
 
8-14-04 Saturday 15.4 Miles
Copper Harbor to Rock Harbor to McCargo Cove.
 
12:38pm Rock Harbor - Unload from the queen and 15 minute orientation.
1:30PM on the trail.  65 and sunny.
I dropped the tent on the trail and had to walk back to it.  Fortunately for me I also dropped our trip plan so the hikers that found it knew were we were going and had picked it up.  I ran into them after a short distance.  Saved me a bunch of time.
4:00pm rested at Mt. Franklin elevation 1,800'.  Drew talked me into skipping Chicken Bone and heading to McCargo Cove.  The sites weren't very nice at Chickenbone and the water was a long walk off.
The trail from Chickenbone to McCargo was quite primitive.  A lot more moving around natural obstacles (nothing compared to the Minong as I later found out).  We really aren't in that bad shape considering how far we walked in a short time.  By walking further today, we have a shorter hike tomorrow.
8:45pm arrived at MC.
We won't start super early tomorrow, but we do want to get a decent start, hopefully 9:00am.
 
8-15-04 Sunday 6.6 miles
McCargo Cove to Todd Harbor

Hit trail at 11:00am.  64 degrees 89%Humidity.
Decided to stay at Todd Harbor.  Plan B is looking good.  The trail was a lot tougher than we had expected and we probably won't loop the island.
3:00pm into camp.
Group 1 campsite has a nice access to Superior.  Drew and I did our obligatory Superior Swim then sat in the sun for quite a while.
 
8-16-04 Monday 11.2 miles Dad.  23.0 miles for Drew
Dad - McCargo to Todd to Desor North
Drew - McCargo to Todd to Desor North to Washington Creek
 
7:00 am up.  Got drew up at 7:15.
8:30 left camp.
11:15 pumped water on a steam we had to cross on some logs.  The trail was a lot easier than yesterday to Little Todd.  We really didn't need water but since I'm not sure how far we are going today, I figured it's better to be safe than sorry. The leg between Little Todd and Desor looks pretty dry.
11:40 Made Todd Jr junction and taking a break.
It was overcast all day and sprinkled a little before we left camp.  Sun came out at noon figures just before we hit the ridge.
3:00pm - Hit marker for Lake Desor North.  Drew wants to continue on to Windigo but I cannot.  Drew and I split up.  He took the tent floor as an emergency shelter, rope, duct tape and all the water (he still will be short).  I figure worst case, he spends a cold wet night.  Best case, a huge success story.  People that never fail never push their limits.
3:30pm I get into camp.  I had to pump right away as Drew had all the water.
It started to rain (poor Drew!), but only sprinkled for a short period (lucky Drew).
I set my alarm early (5:00am) and want to hit the trail by 6:00am.  I am pretty sure Drew is going to be OK, but I'm still worried.
 
8-17-04 Tuesday Dad 12.9 miles, Drew 0
North Desor to Washington Creek

Up at 5:00am as planned but didn't get out till 6:20am, as it wasn't light yet.
Everything is misty and pretty, but everything is wet and slippery.
Trail was very diverse.  Hills, swamps, 2 beaver dams to cross others to look at.  A lot of water crossings that were very tricky.  Some had planks but most just had logs dropped length wise to shuffle across.  Very slippery.
12:00pm made it to Washington Creek.  I made pretty good time considering the condition of the trail.  I found Drew in just about the condition I expected.  Sleeping in a shelter surrounded by empty food wrappers.
Drew's trip was much like mine expect he did it ½ hour faster.  He ran out of water 1.5 miles out of camp.  The trail was dry for him but wet for me.
 
8-18-04 Wednesday
Boat to Rock Harbor

Looks like rain today & tomorrow.  Any enthusiasium for walking back to Rock Harbor is gone with the weather.  We decided to take the voyager back instead.
We showered again and bought lunch and Dramamine.
11:30 voyager leaves.  Crew says they never had so many sick people as today.  Good thing we took Dramamine.
 
8-19-04 Thursday
Rock Harbor

Didn't rain last night.  We tagged a shelter in case it looks ugly tonight.  Both Drew and I would rather sleep in a tent if it's dry since it is warmer.
There is a frost warning again tonight.
 
8-20-04 Friday
Queen back to Copper Harbor

Written by: Ed Heath (C)Copyright 2004