Melissa Hoffman  2004 Isle Royale Trip Log 

Friday, May 14th
Got up early, it is a one and a half hour trip from L'Anse to Copper Harbor. Excited to be on the first boat of the season. Kind of apprehensive about doing a solo hike, it will be a new experience for me. I was surprised there were so many on the boat. Took my dramamine as there were white caps on the lake. Boat ride wasn*t bad, slept off and on, cold in the cabin. Cold and rain outside all the way to Rock Harbor. Got into Rock Harbor late, around 1:00 p.m. Saw a moose on the ridge from the boat, looked tan instead of the dark brown I am used to. Had the low impact talk from the ranger, then filled out the itinerary form. Store not open, bathroom not open, shower not open, water not on. Glad that I had filled one of my water bottles at home so I didn*t have to pump water before I hit the trail. Misting out, not really a heavy rain. On the trail about 2:00 p.m. Took the Tobin Harbor trail I had heard so much about on the web site, it is excellent! Not much up and down, kind of like a walk in the park! Cold and rain, drizzle. Into Three Mile campground about 3:30 p.m. I am out of shape! Should have done more hiking...this 40# pack is heavy! Looked for a white kayak, hoping to meet up with Nick but unfortunately he isn't here. Settled into shelter #3, explored the shoreline, checked out the other sites, unpacked. Put up my rain poncho to block the wind. Forgot to put a big garbage bag in my pack as a water barrier and forgot to put one around my sleeping bag...thank goodness that nothing got wet! Pumped some water, put the stove together and made supper. Still no Nick, bad weather must have put him behind schedule. Thermometer says 40 but it seems colder out. Have on most of the clothes I brought with me, opened up a package of hand warmers and put them in my pocket, feels good to have warm fingers. Supposed to be warmer tomorrow, will head on out to Daisy Farm after lunch, don't think I am up to the Lookout Louise hike, maybe if I did a day hike from here it wouldn't be bad, but I do want to see Daisy Farm and I know I can't do that much with my heavy pack (up to Lookout Louise, Greenstone to Mount Ojibway and down to Daisy Farm seems impossible today!) Yahoo, it stopped raining! Walked around the campground to warm up, went down to the beach to check out the scenery. Back to the shelter to have a hot cocoa before bed. Saw 2 loons, a moose and the camp fox today.

Saturday, May 15th
Got up this morning and my nose was cold! Not raining, that is a plus.
Back in the sleeping bag until 9:00. Feeling lazy today, and it is warmer in there! Got up and made some coffee, ate my breakfast down by the lake on a log bench. Getting warmer out, feels good to sit in the sun. Packed up and headed out on the trail to Daisy Farm around 11:30. Decided to spend the night at Daisy Farm and then hike back to Rock Harbor tomorrow. It will be a long hike but want to get a shelter for the night at Rock Harbor if it is going to rain as predicted on Monday. Don't want to have to hike in the rain if I can help it. In to Daisy Farm at 1:30, made good time. Getting used to the weight of the pack. Settled into Shelter #12 and then took a walk around, ate lunch at one of the pavilion tables. Sun shining and warmer out now. Met up with a hiker from Indiana that was on the boat, just starting up the Greenstone, he is hiking to Windigo and back before he takes the boat back out next Friday. Said that he had to dry his things out last night in Three Mile, everything was soaked. Guess I wasn*t in such bad shape as I thought! Walked along the beach here, this is my favorite spot! Filtered some water, met the camp fox. Sat at the picnic table and read part of my book. My back is a little sore, don*t know if it is from hiking, the pack or sleeping on the floor. This getting old is not so good, will take some Tylenol and see if that helps! Met the gentleman in the next shelter. Answered all of his questions about us Yoopers, did a little yooper talk for him, talked about pasty*s. Took a walk down to the lake. Met up with some more people that I had met on the boat. They set up at Daisy Farm and do day hikes from here. Saw two moose, one male with small horns that looked black and white, one female that looked beige and gray, not dark brown fur that I am used to...of course, no camera! Ben took some pictures with his camera so hope that they turn out for him. Chatted for awhile and back to the shelter at 10:00. Time to make some supper and a warm drink. Took more tylenol and off to bed. Slept off and on, cold again tonight.

Sunday, May 16th
Up this morning early again, potty break and back in the bag....brrr....nights sure are cold!
Figured I would leave around noon today, good thing as I was sitting at the table having a cup of tea and it started to sprinkle. Quit for awhile but still gray skies out. Chatted with Ben for a few minutes, then started to rain again. Put everything into the shelter and started to pack up, am hoping to get out of here today. Sky cleared up around 11:30a.m., pumped water, finished packing up and on the trail at 12:30 p.m.. Got to the Tobin Harbor/Three Mile marker a little after 2:00, making good time, tired but am going to push on to Rock Harbor then I can relax tonight and tomorrow. The trail from Daisy Farm was wet, had to watch my footing on the rocks and roots. I just love the Tobin Harbor trail! Got into Rock Harbor at 3:30. Sore and tired, too long a hike for the third day, I have to remember I am on old lady now! Settled into Shelter #6, someone has put the picnic table in the shelter, I am soooo happy! A place to put all of my stuff and I can cook on the table and not on the floor! Walked around for awhile, it seems strange that nothing is open...the pop machine isn*t even out yet. Went down and pumped water, made supper. The camp fox came by, took a few pictures, hope they turn out! Took my book out to the America dock and read in the sunshine for an hour, then it starting to cool off...back to the shelter for more clothes, then took a walk to the seaplane dock. Took more pictures. Back to the shelter for a hot drink, more tylenol and off to bed. Hard to believe that three days are over already and tomorrow I have to go home. Solo trip wasn't bad, thinking I will come back for another long weekend in the Fall, haven't been here at that time of year.

Monday, May 17th
Woke up and it's raining!! Went down to the dock after breakfast, talked to the Ranger for awhile. He remembered seeing me talking to Nick when they came into Rock Harbor on Saturday, happy to know that he is all right and just behind schedule. Walked around the campground, walked around the Lodge as I have never went back to see what it looked like by the lake side. (Once in a while you just gotta see how the other half lives!) Back to the shelter to pack up. Still raining. Down to the office to await the boat. Thinking about a nice hot shower when I get home, clean clothes and my own bed! Will really appreciate all those things a lot better after this. Boat comes in and I look at all of the new people that are going to enjoy the island so much...you can tell the first timers by the new boots and clothes. Also felt sorry for the man that was green from the boat ride....time for me to take the dramamine! On the boat at 2:00 p.m., the adventure almost over. Fairly smooth boat ride back, thank God I have never been sick on the boat. All in all a good trip. Will hope that I can talk a few others into going in the Fall with me, share the load and experience Isle Royale.....has anyone ever found the secret to why it always calls us back?

(C)Copyright 2004