Isle Royale: Meal Planning

A big part of any backpacking trip is meal planning. I volunteered for this since I really wanted to keep the weight down as much as possible. The other guys were happy to let me do this. I surveyed everyone to determine any food allergies, as well as their individual hot button issues, like what's more important to you...tastiness, variety, ease of prep, weight etc. It was unanimous. Light weight and easy food was most important.

I kept it fairly simple. I researched a number of sites () and determined I should target a calorie intake of 3,000 to 4,000 calories per day. We were planning for some potentially arduous days portaging & kayaking/hiking across the island & I wanted to make sure we had adequate fuel in our food.

Our menu ended up being:
Breakfasts, either granola or oatmeal, with powdered milk added.
Snacks throughout the day were: pop tarts, granola bars, trail mix, jerkey, hard candy.
Lunches were: Logan bread squares and peanut butter.
Dinners were freeze dried meals for 3 nights, and ramen noodles with dry potatoes mixed in for 4 nights. Ideally we'd catch fish to replace as many ramen nights as possible.

Of course the snack foods could augment any and all meals as desired.

The amounts I chose of each of these items provided an estimated 3,500 cal/day. The cost came to a total of $176, or $44 per person. Total weight was approximately 45 pounds...or just over 11 pounds per person for 8 days. Not too bad.

Once we packed everything up, we made a last minute call that we didn't have enough jerkey...then I decided we needed more trail mix. This was a mistake. Your eyes are bigger than your stomach when packing for a trip! We didn't eat any of the extra trail mix, and though the extra jerky was a decent idea, we could have done without it.

Here's a link to the spreadsheet I used to figure all this out. I didn't clean it up much. If you've got questions, let me know.

A number of resource links.
Adventure Allan's
Backpack45
Thru Hiker (recipe for Logan bread) which most really liked on this trip...thanks Robin for making it.
Andrew Skurka
Nutrition Data (used to determine cal/oz)

Isle Royale: Keen Targhee II Boot Review

As soon as I decided to head to Isle Royale this year, I decided I needed to get some new hiking boots. I wore my old boots for two training hikes and the only issues I had physically were with my feet and ankles. My old boots are only 5 or 6 years old but I think I bought them without enough critical thought for how they fit. I have a rather pointy ankle and any kind of shoe that impinges on my ankle really bugs me. In addition, my old boots pinch my toes unless I'm wearing very thin running socks. I decided to look into low top hiking shoes instead of the more traditional mid or high top boot. I checked out several Madison area stores & finally found a pair at Fontana that I really liked. As soon as I put them on I said, these are it. They didn't touch my ankles at all, and seemed to fully support my foot with plenty of room for my toes. They are the Keen Targhee II. Fontana had only a size 10, and they felt just a tad too tight across the top of my foot...and now I'm pretty sensitive to getting the wrong fit. They held the 10 for me & had an 11 sent over from another store. I chose the 11's & wore them around the office and in the house for several days & they just didn't feel as good as they did at first in the store. My wife & I went by Morgan Shoes, just to see what they had. If you've never been to Morgan, you've got to go. Those folks know foot and shoe anatomy. Cherie discussed what I wanted & showed me their only hiking shoe. It didn't fit me well. I told her about the Keens & how they were feeling. She told me to bring them in & she'd help make them fit me! Awesome. I brought them in & Cherie spent about 20 minutes with me putting in various thicknesses of cork insoles to adjust the fit. Of course one foot is bigger than the other and Cherie used differing thickness to adjust. It ended up perfect.

I wore them on this trip and am very happy with them. The only problem I could identify is that they were quite slippery on the wooden bridge paths through the sloughs after a rain. I don't know how a boot with a Vibram sole would compare...perhaps a better grip on wet surfaces.

Isle Royale: Of significant note...

The last night of the trip, as we hung out in our cabin relaxing after showers & before dinner, we got to talking about lessons learned. There were many, but there were some of particular note.

• The American Dental Association should be notified that Steve should be a poster child of sorts. The man flossed not once, but at least twice a day...in the wilderness! What an example.
• Diann deserves special recognition. She put together a dispenser case with at least 16 different spices and seasoning blends for a culinary adventure within our adventure. Truly yummy.
• Robin gets special recognition for insisting on us buying a particular powdered milk product, that the guys fairly raved about. I was reticent as it cost 3 x the normal stuff, but she said it would be worth it. I was sure the guys wouldn't notice, and I couldn't believe it as their jaws dropped at the creamy good taste.
• Lee gets special recognition for her ability to sleep through her husband's snoring. Lee, you're an amazing woman!

Northern Pike caught, cleaned and cooked by Don

• Don received the tribal honor of being named "The Bringer of Fish and Fire". Through Don's significant efforts we had fish for dinner 2 - 3 nights...the last night he was the only one able to make fire. His handy dandy high tech fire starter was the only thing that worked on wet wood (laundry lint). Yeah Don!

Isle Royale Pre-Trip

General:

Back in February of 2010, Steve put out the word that he was planning a trip to Isle Royale for four guys. He laid out a wonderful itinerary and budget. In his words: "I have tried to come up with something that gives us a true wilderness experience yet still puts us within reach of others (i.e. within ½ to 1-day hike/ kayak).  While a couple of days will be somewhat rigorous these should be compensated with quite a few “low key” days with optional activities."

Isle Royale: Monday 7/5

General:

First Dinner Isle Royale 2010

Drove 6.75 hours to Houghton MI. (Map) No problems. Talked about various topics including Capitol Chaplains & pen making. Light rain as we approached Houghton. Checked into the Super 8 motel located right on the water...very nice with a breakfast included. Immediately headed out to test ourselves in the kayaks on the water of the channel. After this, we stowed the kayaks and headed out to dinner at the Library Pub.

Service was slow but the food was decent. Headed back to rooms & went to bed.

Isle Royale: Tuesday 7/6

General:

Up at 6 am. Breakfast at the Super 8 by 6.30 and away at 7.15. Delivered kayaks to the Ranger III for loading. Waited around for about 30 minutes before we boarded. 5.5 hour ride to Mott Island which is the park service headquarters just about 30 minutes shy of the Ranger III's final destination of Snug Harbor. Here Don & Dan disembarked with the kayaks in order to paddle to Daisy Farm (about 3 miles) to secure a shelter early. Sean and Steve continued on to Snug Harbor (aka Rock Harbor) to deliver two Duluth packs with goods we wanted delivered Wednesday to Chippewa Harbor at 2.30. Sean & Steve then would hike from Rock Harbor to Daisy Farm (about 6 miles). Once Sean & Steve arrived, we quickly ate our first of 3 freeze dried dinners (Beef Stroganoff), had a devotion shared by Steve (Psalm 100), prayed together, then headed to bed.

Isle Royale: Wednesday 7/7

General:
Got up early and ate breakfast quickly in order to get an early start. We wanted Steve & Sean to get out on the open water paddle to Chippewa Harbor in the calmest conditions possible. Don and Dan hiked the 10.5 miles to Chippewa Harbor. Steve & Sean arrived within 3 hours, Don and Dan within 7 hours. Short nap then Don & Steve went fishing and Sean and Dan sat around & talked...then rustled up wood for a fish cooking fire. No fish so we cooked and ate dinner. Hiked about .6 miles to Lake Mason to look for Moose at dusk...none seen. Headed back to camp and bed by about 9.

Isle Royale: Thursday 7/8

General:

Sean packed & ready
Isle Royale 2010

Dan, Don & Steve got up early to hike to Lake Mason to find Mr. Moose....none seen. Sean wanted some 'alone/adventure/God' time. He planned to bushwhack from Chippewa to Ryan Island in Lake Siskiwit...a 3 to 4 day effort. Dan and Sean kayaked out of the harbor to a spot on the tip of the ridge that separates Chippewa Harbor from Lake Superior. Sean got out & Dan towed the other kayak back to camp. At this point, the group all was going separate ways. Sean to bushwhack, Dan to nap, Don to Lake Mason to fish, Steve to Chippewa harbor to fish.

Don returned triumphantly with a Northern Pike. We quickly built a fire, cooked and ate the fish, along with some Ramen. As Don was cleaning pans, he spotted Sean across the harbor mouth waiting to be picked up. Dan towed a kayak over & brought him back. Sean shared his adventures with us, we cleaned up, then headed to bed. Only problem was that during the day, 5 boats pulled up at the dock loaded with folks acting like tailgaters at a Packers game. Made it a bit tough to get to sleep for some of us.

Isle Royale: Friday 7/9

General:

Isle Royale 2010

Again, our group went separate ways this day. Dan to McCargoe Cove, Don & Steve to Lake Whittlesey and Sean to rest at camp.

Isle Royale: Saturday 7/10

General:

Need input from others here.

Isle Royale: Sunday 7/11

General:

All back together today. Once Dan arrived on the V-II, Don & Steve portaged a kayak over to L. Mason for Don to fish. Sean & Dan hung out in the shelter & talked and talked and talked. Steve came back & napped, then headed for the harbor for more fishing. Sean & Dan swam, then gathered wood for a fire to cook fish. Don got back with a big Pike & we got a roaring fire going to cook it. Steve invited the neighbors over for some fresh fish. They brought cous-cous, smoked white fish, smoked trout, and a small bottle of scotch. Pretty good neighbors. We packed up early in preparation for Don & Steve to head out on open water back to Daisy in the morning....to bed, to bed...

Isle Royale: Monday 7/12

General:

Don & Steve headed out to Lake Superior open water paddle to Daisy Farm, Sean and Dan for the 10.5 mile hike to Daisy. Not much activity this day other than the travel. Some rest time, some conversation, dinner & bed.

Isle Royale: Tuesday 7/13

General:

Final Dinner Isle Royale 2010 

Up early for breakfast, then Sean and Dan off in the kayaks to paddle to Rock Harbor, while Steve and Don hike out the 6 miles. Met up again at the housekeeping cabin about 1.30. Showers, naps, laundry etc, until dinner. Ate a big meal at the restaurant. Went to a ranger talk at Tobin Harbor pier at 8pm. It was Lake Superior Jeopardy...which was a fun way to learn a lot of facts. Back to the room, played a bit of Black Jack with a bunch of conversation around this topic...then to bed.

Isle Royale: Wednesday 7/14

General:

Up at about 6, showered & down to diner by 7 for breakfast. Out to dock at 7.45 to deliver the kayaks for loading. Then hung around until boarding the Ranger III for the trip back to Houghton. The day started with beautiful weather, but the forecast was for thunderstorms in the afternoon. Spent quite a bit of time on the boat together discussing a reading that Steve provided that looked at many aspects of a boating tragedy that occurred some years ago. There was much to discuss with respect to leadership, belief, evangelism, preparedness, commitment to survive, and more. Spent some time playing blackjack, watching a film and reading. About 30 minutes before we reached the Houghton breakwater the captain came on the PA to indicate a severe storm with 40 to 50 mph winds ahead was going to keep us out in deep water a bit as he didn't want to get into the narrow channel to Houghton without maneuvering room in such winds. It was a little exciting, but eventually the wind turned favorably for the captain to bring us in. We arrived at the dock only about 30 minutes late. One last hitch, the car battery was dead. A helpful NPS employee came & gave us a jump and off we went.

Lots of rain as we pulled out. As we got to about Amasa, Sean discovered one of the windshield wipers was about to break off....not good with expected storms. Backtracked a bit to a service/convenience store where we found a reasonable replacement wiper. On the way home we passed through at least 4 major storm fronts...and I mean major. The lightning show was terrible & wonderful. Visibility was severely impaired a few times & we were driving at 40 mph or below. Stopped for burgers then gas, then finally home about 10.30 pm.

Isle Royale: Thursday 7/15...back to 'reality'

General:

We all went our separate ways after being together for 9 straight days. We each experienced different things, and the same things, in different ways. After such events, often there's a question...how will I be different when I re-enter 'normal' life?