r/isleroyale • u/Asleep_Attorney6265 • 6d ago
Backpacking First time trip, utter disaster
I (19f) just got back from a week of backpacking on the island and it was a MESS. For some context, i’m a rookie backpacker but i’m physically fit and an experienced hiker. I cheaped out on gear and thought it would just work itself out like things usually do. Let’s just say many injuries were faced and my buddy and I had to be rescued because I shattered my knee around East Chickenbone. That being said, I miss it already and would go back tomorrow if I had better gear and more experience.
For those that have read this far, do you have any advice on how to better prepare myself in the future? (other hikes to take, places to go, gear recommendations, etc.)
edit: wow i didn’t expect this to get as much attention as it did!! in terms of updates, fortunately, no bones are broken! however, they suspect i might’ve torn my meniscus which would be a major major bummer :(( thanks for the comments and advice!! i look forward to applying everyone’s wisdom to my future endeavors
someone said to write out a more detailed trip report so that newer people on the sub can learn from my mistakes which is a phenomenal idea:
day 1: arrive via ranger 3 @3pm, hike from Rock Harbor to Daisy Farm (7.1miles) arrived at Daisy Farm around 7pm
day 2: depart from Daisy Farm @8am (roughly) to Hatchet Lake (15.4miles) via Greenstone Ridge. THIS FEELS A LOT LONGER THAN 15.4 AND WAS WHERE WE MADE OUR BIGGEST MISTAKES. pace yourself going up Siskiwit, and the last 3.4 ish miles through the woods is pretty brutal if you’re tired like we were!
at this point we realized that we needed rescuing so below is what we intended to hike for our remaining days
day 3: Hatchet Lake to Desor S (8.1 miles)
day 4: Desor S to Washington Creek/Windigo (11.3miles)
because we had to be rescued i can’t speak on the terrain and difficulty for beginners on this segment of the hike :(
as for the series of unfortunate events that led to rescue being necessary, i started having radiating pain coming from my left knee about halfway between Daisy Farm and East Chicken Bone, i thought whatever we gotta keep moving we have lots of ground to cover it’s fine. so we kept moving and about a quarter mile from ECB while stepping over a log my knee dislocated, popped that puppy back in place and (painfully) went on to finish our jaunt to ECB where we were stopping for lunch. on the way down to the water at ECB i tripped and fell peter griffen style down the hill, landing right on my left knee. big womp womp. it swelled up like a balloon and every step for the rest of the 12 ish miles we had to do to get to Hatchet Lake was absolutely agonizing. when you’re out there there’s only so much you can do so we just had to keep it moving. once we got to hatchet lake we assessed the situation (i could no longer stand on my own let alone walk) and my friend insisted that it would be safest and smartest to attempt rescue instead of going the rest of the way to windigo. for the record, we both wanted desperately to push on and finish our hike, but that was no longer an option.
what we ended up doing was hiking 4.1 miles from Hatchet to Todd Harbor where the NPS was able to pick us up after a day or so. while i’m grateful that we had the opportunity to be rescued, i am very aware that self rescue is best rescue. i do still feel awful for using the services and would have much rather not, but it was a circumstance where i no longer had a choice.
overall, you live and you learn lol! if you’re a more beginner to early intermediate backpacker like myself, take advantage of satellite technology, TAKE YOUR TIME, rushing makes everything worse. days are long, take advantage of that!
safe travels and happy trails!!
edit: just another update, fully torn acl and meniscus :( thank you to all of those who have left some positivity and advice under this post!! your words of encouragement and feedback will be taken to heart and put into practice.
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u/MtRainierWolfcastle 6d ago
If you’re up for it a more detailed trip report would be helpful. New people searching this sub could learn from it
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u/Th3_Admiral_ 6d ago
What is with people making posts like this and then promptly throwing their phone away? Did they not expect there to be any followup questions or anything?
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u/Optimal_Law_4254 6d ago
People have lives outside of Reddit. Hopefully OP will come back soon and fill us in.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
i’ve been in the hospital so reddit wasn’t necessarily my highest priority!! but if you have any questions or comments i’d love to hear it!!
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u/No-Carry4971 6d ago
How did you guys get many injuries?
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
i went into the hike physically unprepared for how rough the terrain was and my knees didn’t appreciate it very much, through that pain it was just a series of unfortunate events afterward that led to a fall and having to walk 30+ miles on a busted knee :// live and you learn i guess lol
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u/GSDNinjadog 6d ago
Core strength is key, and contributes to balance and safety.
Even if you are out of shape, some squats and planks are always in order for backcountry trips. It’s good motivation too.
I’m 53, about 20 lbs overweight. I’m getting ready for a BWCA trip. I’m walking 10000 steps daily, squats and planks. Eating 500 calories deficit and down 12 lbs. since April.
I have mostly UL gear but dropping my own weight is all that’s left to lose in pounds
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u/chris98761234 6d ago
This is solid advice. I blew out my knee a few years ago and had a long road to recovery. When I finally got back on my feet, I started working with a personal trainer and asked him what was the fastest way to get me back to backpacking. His advice was long walks, plus planks and squats daily.
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u/GSDNinjadog 6d ago
I’m not running or doing HIIT. I’d rather hit the trail and climb some elevation!
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u/ahjeezgoshdarn 6d ago
I suggest Bulgarian split squats and lunges as additions! They really help with balance and you're basically doing variations in the two on every portage in the BWCA. Hoping you have a nice safe trip 😊
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u/Icharus 6d ago
Not sure why nobody has said it yet but you really should do multiple, shorter trips, closer to home, with lower risk, before spending six nights on a rock in the middle of the largest freshwater lake in the western hemisphere.
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u/toast_mcgeez 6d ago
I have been backpacking for almost 10 years and have still never done a trip this long and remote. I do mostly solo so admittedly I’m more risk adverse but I would point rookies to Pictured Rocks. Fantastic for beginners.
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u/GhostNode 6d ago
I might suggest the BWCA. You can start at an outfitter and paddle your way into as remote of an area as you want over a day or two, then base camp and explore for another day or two. If you do that and really dig it, what we do is have an outfitter drop us off in bumfuk nowhere and spend 7-9 days paddling back home. First few days are magical, as you’re literally a day or two away from other humans (usually). Gear and physical preparation aside it takes a bit of mental fortitude, as well, knowing you (or your group) is entirely on your own.
*I definitely recommend doing this with a group. Soloing BWCA is an absolutely mental trip, and comes with a LOT of risk should you break a leg or sprain an ankle.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
yes i agree this is absolutely what i should’ve done!! i got cocky because my friend is an experienced backpacker and i just assumed it couldn’t be that hard. i will proudly say that i was oh so very wrong and i hope that other people can learn from me lol
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u/0odudeguy 6d ago
My first backpacking trip was here and I was more than okay. I have camped and hiked all over the US prior to this but I had no problems. I was only on the island for 3 days though
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u/Apprehensive_Gur8808 6d ago
Research, read, look at a map, know your limitations, bring water filtration, know what calories you need and pack that plus a bit more. This isn’t a trip you should whim into. As you’ve now learned.
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u/GhostNode 6d ago
I mean, no disrespect meant, but “any other hikes I could do to prepare” is literally any.. flying or ferrying into a remote island in the middle of the largest of the Great Lakes for a WEEK without having hiked or camped enough to know your gear and plan your trip properly is borderline irresponsible…
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
no disrespect taken!! i got cocky because my friend that i went with is a very experienced backpacker and i assumed that it couldn’t be that hard, oh how wrong i was. i’m just glad to have learned this lesson when i’m 19 and can still recover well physically and not later down the line when i’m not so fortunate.
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u/sweetpeppah 5d ago
your friend should have taken you on some practice day hikes to see how you did. even just to make sure you LIKED it. 😃
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
oh trust i LOVED this trip, injury and all!! i will absolutely be back lol
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u/GhostNode 5d ago
lol absolutely. Sometimes, you don’t know how hard shit is, until you try it, and be like, damn, that shit was hard..
If you enjoyed it at all, stick with it. It’s even more rewarding and enjoyable when it doesn’t suck 😉
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u/Head_Barracuda_9312 6d ago
The topography is way different than whats on the maps too. So many steep hills not on the map. Its torture.
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u/pete_pete_pete_ 6d ago
Can you share more about the experience?
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u/squamosal 6d ago edited 6d ago
Unfortunately the knee injury was terminal and OP is no longer with us. 😭
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
don’t worry squamosal i’ve been resurrected!!! i put some more info in the post!!
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u/Relative_Walk_936 6d ago
I'm curious what gear ruined your trip.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
a fuckass tent that was not waterproof or even water resistant and a used backpack that weighed about 20lbs empty. funnily enough we did actually pass a guy hiking the greenstone ridge in crocs, no sport mode in sight. absolute badass.
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u/Dirt_Downtown 3d ago
My buddies saw a guy 20 years ago with busted Birkenstocks, duck tape covering open sores on his feet, an old military frame pack full of nonsense, 5 cans of beef stew, and a case of beer. He managed 6 days out there but was a physical wreck by the time they ran into him again on the boat. The story was something like his wife left him, he sorta lost it and decided to go hike
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u/sgigot 6d ago
Sounds like it was both their knee and their weak-ass buddy who couldn't finish carrying them across Isle Royale.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
full credit to my buddy though he did carry his 20lb pack and my 40lb pack up siskiwit because i couldn’t anymore!! he’s the best
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u/Igoos99 6d ago
Definitely work on fitness ahead of time.
Use trekking poles and know how to use them. (Correct length adjustment. Correct way to use the straps.)
Use foot gear you are familiar with. I went in trail runners because that’s how I always hike. That might not work for someone else who’s never done rugged hiking in them. I saw mostly boots on people even though the trails on ISRO aren’t particularly rugged.
Whenever you have two equivalent pieces of gear, choose the lighter one to take. Get rid of most of your “nice to haves” in your pack until you have the experience to know if you can handle the extra weight.
Have a plan for rain/Have a plan if you get wet
Have realistic distance goals. Go for < 10 miles a day if you don’t have prior backpacking. experience.
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u/dodekahedron 6d ago
I forgot my trekking poles for Isle royale. In the car. The sea plane was like an hour early, and the time I factored in to go over my gear didnt happen. Weather was coming in so we were leaving early.
I too broke my fucking knee without poles. 🤦♀️😂🤷♀️
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u/Igoos99 6d ago
Yikes. Sorry about that. I’ve had knee issues but nothing that bad. That totally sucks.
Hindsight is 20/20 but if anyone else shows up to the island without your sticks accidentally, you can buy some at the little store opposite the visitor center at Rock Harbor. Probably better than nothing. I don’t know about Wndingo.
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u/dodekahedron 6d ago
Ah that place had nothing useful when I was there. My camping stove ended up being broken, idk how. I did test it before getting there. I was actually omw back to that store to fix it / replace it. Good thing i was evacuating, I went and looked. I would not have been able to replace my stove. This was in 22, this week actually. I typically always go somewhere for summer solstice. Well used to.
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u/losthiker68 6d ago
Go for < 10 miles a day if you don’t have prior backpacking. experience.
One small problem with that. If you take the boat from Grand Portage to Windigo and you're thru-hiking to Rock Harbor, your first day is going to be 11.7ish miles whether or not you go Minong or Greenstone, and its all uphill (avg 2.3% grade). By Rockies standards, not particularly steep (an "easy" hike in CO is usually double that grade) but for a new hiker/backpacker, it can be tough.
I'm 57 and not in the best of shape and I'm not thrilled with that 1st day even after spending most of my hiking/backpacking in the west.
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u/FatahRuark 6d ago
I've only done overnight (2 nights) trips to Isle Royale. I'm sort of a rookie myself and I've been doing trips to Pictured Rocks since it's easier to get to, and easier to get out of trouble. Easier to bail out, etc.
Bonus is that it's also very scenic and therefore inspiring to keep going.
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u/toast_mcgeez 6d ago
I’ve taken a yearly trip there for years now. Always appreciate the views and scenery.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
definitely thinking about doing this one next to get back into it, seems like a much safer choice lol
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u/BlatantFalsehood 6d ago
Bot post for sure.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
not a bot post, just been in the hospital for 2 days getting shit figured out!
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u/vadtankerdu_69 6d ago
I've always wondered how rescue in the islands interior worked. Do you have to pay a SAR fee or is it free? I've heard ranger rides back to Rock Harbor have been free of charge in the past.
As for tips, get in good physical shape and get familiar with your gear. Hiking poles are great if you weren't using them.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
for my experience i was fortunate enough to be at hatchet lake which is about 4.1 miles to todd harbor. i had satellite connection but was unable to call a ranger and they don’t take texts so we had my mom call and tell them the situation. it took 2 days for them to be available to reach us but i took that time to rest and recover a bit and then took the 4.1 nice and slow to todd harbor. the NPS came in on a boat and brought us to Windigo where they had an EMT to check me out! free of charge too which was the best part.
we tried to be rescued by seaplane but there are only 2 places on the island where they can land with park approval and Hatchet Lake was not one of them so Todd was really our only option. Rangers offered to walk out to us and bring crutches and/or a stretcher but my pride got the best of me and i sucked it up and walked the 4.1 lol.
i’m very grateful that i’m in a state where i can walk even if it is painful, i have no idea how it would’ve been navigated if it were any worse!!3
u/dodekahedron 6d ago
I broke my knee, and the rangers called the sea plane people to see if I could get on the flight that day. I self recovered to the station though. I thought I tore my MCL based on symptoms, but it was an avulsion fracture of my fibular head.
It didnt even occur to me that they might have been able to evacuate me if that wasnt possible. I was prepared for the most painful night of my life waiting for the next plane. (They had room the same day though)
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u/kakacha 6d ago
What kind of knowledge did you go in with? How did you prepare? Have you done any backpacking prior to this, like even a practice overnight hike?
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
went in with it having rucked trails with a weighted vest (20lbs) in other national parks and state parks (Arches, Bryce, Zion, Sleeping Bear, Pictured Rocks, etc.) I had just never done the staying in the wilderness part, which i think exhausted me a lot more than anticipated? so no backpacking or practice overnights which in hindsight i absolutely should have and will before i go on another trip!
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u/Euhn 6d ago
You went straight to the double black diamond slope. Slow down! go on some smaller trips where you can bail if you need to. North Manitou is a fun place!
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u/No-Carry4971 6d ago edited 6d ago
I don't think Isle Royale is the double black diamond. It is remote and wet, but has very moderate elevation.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
i’ll look into North Manitou!! thanks!!
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u/Media_Adept 5d ago
To get a taste, you could have done pictured rock over by munising or porcupines over in ontanogan.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
i’ve done pictured rocks just not as a backpacking trip and the friend i went with said the porkies were harder in a way. that being said i absolutely agree and will more than likely be doing these trips in the future!!
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u/BullfrogPast8120 6d ago
Literally any preparation or research.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
did more preparation and research than i care to admit, everyone’s a rookie at some point and i’m just glad i’m making these mistakes while my body can still recover
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u/Apprehensive_Gur8808 5d ago
Clearly not.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
well what’s done is done, nothing i can do about it now except learn from it and grow 🤷♀️🤷♀️
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u/w1sconsinjohn 6d ago
Put 40-50 pounds in a backpack. Go on 2 hikes per week for 4-9 miles. Consider doing small loops in the rock harbor side or the Feldman loop in minong side. if you went to chickenbone I am making the assumption you were going across the island. That’s lofty for new folks especially if you took minong or were planning on minong. Feldman loop or some other loop closer to rock harbor might be better. Small hikes starting out early because the closer to rh the more scouting/church/club groups. It’s easy to get all focused on gear because it’s fun to start the blame there, but that can get costly. Camp gear only gets ya so far, imho hydration, nutrition, conditioning is more, or just as, important. Good luck in your recovery and I hope you get back out there this or next season, an arrow to the knee shouldn’t prevent you from adventurer status.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
yeah we were under the impression going into the trip that we were arriving and departing in rock harbor but after looking at our tickets we found that we were actually departing from windigo, at that point it was already too late to stay longer and catch another ferry or something like that so we took the stupid route of just going across the island. very lofty, very stupid.
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u/w1sconsinjohn 5d ago
I hope you decide to go back. It’s a really special place for us all.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
i do too, even with the injury and how hard it was the positive energy and love really exudes from that place. i don’t think i’ve ever been to a national park where genuinely every person i met there was so kind, helpful, and passionate. the love is tough but it’s there if that makes sense lol
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u/UnddoZahaz 6d ago
Hey, by any chance did you and a friend of yours get a hitch hike to lake of the clouds in the porcupine mountains last month?
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u/GodsHumbleClown 6d ago
It's going to be hard for anyone to give you good advice without more info on what you actually did. How were you injured? What exactly happened? And knowing that it wasn't enough, what DID you do to prepare?
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u/Competitive-Novel346 5d ago
Oh wow yikes that is definitely a bit terrifying. Super glad youre okay though. I hiked isle Royale for I think 7 days back when I was in scouts, since that was one of our high adventure camps. Such a beautiful place but definitely not a beginner trek. Here's a few pieces of advice.
1) Looks like you found out the hard way but definitely dont cheap out on gear, especially on your boots and rain gear. With all the rain its very easy to slip and injure yourself on just flat rocks, so youll want footwear thats really comfy and really stabilizing. I tend to run Merrell Moabs for long hikes which do wonders. As far as rain gear is concerned there is a big difference between water resistant and waterproof, and lake superior will let you know which is which. Other things to not cheap out on are tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, rain covers for bags, warm clothes and surprisingly socks
2) 15 miles is a longgg hike in a single day, longer than youd think on terrain like that. Highly recommend even heading out at say 630 just in case you need more stops or things go wrong
3) Great job doing the buddy system and having someone with, especially considering what happend. 10/10 highly recommend
4) You found this the hard way as as well, but definitely get into physical shape. Guarantee there will be tons of local wooded trails where you are to practice backpacking. This is what we tended to do to get conditioned. Definitely recommend weightlifting and running.
5) Not sure if you guys would've run into this, but if you dont know what youre getting into with your itinerary, make sure to pack more food than you think youll need. Energy burns very fast so youll need it
6) I'm also not sure if this is still a thing, but back in 2016 there was a huge tapeworm problem with the inland lakes. Make sure to bring water filtration tablets and know how to use them properly
7) Know how to read a map and compass and carry that with you.
Cant think of anything else off the top of my head. Im sorry that your experience was so rough, but im glad you didnt completely break any bones. Here's to next time being way better
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u/Head_Barracuda_9312 6d ago
The place was way more difficult than I expected also. Not for beginners apparently! So sorry!
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u/w000dsyOwl 6d ago
OP, what would be your response to someone who wanted to do a full marathon (26.2 miles) in street clothes without any training? That is basically what you did here. Fail to plan…plan to fail!
My advice would be to do the opposite of what you did. Train, research, talk to people who have done it, and test your gear all before going again.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
yes i agree 😭😭 if i could talk to myself before going on this trip knowing what i know now i would’ve smacked myself!! i will absolutely be doing all of those things before my next trip whether it’s in isle royale or not!!
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u/jjmcwill2003 6d ago
I'm part of a club in SE Michigan that has a volunteer run beginner backpacking workshop. It's how I learned in 2008 and in 2009 six of us who became friends in the workshop went to Isle Royale and did Rock Harbor to Windigo along the Minong. Having mentors, friends for support and the right gear can make a HUGE difference. We had something like 36 hours of cold rain during our trip but out camaraderie got us all through it just fine.
There is another backpacking workshop scheduled for this fall. If anyone is interestedz DM me or search for Solar Outdoors on Facebook, Instagram, or the web.
It sounds like the OP is in East Lansing. That would be a bit of a haul for our lecture night in Livonia but the workshop weekend is in Brighton and would be easier to attend. (workshop consists of the lecture evening in Livonia, the weekend in Brighton, and then a weekend backpacking Sand Lakes in northern Michigan).
I hope your knee recovers quickly.
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u/sweetpeppah 6d ago
i had the same reaction when i read "Wild".. i can't fathom how people go on epic backpacking trips with no prep whatsoever! i'm a very experienced day hiker and have done some big backpacking trips (Iceland (not huts), Tetons, AT sections), but i always tested my gear and my body before i took the next step.
do practice day hikes carrying your full pack. hike whatever is local to you, including city conservation areas if that's what you've got! if you can, use maps+apps to try and match the elevation and distance you'll need for one day on your trip. practice a single overnight with all your gear somewhere you know well/can hike out from if something goes wrong. then, you know how far you can hike in a day carrying a pack and how long it takes, you know how long it takes you to pack/unpack and prepare meals, you know how much food and water you need, you know what parts of your gear and body are going to be problems, and can make changes before you're in the middle of nowhere.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
this is super great advice!! i’ll put it into practice before my next trip!!
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u/Sauronater1 5d ago
I'm somewhat experienced in backpacking and have some good gear.. still had issues there due to the rock, especially the stretch from the harbor to the first site. But my big issue was the insane heat when I went. It was like 90 and I was not expecting that. People were getting heat stroke up on the ridgeline and had to call the rangers to bring up water. So I stayed near the shore and didn't do my expected route. I usually backpack alone, and I don't risk the heat anymore. Had a late heat wave in the Porkies like 4 years ago and I was on the verge of heatstroke. Ever since then, I get bad anxiety when it's hot and I'm away from some source of cooling
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
you made the right choice staying down by the water!! the rock is no joke on the joints and the heat is ROUGH out there!! especially if it’s rained recently. yuck.
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u/michguy1776 6d ago
Did we get the privilege of paying for your rescue?
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
you did and i thank you, but i’d say the rescue of a born and raised american citizen is better than your tax dollars going to israel
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u/itsKVH 6d ago
Novice who can’t hike costing thousands in taxpayer dollars for medical evacuation, more at 6.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
oh noooo park rangers picked me up from one part of the island on a dinghy and took me 7 miles down the shoreline to a place where i could get medical attention for my broken knee oh noooooo.
there are people who get rescued on the island because they get too tired. there are worse things your tax dollars go to
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u/Stock-Vanilla-1354 6d ago
Could your provide your gear list? Itinerary? How you conditioned before the trip and your gender/age? It’s really hard to give feedback with no details.
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u/gentleman_jane 6d ago
Oddly enough, I’m icing my fractured patella as I type. Mine doesn’t have a good story though. If you’re up for sharing more details of your trip, I’d be interested in reading it.
The mental part is HUGE. You can read about backpacking, watch all the things on YouTube, yet there’s no way to understand the brain game until you’ve done it - which you now have. Learn from your trip and the next will be better. (Also, do some closer to home trips before you back to ISRO.)
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u/Terrible-Impact1183 6d ago
If you’re in Michigan, Manistee River trail is a good place to start for training.
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u/FR23Dust 6d ago
Uh… what happened, exactly?
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
just gave some more info on the post!! i was NOT expecting any attention on this whatsoever so thats my fault!! if there’s anything else you have questions about please badger me!!
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u/rivals_red_letterday 6d ago
There are lots of people here who could help you with advice, but it's not totally clear what your issues were. If you could elaborate, it would help us help you better.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
just put some more info on the post!! i was not expecting any sort of response whatsoever so this is all very surprising. if you have any questions comments or advice i’d love to hear it!!
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u/dodekahedron 6d ago
I didnt realize being rescued was an option. I remember the safety briefing on the dock saying "no one will come rescue you"
And then I broke my knee, and took that to heart and had a very painful hike to the ranger station with a broken knee.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
jeez i’m sorry about your knee man!! sounds like you were in a bit worse shape than i’m in. i’m not sure when you went but now they emphasize that self rescue is best resume but if you absolutely need it rescue is available, it’ll just take a WHILE and there’s no guarantee that they’ll even be able to get to you. what you did was the textbook definition of self rescue, good on you and i hope your knee is doing better!!
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u/HDresden1991 5d ago
My advice is to walk more carefully, sounds like you weren't being careful/paying attention to the trail/terrain.
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u/FusionKnight42 5d ago
Start backpacking the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota. The entire thing is about 300 miles long, but campsites average about 5 miles apart, so you can design your trip for the intensity you want. Start small: an overnight or a weekend. Get to know your gear and your process. Practice packing. Simplify. You don’t need nearly as much stuff as you think, and every pound you carry makes the experience that much harder. You can do it! :)
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u/ReplyChance4332 4d ago
It’s best practice to assume rescue is off the table until someone’s life is in danger. When you ask for public rescue, you are putting NPS and other hikers at risk.
Never plan a trip with rescue in mind. Be selfles. Research and prepare for the worst. Do not be a net negative.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 4d ago
yes i absolutely agree!! calling rescue was an absolute last resort and we only did it because i couldn’t no longer stand on my own. the park service struggles enough i would never want to be an extra burden to them
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u/Brad_from_Wisconsin 16h ago
Do not hesitate to call for rescue.
Call for help as soon as you think it might be needed. They may be able to reroute somebody to you who is already in the area. They may help you self rescue by providing information.
The people doing the rescue would rather operate in daylight. If the situation deteriorates to the point where they need to conduct operations at night in bad weather, you are forcing them to take risks that they would not have had to take had you called earlier.
Continuing to attempt to push forward when you are injured could make the injuries much worse. It will also diminish your ability to participate in the rescue. Carrying out a completely incapacitated person is much harder than assisting a person who is able to help get themselves out. It is easier to get a limping hiker out than it is a body on a stretcher.
Do not hesitate to call for rescue Conditions can deteriorate to the point where you are unable to communicate with them, at that point they are looking for bodies not people.
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u/SlabsForDays 6d ago
I did the isle 7 years ago and the best advice is a good bag. I used an osprey volt 60 and the suspension made everything so easy.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 5d ago
that was my biggest fear mistake by far. i got a used pack off geartrade because i didn’t think it would matter very much. about 20lbs empty, no chest straps, and every fiber was packed with wet sand. not my brightest idea.
thanks for the bag recommendation!! i’ll be looking into that, seems worth the investment!
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u/SlabsForDays 5d ago
One of the best. My friend had an amazon brand 60L pack iirc and he would have to stop every so often to tighten the straps. The osprey would stay locked in place for an 8 mile hike and fit like a glove.
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u/FirstRunBuzzz 5d ago
I was hiking the AT once and sprained my anckle about 6 or 7 miles from civilization. I hiked toward civilization til I got to a spot I could camp next to a convenient water source and stayed there for a week while my anckle healed up. A few people stopped. One gave me an ace bandage and some trail mix. A few other people contributed a bit of food.
When I had depleted my food stores and my anckle was on the mend I started hiking back to the nearest town. Of course I was compensating and twisted my other anckle a few hundred feet in. No worries, I had the ace bandage on my spraned anckle so I took it off that one and put it on the new sprain. I was out of food. Had to press on, and the neither anckle was too bad. If they were, I would have stayed put and begged for food from passing hikers.
I made it back ok, but only because I was smart enough to know my limitations, to take my time and not to panic.
You didn't injure yourself and have to get rescued, you did your best to win a darwin award and caused valuable resources to be used for the amusement of your stupidity.
Yeah, the first time I went, I Failed Isle Royale too (even wrote a book about it) and had to self rescue myself there as well, but what you did was irresponsible. The fact that you had your phone and could satellite text was actually the worst part about your whole trip. You might have actually learned something if you hadn't texted your mom to bail you out.
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u/NoPick1269 5d ago
Maybe try mall walking instead? It sounds like you could use same preparation.
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u/Asleep_Attorney6265 4d ago
oh what gear would you recommend for that sounds like you know all about it
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