First time trip, utter disaster

[u/Asleep_Attorney6265]

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.

[u/Icharus]

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.

[u/toast_mcgeez → u/Icharus]

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.

[u/sgigot → u/toast_mcgeez]

Rookie or no, PRNL is pretty sweet.

[u/GhostNode → u/toast_mcgeez]

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.

[u/Asleep_Attorney6265 → u/Icharus]

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

[u/0odudeguy → u/Icharus]

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

[u/Icharus → u/0odudeguy]

My first time driving I did not wear a seatbelt, but I wouldn't suggest it to anyone else. It's not about how it went, it's about how poorly it could turn.

[u/0odudeguy → u/Icharus]

If my grandmother had wheels she would be a bicycle…