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Trip Number: 12321A
Price: $795
Deposit: $100
Capacity: 8
Staff: Barry Brenneman
Highlights:
- Experience the least visited national park in the nation
- Cross the largest freshwater lake in the world
- Assist the National Park Service while having a great experience
Includes:
- All meals
- Passage to and from the island
- All work equipment
The Trip
Join us on the 'Eye of the Wolf,' Isle Royale National Park, located in western Lake Superior. Isle Royale typically has the fewest visitors of any national park in the nation. An international biosphere reserve, Isle Royale is probably best known for its wolf and moose populations.
The annual study conducted beginning in January and running into March of 2011 reflected a decrease in the wolf population and a stable moose population. This follows several years of a decreasing moose population and a significant drop in the wolf population in the 2007 study. In the past, moose sightings were more common and wolf sightings rare. Only one moose was spotted during the 2011 trip when we worked out of Malone Bay.
Because of its surface relief and geographic location, Isle Royale supports
diverse flora. Most of the island is forested, and along the cool, moist shoreline
you will see such trees as jack pine and quaking aspen. Common trees in the
interior and higher parts of the island include northern red oak, white pine,
and big-tooth aspen. You will also see smaller plants such as thimbleberry and
blueberry, as well as wildflowers, including 32 varieties of orchids. During
the 2011 trip we enjoyed thimbleberries and blueberries.
The Project
Photo: Nate Stelton
We will work alongside and under the direction of a National Park Service
trail crew. Our assignment will be trail maintenance, working out of the Feldtmann
Lake campground. This will be the first time we'll be working on the south end
of the island. The work will include removing brush and small trees using loppers,
and doing tread work that may involve adding drains and rock bars. You'll take
pride in seeing a dramatic improvement in the trail following the completion
of our work.
Itinerary
Our first day will be Wednesday, August 15 and we'll meet early in the morning
in Grand Portage, Minnesota for a light breakfast and a brief pre-boarding meeting.
The exact meeting place will be announced in future correspondence. We'll board
the Sea Hunter for an 8:30 a.m. departure to Isle Royale. Our travel time to
the island will be approximately 90 minutes. After unloading at Windigo, we'll
board a smaller park service boat and be shuttled to Rainbow Cove where we'll
make a beach landing. Yes, the bow of the boat will be beached on the shore
and we'll unload our gear and hike approximately one mile into the Feldtmann
campground.
Not counting our travel days to and from the island, we'll spend five days
working and have two days off. On August 21 we'll move our camp to Windigo,
our base camp until we depart the island. On our last day, Thursday, August
23, we'll depart for the mainland at 2:00 p.m. and arrive back in Grand Portage
around 3:30 p.m.
Note: On two previous trips leaving out of Houghton, Michigan, storms delayed our return to the mainland. However, the shorter distance to the island should reduce the likelihood of a delay.
Getting There
Grand Portage, Minnesota is approximately 150 miles from Duluth, and 300 miles
from Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Duluth International airport has flights
to Chicago, Detroit, and Minneapolis. There is also a shuttle running from Minneapolis
to Duluth.
Accommodations and Food
Photo: Barry Brenneman
The Feldtmann Lake campground will be our group base camp for our work days. Our campground will have a picnic table and a pit toilet. After working on the trail, a dip in the lake before dinner will be very refreshing. We hope to have a canoe to use at night to explore Feldtmann Lake.
On Tuesday, August 21 we'll break camp, hike back out to Rainbow Cove and be
transported back to Windigo where we will camp for two nights before returning
the mainland. Windigo has a small store, visitor's center, and hot showers.
Our menu will be somewhat limited since we'll be hiking into the interior of the island. The menu will accommodate both vegetarians and meat eaters. A food survey will be sent to participants prior to finalizing the menu.
Trip Difficulty
You need to be in good physical condition. The trail work will be moderately strenuous, but the work area will be relatively level and we'll have just a short hike to the work site each day. The minimum age for the trip is 16. No special skills are required; the safe use of all tools will be demonstrated. The ability to work in cooperation with the Park Service crew and fellow Sierra Club members is a must.
We may have to carry the tools in on the first day and out on our last work day. However, we will not have to carry tools to and from the site each day. Trail conditions vary, and include smooth forest trail, rock-covered trail, and root-encrusted trail. Be prepared for daytime temperatures that may reach the mid-80s, and nighttime temperatures that may drop as low as 50. We expect great weather at this time of the year, but you must be prepared for rainy and cool conditions.
Equipment and Clothing
Photo: Barry Brenneman
The leader will send a detailed equipment list to registered participants. Since we'll have to hike into the campground, you'll need to have a backpack to carry your gear.
The Sierra Club provides cooking gear, but you will need your own non-disposable eating utensils (cup, spoon, knife, fork, and plate). A small tent with a rain fly and a rain suit (not poncho) are required. August is relatively bug-free most years. Your equipment need not be expensive, but it should be made of quality materials.
References
You can obtain many of the following materials from the Isle Royale Natural History Association, at (800) 678-6925 or www.irnha.org.
Maps:
- U.S.G.S. map: "Isle Royale National Park, Michigan" (48088-A5-PF-062). Also available from Isle Royale Headquarters, Houghton, MI 49331; U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO 80225; the Isle Royale Natural History Association, 800 E. Lakeshore Dr., Houghton, MI 49331-1869; and online from several topographic map services.
Books:
- DuFresne, Jim, Foot Trails and Water Routes of Isle Royale National Park. The third edition is probably the park's most authoritative guidebook.
- Huber, N.K., The Geological Story of Isle Royale. A classic study of the geological history and landscape.
Videos:
- "Exploring Isle Royale," a 28-minute VHS video produced by the National Park Service, shows how to best enjoy the island's many attributes.
Conservation
Though Isle Royale is quite isolated, it is still exposed to many environmental dangers, including global climate change, invasive species, and pollutants. We'll discuss each of these issues, focusing on the causes and impacts. We'll also discuss steps we can take to halt the environmental degradation. Global climate change may have already played a significant role in impacting the moose population on the island.
Though we normally think of the West when discussing forest fires, fire has
already played a role in sculpting Isle Royale. The role of fire and fire management
will also be discussed.
Trip Price
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details
about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.
The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Staff
Leader:
Barry Brenneman's first service trip was to Isle Royale. He also participated in service trips to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Canyonlands. This will be his 9th service trip to Isle Royale. He is active with the ParkLands Foundation in central Illinois, which focuses on preserving and restoring natural areas along the Mackinaw River.
E-Mail: brenneman682@MSN.com
Cook:
Steve Carrow has participated in national service trips to Isle Royale and the Red River Gorge in Kentucky. In addition, Steve serves on the outings committee of the River Prairie Group in Illinois, and has helped lead local canoe, backpack, and bike trips. While a Scout leader, Steve helped lead trips to the Boundary Waters and other summer camp locations in the upper Midwest.
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips