In a message dated 6/26/2000 8:39:43 PM Central Daylight Time, markschoon_at_va.prestige.net writes: > I'm hoping someone on the list might share his or her > experiences paddling in and around Isle Royale. Bill Newman did a thorough summary of the Isle Royale situation. Here are a few more points for those who may be contemplating the crossing from the mainland. I've done the crossing at various points four times over the years, including one of the first circumnavigations of Isle Royale in 1984. If you are planning to depart from Grand Portage, avoid crossing straight over from that point. It's about 20 miles and is a popular route for the power boat crowd and the commercial ferries. They have complained in the past about encountering kayaks in that corridor. The crossing can be reduced to 14 miles by crossing from Pigeon Point, farther up the Minnesota shore, where Michigan, Ontario, and Minnesota meet. The nearby Susie Islands are controlled by the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa and by the Nature Conservancy, and are off limits to kayakers. Paddle through but don't land or camp. This will reduce the political problems for the Lake Superior Water Trail Association and other groups that are trying to present a favorable image of sea kayaking to the Grand Portage band and other people of the North Shore. Also, do not park, trespass on, or use Grand Portage reservation land without permission. This includes most of the shore of the lake in that area. Parking is available at the marinas, the reservation casino, the Grand Portage Monument, and the state park at Pigeon Falls. If crossing from Canada (17 miles from Silver Islet), there is a designated customs official at park headquarters in Rock Harbor. I had a hilarious run-in with an official in 1993 who wanted to require that my "ship" have a name for his records. While on the island, check for the latest camping regulations and fees. The water-based campsites, particularly on the northeast end, are often snatched up by the power boat people. -Andy Knapp Minneapolis 66 F (19 C) and sunny. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Jun 27 2000 - 11:33:08 PDT
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