Well, in a little over two weeks I'm packing my truck, driving out of Virginia, and heading for Grand Portage, Minnesota where I'll pick up the ferry for Isle Royale National Park. As it turns out, my paddling partner won't be able to go, so this is going to be my first venture into the world of solo paddling. Also, it's my first crack at a multi-day trip where I actually break camp before paddling for the day. I've more experience setting up camp then doing day trips. So...I'm hoping someone might look over my list of preparations and add any last bits of advice. (note: I've been enjoy the 3 worst mistakes of camping thread lately :-) 1. Gortex Dry Suit 2. Submersible Handheld VHF (Standard HX350s) 3. GPS (Magellan 320) 4. NOAA Charts & Topo's 5. Bill Newman's guide book 6. full selection of polypro & fleece (from years of winter backpacking with Boy Scouts) 7. Flairs - meteor, parachute, handheld 8. Strobe & 360 degree light 9. Dye markers 10. 1st aid kit 11. Pur water filter & extra 12. Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight tent 13. 20 degree synthetic mummy bag 14. Backpacking stove & fuel (should I take 2 stoves?) 15. Food (repackaged, rice, pasta, granola-I'm vegetarian) 16. 1st aid kit 17. Repair kit 18. Gortex parka (for those stormy days I'll need to wait out) 19. 14 days for paddling (between ferries). The trip is 110 miles, so hopefully this gives me plenty of time for being cautious and waiting if I have to. 20. More than enough small & medium dry bags to fill up every nook & cranny. 21. ultralight paddle & a take apart heavier fiberglass spare of same length & blade shape (Lightening, 215cm, standard touring blade) 22. boat: NDK Romany Explorer w/skeg, compass, & foot pump. I think I'm as prepared as I can be, but that thought itself makes me nervous. So I welcome all words of wisdom, advice, cautions, suggestions, etc. Thanks. Mark Schoon Fredricksburg, Virginia [demime 0.92b removed an attachment of type application/x-pkcs7-signature which had a name of smime.p7s] *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 08:52 PM 8/15/00 -0400, Mark Schoon wrote: >Well, in a little over two weeks I'm packing my truck, driving out of >Virginia, and heading for Grand Portage, Minnesota where I'll pick up >the ferry for Isle Royale National Park. As it turns out, my paddling >partner won't be able to go, so this is going to be my first venture >into the world of solo paddling. Also, it's my first crack at a (snip) >I think I'm as prepared as I can be, but that thought itself makes me >nervous. So I welcome all words of wisdom, advice, cautions, >suggestions, etc. You've picked about the best time of the year to go there. However, along about that time of the year the weather starts to change, and it's not uncommon to hit several days of really lousy weather -- so be prepared to wait it out. Be very careful of the north side of the island toward the west end -- but you probably have already heard about that. Toward the early part of the trip, some of the more popular campgrounds, especially those shared with backpackers, may get fullish, especially if you are looking to use a shelter. This is most true in Rock Harbor. The water may be warmer than you think -- it's currently pretty much in the 60's, and probably won't chill down that much in two weeks. Take a look at: http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/superior/s21.html Have a good trip! -- Wes *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Mark Schoon wrote: > > Well, in a little over two weeks I'm packing my truck, driving out of > Virginia, and heading for Grand Portage, Minnesota where I'll pick up > the ferry for Isle Royale National Park. You probably already have this in your gear, but if you don't, toss in a compass. Nice to have when the GPS goes belly up on a foggy day. Tough to get lost on Isle Royale for too long, but..... I wouldn't bother with carrying two stoves, but I do try to carry repair parts for the stove - never had to use them myself, but I did help out a couple of folks once whose Svea 123 had the pressure release valve fail. (non-pertinent note - my venerable old Svea is still cooking along at age 24 - the day it dies will be a sad one). A good book is especially nice to have when you're going solo and you have to sit out the weather. Have a great trip!! Dave Seng Juneau, Alaska *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> I wouldn't bother with carrying two stoves, If it doesn't take up too much space, a second one can be handy even if only to get the coffee on while the meal is cooking. >but I do try to carry >repair parts for the stove - never had to use them myself, but I did >help out a couple of folks once whose Svea 123 had the pressure release >valve fail. Good idea to carry washers and know how to fit them. > (non-pertinent note - my venerable old Svea is still >cooking along at age 24 - the day it dies will be a sad one). Die? DIE? they don't die, just need new washers or needle valve or graphite string packing or ..... > A good book is especially nice to have when you're going solo and you >have to sit out the weather. and a radio or tapes (except you need a lot of them). Alex . . Alex (Sandy) Ferguson Chemistry Department University of Canterbury New Zealand *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 8:52 PM -0400 8/15/00, Mark Schoon wrote: >[SNIP] >So...I'm hoping someone might look over my list of preparations and add >any last bits of advice. (note: I've been enjoy the 3 worst mistakes >of camping thread lately :-) [SNIP] Looks like a good bunch 'o' gear. My own $.02. Take some good rain gear. If you do get rained out, you want to be able to at least go hiking. I have a nice rainsuit from Columbia that go for about $30 for pants and jacket. Stuffs real small. I'll also keep a pair of Goretex socks in the same stuff sack. Think about bringing a small trap or something if you get weatherbound. The Clip Flashlight is a nice tent, but I wouldn't want to get stuck in it for a couple days. Also, giving credit where it's due, the guidebook is by Bill Newman and Sarah Ohmann. This year has been great for northern lights so keep your eyes opened. We had light shows for three nights this past weekend in the Apostle's and I hear they were even visible from just outside the Twin Cities. -Patrick *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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