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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Quetico Forum Camping on islands |
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05/25/2018 02:03PM
Hello,
I have a trip coming up near the end of June. While looking at maps of campsites, I see numerous campsites on islands throughout the park. I was wondering if anybody has any advice about potential benefits or drawbacks about camping on an island versus camping on the mainland.
Thanks
I have a trip coming up near the end of June. While looking at maps of campsites, I see numerous campsites on islands throughout the park. I was wondering if anybody has any advice about potential benefits or drawbacks about camping on an island versus camping on the mainland.
Thanks
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05/25/2018 02:47PM
Drawbacks:
If the island is tiny, there are fewer places for disposing of human waste and you'll be more exposed to passing canoeists and weather.
Benefits:
Sometimes there can be more than one usable landing. I like being able to see the water and scenery from different angles.
If the island is tiny, there are fewer places for disposing of human waste and you'll be more exposed to passing canoeists and weather.
Benefits:
Sometimes there can be more than one usable landing. I like being able to see the water and scenery from different angles.
05/25/2018 03:43PM
Ausable: "Drawbacks:
If the island is tiny, there are fewer places for disposing of human waste and you'll be more exposed to passing canoeists and weather.
Benefits:
Sometimes there can be more than one usable landing. I like being able to see the water and scenery from different angles."
There is no benefit of "fewer bears" because you are on an island. Most bears I have seen have been swimming... to islands!
05/25/2018 09:10PM
With 30 trips over past years, I must say I prefer islands on the theory that bears can swim, but are lazy about it. That said, my crews have never had a bear raid. Most important is to never have food in your tent.
We have had rodent raids into the food packs.
The only scary animal situation was a full sized bull moose stomping around the tent on an island in Other Man Lake at 3 AM. Even tripped on the tent ropes. We kept very quiet.
We have had rodent raids into the food packs.
The only scary animal situation was a full sized bull moose stomping around the tent on an island in Other Man Lake at 3 AM. Even tripped on the tent ropes. We kept very quiet.
"I shall return" General Douglas McArthur
05/26/2018 07:27PM
Island sites can be awesome or lousy, just like every other site. All the criteria that make a site good, apply. Landing, flat tent spots, fire pit, size, slope, breeze, available firewood, view, etc, etc. They are not predictable based on island vs. mainland. Small islands are usually disadvantaged as indicated by others but I have been on mainland sites where I could barely penetrate the surroundings and felt claustrophobic.
05/29/2018 07:50AM
All the above, but that being said, I like them!
If we aren't actively working to protect our planet, we are acquiescing to those who run their life as if their personal WANTS are the only things that matter. John
05/30/2018 05:56AM
avs11054: "Thanks for all the replies everybody. I've got a couple of bigger islands that I'm looking at staying on. Can't wait for the trip!"
My group leaves Friday... and will likely stay on islands each night. Saganagons
05/30/2018 11:35PM
Island sites are hit or miss. As was said earlier, if it's a smallish island, human waste can be an issue, as can firewood.
That said, they can be nice too, with a good breeze and views.
Basically, choose the nicest site, whether or not it's on an island.
That said, they can be nice too, with a good breeze and views.
Basically, choose the nicest site, whether or not it's on an island.
06/05/2018 12:39PM
Getting into the canoe with trowel and TP and paddling to mainland can be a bit of a hassle every time you need to take a dump... camped on a small island on Lonely, part of a group of 7, and wound up doing that.
"Enjoy every sandwich"
06/06/2018 06:22AM
Ive found island sites to be overused. You know, finding TP in the bushes and never sure where to even dig to dump the dishwater lest I stumble into something gross.
I'm happiest at the sites that people deem 2 stars. When I go solo I will always stop and have a look at these. Because I mostly hammock camp a flat ground doesn't matter. The landing is always the deal breaker for me.
That said, I think it matters where you are in the park. Islands close to entries and on main routes will be overused. Get into the interior and they can be incredible sites.
I'm happiest at the sites that people deem 2 stars. When I go solo I will always stop and have a look at these. Because I mostly hammock camp a flat ground doesn't matter. The landing is always the deal breaker for me.
That said, I think it matters where you are in the park. Islands close to entries and on main routes will be overused. Get into the interior and they can be incredible sites.
"Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." --- George Bernard Shaw
06/06/2018 04:11PM
This brings up a question about rule-breaking . . . or bending? But as a solo traveller, how awful would it be to hypothetically camp on islands that don't have an official camp, but do have a decent landing and trees perfectly spaced for a hammock? Would this be grounds for being escorted to the exits by a ranger?
Naturally this hypothetical case would involve waste disposal similar to backpacking/wilderness practices anywhere: dig a decent hole well away from the water (so the island couldn't be tiny). Also no fire, which solo campers often eschew in favor of stars.
I think there may have been a guy who hypothetically did this on an island in Basswood lake last year, and the only ill effect was getting minor stinkeye from motorboaters (it was that part of the lake) who probably wanted to make their lunch in that hypothetical spot.
This would seem to be a benefit for all in one way: a big, spacious camp wouldn't be taken up by one quiet guy and mostly wasted.
Naturally this hypothetical case would involve waste disposal similar to backpacking/wilderness practices anywhere: dig a decent hole well away from the water (so the island couldn't be tiny). Also no fire, which solo campers often eschew in favor of stars.
I think there may have been a guy who hypothetically did this on an island in Basswood lake last year, and the only ill effect was getting minor stinkeye from motorboaters (it was that part of the lake) who probably wanted to make their lunch in that hypothetical spot.
This would seem to be a benefit for all in one way: a big, spacious camp wouldn't be taken up by one quiet guy and mostly wasted.
06/06/2018 04:31PM
Luckee: "This brings up a question about rule-breaking . . . or bending? But as a solo traveller, how awful would it be to hypothetically camp on islands that don't have an official camp..."
I didn’t know there were "official camps" in Quetico. But it been awhile since I’ve gone there now.
06/06/2018 06:17PM
inspector13: "Luckee: "This brings up a question about rule-breaking . . . or bending? But as a solo traveller, how awful would it be to hypothetically camp on islands that don't have an official camp..."
I didn’t know there were "official camps" in Quetico. But it been awhile since I’ve gone there now.
"
Yeah, you can camp anywhere in Quetico. I would imagine any island with a decent landing probably has some kind of fire ring.
"Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." --- George Bernard Shaw
06/06/2018 10:14PM
One of the nice things about the Quetico is that although there are crowded area within one day of most entry stations, most of the park is not overcrowded, and there are actually some recovered sites. A few years ago we took the Dead Man Portage into northern Saganaga, but it was too late to go west into the Falls Chain. We pulled onto a small island with no campsite, camped for the night, and in the morning found an overgrown camp and fireplace clearly not used for over 20 years.
"I shall return" General Douglas McArthur
06/07/2018 12:36AM
Well damn! I see these red dots all over my new Quetico maps just like the ones on my BWCA maps, and just assumed they were "official" camps. Maybe they are good spots, but it's nice to know you go can go where you want.
Add that to the growing list of reasons to emigrate :D
Add that to the growing list of reasons to emigrate :D
06/07/2018 01:06AM
The dots on the maps are "established" campsites. What that means is that they have been established for camping...a pretty good (usually) landing...a rock fire ring...mostly cleared somewhat flat area for tenting...possible some sitting stones or timber. No latrines though.
You can camp anywhere suitable in Quetico though. We actually had to do that my last trip there as the only site on the lake was taken. We paddled on down the lake until we found a spot that looked suitable. You will find a few of these "unofficial" spots that just aren't marked.
You can camp anywhere suitable in Quetico though. We actually had to do that my last trip there as the only site on the lake was taken. We paddled on down the lake until we found a spot that looked suitable. You will find a few of these "unofficial" spots that just aren't marked.
06/07/2018 06:39AM
Luckee: "Well damn! I see these red dots all over my new Quetico maps just like the ones on my BWCA maps, and just assumed they were "official" camps. Maybe they are good spots, but it's nice to know you go can go where you want.
Add that to the growing list of reasons to emigrate :D"
The red dots on Fisher and McKenzie maps in Quetico are pretty hit or miss. I always cross reference with paddle p lanner before my trip to have a better idea of what spots are actually campsites and which ones likely aren’t.
06/08/2018 07:01AM
Did I read that islands were preferable because bears are basically "lazy" ? That's silly........water, land, steep mountainsides, it's all the same to a bear. They do what they want in search of food, and to cool off etc. in Algonquin we got pinned by a bear on an island.
One thing which I don't think was mentioned is the possibility of becoming wind bound.
One thing which I don't think was mentioned is the possibility of becoming wind bound.
Lets Go!
06/08/2018 02:10PM
mastertangler: "One thing which I don't think was mentioned is the possibility of becoming wind bound. "
Well, the nice thing about an island is there is bound to be a leeward side. Can't say that along all shore line sites.
06/08/2018 10:01PM
I enjoy camping on islands in lightly-used areas. Where a lot of people pass through the human waste issue becomes a big concern.
Also, if there are thunderstorms in the forecast, islands are BAD places to camp. Over the years a number of campers have been injured or killed by lightning in the BWCA/Quetico while camped on islands.
Unlike back in the day, I now carry a small weather radio on canoe trips.
Also, if there are thunderstorms in the forecast, islands are BAD places to camp. Over the years a number of campers have been injured or killed by lightning in the BWCA/Quetico while camped on islands.
Unlike back in the day, I now carry a small weather radio on canoe trips.
“Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.” -Edward Abbey
06/09/2018 06:58AM
arctic: "I enjoy camping on islands in lightly-used areas. Where a lot of people pass through the human waste issue becomes a big concern.
Also, if there are thunderstorms in the forecast, islands are BAD places to camp. Over the years a number of campers have been injured or killed by lightning in the BWCA/Quetico while camped on islands.
Unlike back in the day, I now carry a small weather radio on canoe trips."
That certainly sounds about right. I had never considered how an island is the high point on a lake.
Lets Go!
06/09/2018 07:31AM
arctic: "I enjoy camping on islands in lightly-used areas. Where a lot of people pass through the human waste issue becomes a big concern.
Also, if there are thunderstorms in the forecast, islands are BAD places to camp. Over the years a number of campers have been injured or killed by lightning in the BWCA/Quetico while camped on islands.
Unlike back in the day, I now carry a small weather radio on canoe trips."
Makes sense with my experience. I was camped on the island site west of Williamson Island in northern lake Insula on my second trip ever trip to the BWCA/Q, and we watched a beautiful lightning storm with almost pink lightning roll in from the east while we ate dinner. Just as it began to rain and we got in the tent lightning struck 30-40 yards from us on our small island. It reversed the polarity on one of our compasses, popped open a number of foil packets, and burned the nylon near the zippers on my food pack at the time. Our gear was stored under a tarp probably 12 yards from the tree that was struck - glad it was the gear and not us!
Just a few days letter my friend who took the trip got married, and I was the best man. Talk about some easy fodder for my best man speech!
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