Have never tried 4 canoes.  2 tandems and a kayak in the middle on Thule long bars is my record. Not being an expert canoe stacker guy, I don't even want to do that again.

Sure, I am fine too. You also turn it into the voyage of the grand portage on the minong.

pine_knot wrote on Apr 26^th, 2011 at 11:22pm:


No offense taken. I suppose my newbies aren't totally new.......Two week long trips under their belt. They did well......

I quote from Jim DuFrense book on Isle Royale.........
"At the east end of the Isle Royale is a collection of long, narrow channels, fiord like harbors, and secluded coves and inlets loved by all who pass through. They are known as the Five Fingers. Isle Royale is a beautiful place, but for many the five fingers are the diamond at the end of the pendant.
These long, steep ridges that reach into the lake offer rugged beauty, calm water and visual links to the islands past. You could easily spend a week exploring this area that covers the far eastern portion of the park and includes 7 campgrounds.
Canoes and kayaks are well suited for the five fingers etc. etc."...............

There is but one spot that concerns me and it is a 1.5 mile open water paddle on the big lake itself. Fortunately there is safe water to wait until the time is right. Should that not happen (who knows) there is an intra island ferry that we could make use of as a "rescue" ship of sorts. But I'm thinking at that time of year early in the morning or in the evening we should have a 30 minute window to make the dash. I get the idea of big rollers and would be obliged to wait for ideal conditions before departing.

I have a lot of confidence in the seaworthiness of the Northwoods. It is quite a good boat. Stay near shore, stay off if it is rough.........I think we will be fine.

Stating the obvious, Superior is a huge lake.  The waves on Superior can be huge.  Even when the lake is calm, the lake has a surge to it that can make a canoe unsteady.  Lake Superior can be a very dangerous place for canoes.  You can easily under estimate the size of the waves on Lake Superior.

Don't want to offend anyone here.  But but the notion of taking newbie/novice/inexperienced paddlers onto Lake Superior in solo or tandem canoes seems just plain nuts.  I don't know the words in latin for just plain nuts.   

Hydrogenhydroxius wayfrigidous

Facetious el maximus

Totally agree with the cold water concerns.  Even more incentive to learn how to use a canoe.

I don't understand this sentence:
Quote:

Quote:


Every year around here, someone dies in a ice/cold water boating accident. More often than not, the person that falls in, is the one who survives and the would be rescuer is the one who pays the price
The media then tell everyone it was a " tragic accident".

Accident is a word that is used way to often. Too me, an accident is something that can't be avoided. Putting yourself in harms way needlessly and calling the result if poor an accident is just PC feel good talk. It's negligence, pure and simple.

Quote:


I couldn't agree with you more a Preacher. And taking newbies/first time solo paddlers onto Lake Superior is the very definition of poor judgment/stupidity IMHO, over-thinking it or not.
You might not be legally culpable, but I wouldn't want it on my conscience.
MT's little voice was telling him true, or he wouldn't of mentioned it.
I'd listen, but that's just me being "Reductio ad Absurdium"

Actually Preacher I think you are both right. I like your advice concerning knowing what you are able to accomplish......knowledge is king.

On the other hand the coldness of the water in Lake Superior is not to be underestimated which is ST's point. Dopey me........ the first time I was at Isle Royale I hiked hard all day and was hot. Set up camp and then dove in. I came a hair of blacking out. Things got a little dark and my head hurt even after I got out of the water. Nasty.......might not be able to do much except get out of the water and fast. I think they said your dead in about 20 minutes. A bit longer in summer a bit less in spring and fall.