Upper Peninsula; Marquette to Whitefish Point

[T.Low]

Looks like a great trip. I love the UP, and Lake Superior; Pictured Rocks still being one of my favorite all time paddles (along with so much of Lake Superior), and 12 mile Campground having a some great memories for me.

Any review or comments on the shower unit? (or links to previous comments).

Is that an old Dancer on the roof rack? It doesn't look like it has enough volume to be a Pirouette, too sleek for a Corsica.

Go Wings!

 

[kcowyo]

Kristian, this is an amazing thread. :clapsmile

Every picture is exactly what I envision seeing on my trip to the Great Lakes. Secluded beaches, sandy trails and lighthouses. I'm already cross-referencing this report with my trip plans.

These photos show exactly the type of campsites and seclusion I'm hoping to find. You've got me chomping at the bit now.


I give this report 5 campfires - :bowdown:


:campfire: :campfire: :campfire: :campfire: :campfire:

 

[09moabxj]

Awesome thread! I just moved out to Arizona from Metro Detroit and I needed to see a bit of the home state. I have been going to Northern Michigan all my life and it truely is a great place to explore. Never made it to Drummond Island yet, but plan on it. Thanks for the great thread.

 

[upcruiser]

Looks like a great trip. I love the UP, and Lake Superior; Pictured Rocks still being one of my favorite all time paddles (along with so much of Lake Superior), and 12 mile Campground having a some great memories for me.

Any review or comments on the shower unit? (or links to previous comments).

Is that an old Dancer on the roof rack? It doesn't look like it has enough volume to be a Pirouette, too sleek for a Corsica.

Go Wings!

The shower unit is something I just picked up from a tip in the PETT toilette review thread. Someone posted about Wallmart of all places having it. I've priced out several and at $38 it was hard to pass up. That said, I have been anti Wallmart and haven't shopped there in years. I was skeptical of the what the quality would be and actually it seems pretty decent. We'll see how long it lasts but with structure up, it seemed relatively stout even with my 5 gallon solar shower hanging in it. The floor as screen on the sides to allow water to drain. It worked great and I'm planning on using it for showering, bathroom useage, as well as when the weather is foul, or the bugs bad, a place to cook.

The kayak is a Dancer, you are the 2nd person now who's guessed it correctly with it upside down on my roof. Its actually a Dancer XT, a bit more volume. I've had it since the dawn of time and use it for rivers, touring (yes I really want a sea kayak but this works fine for everything), and playing in the waves.

Although I haven't paddled on the coast much, I do agree that the paddling on Lake Superior is awesome. The lake is what sets the tone for everything from the weather to the mood around here. I'm fortunate enough to be able to get out on the lake or at least the beach daily as I live 2 blocks from it. Outside of Superior paddling there are endless rivers and inland lakes too around here, I couldn't imagine not being able to paddle.

 

[upcruiser]

Kristian, this is an amazing thread. :clapsmile

Every picture is exactly what I envision seeing on my trip to the Great Lakes. Secluded beaches, sandy trails and lighthouses. I'm already cross-referencing this report with my trip plans.

These photos show exactly the type of campsites and seclusion I'm hoping to find. You've got me chomping at the bit now.


I give this report 5 campfires - :bowdown:


:campfire: :campfire: :campfire: :campfire: :campfire:

Cool, I can help you out with more specific details too if you need them for some of those areas or suggestions around there. I skipped by some cool spots that I had already been to a bunch. The report is a bit light on trail specifics. I hope some of your dates in the UP correspond with my dates from being back from South America. If so, I'd love to tag along for a stretch.

 

[upcruiser]

Awesome thread! I just moved out to Arizona from Metro Detroit and I needed to see a bit of the home state. I have been going to Northern Michigan all my life and it truely is a great place to explore. Never made it to Drummond Island yet, but plan on it. Thanks for the great thread.

A displaced Michigander living in AZ, that's like a fish out of water! Literally, haha. I haven't been over to Drummond either, its on my list of places to go. Beaver Island was pretty cool. I went on a camping trip with my dad and my brother when I was little. Car ferry departs from Charlevoix. I think the one island though that is the top of my list, and I'm almost embarassed to say I haven't been there is Isle Royal National Park. I'm HOPING to squeeze a trip in there sometime October. Could make for a scary ferry ride that time of year.

 

[Rattler]

A displaced Michigander living in AZ, that's like a fish out of water! Literally, haha. I haven't been over to Drummond either, its on my list of places to go. Beaver Island was pretty cool. I went on a camping trip with my dad and my brother when I was little. Car ferry departs from Charlevoix. I think the one island though that is the top of my list, and I'm almost embarassed to say I haven't been there is Isle Royal National Park. I'm HOPING to squeeze a trip in there sometime October. Could make for a scary ferry ride that time of year.

I made my first trip to Drummond last Summer. My friend has been there a few times and showed us some of the nice spots. It is nice. Everyone waves to you there too.

The DNR is supposed to make the trail out to Marblehead an ORV Route so you can legally travel it. Right now, the DNR will probably give you a ticket if they catch you on the Stairsteps going out there (the funnest part of the trip!). Not sure when the ORV Route thing will be a for sure.

You can download a nice newer map of the island here:

http://www.drummondislandchamber.com/images/Drummond Recreation_v5-18 (1).pdf

 

[T.Low]

Saw my first moose on Isle Royale about 20 years ago. And don't forget Ryan Island; the largest island in the largest lake in the largest island in the largest lake in the world.

And my buddy who used to own Quick Stop Bike and Kayak in Marquette, he kayaked from copper harbor 53 miles out to Isle Royale. Now thats a paddle.


OK, fun fact time is over, no return the repularly scheduled postings.

 

[2K54X4]

Nice pics! Like your rig too. The U.P. holds one of the top spots of places I NEED to visit.

Thanks for posting your pics and report.

 

[T.Low]

"The searchers all say,
they'd a made Whitefish Bay,
if they put 15 more miles behind 'er".
-Gordon Lightfoot, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald


I think about that when paddling that area. Well, more often than that, actually.

 

[upcruiser]

Saw my first moose on Isle Royale about 20 years ago. And don't forget Ryan Island; the largest island in the largest lake in the largest island in the largest lake in the world.

And my buddy who used to own Quick Stop Bike and Kayak in Marquette, he kayaked from copper harbor 53 miles out to Isle Royale. Now thats a paddle.


OK, fun fact time is over, no return the repularly scheduled postings.

That is one HELL of an open water crossing. Dayum. I know the last two owners of Quick Stop, he name wasn't Dave was it? I think Dave took it over in mid to late '90's.

 

[upcruiser]

Nice pics! Like your rig too. The U.P. holds one of the top spots of places I NEED to visit.

Thanks for posting your pics and report.

Thanks! I felt there was a distinct lack of information and reports on this area so I try to be as descriptive as possible. It seems there is a high level of interest in the area yet not many know much about it.

 

[upcruiser]

"The searchers all say,
they'd a made Whitefish Bay,
if they put 15 more miles behind 'er".
-Gordon Lightfoot, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald


I think about that when paddling that area. Well, more often than that, actually.

Great tune, hauntingly eery for me and plays in my head whenever we get a fall storm on the big lake.

 

[T.Low]

It was James Loveridge. Dave took over the shop from him. Both those boys can paddle.

And again, its good to hear about the trips going on in that region. Thanks.

 

[Co-opski]

The UP is a true gem. In all of my travels I would categorize it as one of the most scenic and wild areas. Thanks for the TR.