Agawa Canyon Expedition

Lake Superior Ice Floe Trip 2005

Lake Superior Ice Floe Trip

Objective: To explore the legendary ice caves, rock cliffs and ice formations of the Grand Island and the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore areas.

Cost: Expeditions of the Fortune Bay Expeditionary Team have no cost.

When: February 25-27 (28)

Expeditionary Plan:

Friday, February 25: Meet for breakfast in Munising at “The Dog Patch” for breakfast. (Across from the Visitor Information Center in Munising. Pick up PIRO permits at 9:00 am. Drive to Grand Island Landing off M-28 to access the crossing to Grand Island around 10:00 am. Exploration of Grand Island inland & shorelines. Setup camp ¾ - 1 mile west of Williams Landing (on Grand Island).

Saturday, February 26: Hike back from Grand Island, drive vehicles to Sand Point (check out Munising Falls along the way ) Park at Sand Point. Hike up the North Country Trail to the Cliffs Group (3.5 mi ), potentially setup camp, drop gear. Then hike/ski from Cliffs Group to Miner’s Castle (0.6 mi) then on to Miner’s Falls (2.0 mi). Hike back from Miner’s Falls to Cliffs Group (2.6 mi). Camp at Cliffs Group.

Sunday, February 27: Hike Cliff’s Group back to Sand Point (3.5 mi) (those who need to leave for home may bug out here) Others that stay have two options:

Option 1: Drive to Beaver Lake Road (park off H-58 & Beaver Lake Rd) Hike 3 mi down Beaver Lake Road (not drive-able) to Little Beaver Lake. Hike around Little Beaver Lake, Beaver Lake & surrounding area. Camp at public campground (no fee in winter, no reservations, 8 campsites)

Option 2: Drive to Eben Ice Caves (25 mi W. of Munising on 94 ) – Supposedly, according to the Ranger, it is a drive up and short walk-in. Only thing the Ranger told me was that it was 25 mi west of Munising. So I did some research and found this link.
Link: www.downwindsports.com/index.php?page=snowshoeing&section=destinations&
Could not find much info on this site so no planning was done, but I think we could insert this on anyday, maybe before we hike out to Grand Island.

Monday, February 28: Break Camp & Drive home! : )

Additional Info / Links:
Cold weather conditions make the proper choice and use of clothing more vital than at other times of the year. As you prepare your cold weather clothing, keep warm by following the guidelines that spell the word COLD.
C – Clean - Since insulation is effective when heat is trapped by dead air spaces, keep your insulating layers clean and fluffy. Dirt, grime, and perspiration can mat down those air spaces and reduce the warmth of a garment.
O – Overheating - Avoid overheating by adjusting your layers of clothing to meet the outside temperature and exertions of your activities. Excessive sweating can dampen your clothing and cause chilling later on.
L - Loose Layers - A steady flow of warm blood is essential to keep all parts of your body heated. Wear several loosely fitting layers of clothing and footgear that will allow maximum insulation without impeding your circulation.
D – Dry -Damp clothing and skin can cause your body to cool quickly, possibly leading to frostbite or hypothermia. Keep dry by avoiding cotton clothing that absorbs moisture, brushing snow from your cloths before it melts, and loosening the clothing around your neck and chest. Since body heat can drive perspiration through many layers of breathable cloth and force it out into the air, don't wear waterproof clothes.

Pictured Rocks - www.nps.gov/piro/faq.htm

Here’s a couple of other links for gear lists:

http://www.gdargaud.net/Climbing/Lists.html#Winter
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/00277.html

H-58 is plowed from Munising to Kingston Corner.
The Road from Munising to Sand Point is plowed.
Miner’s Castle Road is plowed 2 miles in from H-58
Chapel Road plowed 2 miles in from H-58.
From H-58 to Little Beaver Lake (Beaver Lake Rd) – NOT PLOWED.
From H-58 to Beaver Basin Lookout – NOT PLOWED.

“Must See” suggestions from people at Backpacker.com

· Grand Island
· Munising Falls
· Miner’s Castle & Falls
· Beaver Lake Road down to Little Beaver Lake
· Bond Falls
· Snow Tiger
· Eben Ice Caves

Winter Camping can be, at times, a humbling experience. As with many other moments in life, the ones that take the most effort are the most rewarding. Be sure that you bring with you the desire to have fun and a positive state-of-mind. Join us in an adventure that will be sure to produce memories for a lifetime…

WHERE WE GO ONE . . . WE GO ALL!!

Suggested Pack List:

____ BACKPACK (and/or large Sports Equipment Bag, and/or Duffel Bag). Line it with a Lawn Bag first, to keep contents dry.
____ WARM JACKET & SCARF.
____ SNOW PANTS (available at thrift stores for $3-$5).
____ 2 EXTRA PAIRS OF PANTS
____ 2 WOOL SWEATERS, or POLAR FLEECE SWEATSHIRTS (about $3 at Thrift Stores).
____ 2 LONG SLEEVE SHIRTS (Wool or synthetic fiber for good insulating quality & quick drying - $3 at thrift stores).
____ 2 SETS of LONG UNDERWEAR (if buying new, look for 100% synthetic fabric, NOT "waffle pattern" cotton blend).
____ 2 extra sets of UNDERWEAR
____ 2 extra pair HEAVY NON-COTTON HIKING SOCKS & Liners (Make sure your boots are NOT TIGHT!).
____ STURDY, INSULATED WINTER BOOTS (Rubber is much better than leather. Leather will freeze at night).
____ PLASTIC BAGS (newspaper or bread wrappers, or plastic grocery bags to go under socks in case of wet leather boots).
____ WINTER GLOVES or MITTENS (As many as you own and can borrow!)
____ 2 WARM HATS (One for Sleeping ONLY-Sleeping hat should be designed to stay on at night).
____ WINTER SLEEPING BAG (or 2 regular Sleeping Bags stuffed one inside the other; or a regular Bag AND 2-3 Blankets)
____ ADDITIONAL SWEAT PANTS & SWEAT SHIRT (for sleeping only! Change ALL of your clothes, including your long underwear, inside your sleeping bag when you go to bed).
____ TWO (2) CLOSED-CELL FOAM SLEEPING PADS (or about 2-3" of newspapers under your sleeping bag).
____ "BLUE" 5'X7' TARP or other Plastic Ground Sheet.
____ GOOD QUALITY WHISTLE on neck chain.
____ POCKETKNIFE (SMALL Swiss Army Knife on neck chain, $13. Never buy a knife made in China!)
____ MESS-KIT (BOWL, CUP, FORK, SPOON, PLATE -- heavy-duty plastic is warmer than metal).
____ 2 ONE-QUART WATER BOTTLES, filled ("Nalgene" Bottles can be filled with hot water for inside sleeping bag).
____ FLASHLIGHT & EXTRA BATTERIES.
____ SMALL FIRST AID KIT (You can make your own: BSA Handbook, Page 289).
____ PEN, PENCIL, SMALL NOTEBOOK, BSA HANDBOOK (No, you can't borrow ours).
____ COMPASS with a BASEPLATE, in a Zip-Lock bag (with map, if you have one).
____ MATCHES in a Zip-Lock bag.
____ CLEAN-UP KIT (Small Hand Soap, Small Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Comb, Floss, Fast-Drying Camp Towel).
____ TOILET PAPER (Half a roll in a Zip-Lock bag)

E-mail Laurie for more info, questions or to RSVP

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