American/Canadian Wilderness Areas

rancar · Jan 11, 2003

Thanks Thomas. Yep...I've also been through the Mt Washington area. Very beautiful... but I was looking for something more desolute....was meeting up with too many other hikers and day trippers and this was defeating the purpose of what I was looking for....some isolation to think things through and gather my thoughts.

Ah....Black Hills is a good idea....never thought about this. Have been through the Bad Lands of North Dakota and I was impressed with their desolation and isolation but Black Hills... I have to look further into this. Thanks.

rancar · Jan 11, 2003

Hi Garry....

Great to see you back....I too have been away from the forums for awhile...just got back a couple weeks ago myself after about a 3-month absence. I've been incredibly busy up at my place with alot of outside chores that needed to get done before the cold and snows came in. Been busy removing hedgerows and cutting the trees up for firewood. But, snows came early and I only got about 10% cut up....will have to wait till snows melt in the Spring to finish the rest. But, when I get done I'll have 3 seasons worth of firewood...about 16-20 cords.

Thanks so kindly for your generous offer for lunch....don't know what travel plans are yet since I'm still exploring a bit on where the next back country trip should be....but if I pass your way I will certainly look you up and take you up on your kind offer. The Great Lakes back country...this is something I have to explore a bit more. I was interested at one time in the Boundry Waters canoe area....but I always thought one needed a canoe and I didn't really want to go canoeing. But, if there are numerous trailheads that I can access by car and just hike, I'll consider. One question though....how are the black flys up there in July/August? Probably not a big deal but I've heard they're murderous.

Great to hear you're test driving some tractors. Can't wait to see that thread of yours announcing the purchase of your new tractor.

Take care for now...see ya in the forums.

Bob

rancar · Jan 11, 2003

Thanks Buck for the advice. As I mentioned to Garry, the Great Lakes region is a place I have to explore a bit more. I'm interested only in hiking and backbacking into the back country, not so much boating or canoeing and I'll have to explore these possibilities.

Beautiful catch....looks like those fish up there are well enough nourished.

Just noticed from your profile you live in upstate NY. You mind if I ask where you're located? I'm in Cambridge....stone's throw from the Vermont border and about a 20 minute drive to Bennington.

Thanks for the advice.

Bob

rancar · Jan 11, 2003

Thanks Egon and Peter on the followup advice. I'll check the website you mention and dig around a bit more for more specifics.

Thanks Al for your thoughts about North Cascades. I had passed through here on the family vacation in 1999 but didn't have time to stop for any back country hiking. Real beautiful country though....reminded me a bit of Bob Marshall wilderness. This may be real easy to do. Fly into Seattle and within 1-2 hours I could be at a trailhead. Thanks.

Bob

Golfgar4 · Jan 11, 2003

<font color=blue>"One question though....how are the black flys up there in July/August?"</font color=blue>

Hmmm /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif. That's a good question. I don't recall the flies being a problem in late July or August, and that's when we used to go up there. I think they're usually at their worst around June. You may recall my attempt at a vacation last June in northern Wisconsin (about 20 miles south of Lake Superior) where we got driven out by the flies. That was in mid June. I spoke with a friend just after he returned from the same area in mid July, and they didn't have any fly problems at all. He has a cabin in that area, so he goes up there a lot. He said they usually don't have much of a fly problem after the 4th of July or so.

But it's a good question. I know I won't go back up there in June again!

Good luck on your decision. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

rancar · Jan 11, 2003

Thanks Garry....I remember the problem you had. This is what prompted me to ask the question. I've been in these situations myself and it's not enjoyable.

Anonymous Poster · Jan 11, 2003

Black flies are usually a problem until mid-June, then they are gone. I bear hunt in northern Wisconsin within 5 miles of Lake Superior. I have found black flies gone by mid-June both on the north and south side of Lake Superior.

After I suggested Isle Royale, I went and did a couple of searches. It was quite interesting. The web site for the Copper Harbor area provided the most links and information. This is the only island national park. And is quite large. It has its own lakes on the island. Hundreds of miles of trials. You can't drive to it, must take a ferry. Wish I could post some informational links.

There are so many great places. And time is so short.

rancar · Jan 12, 2003

Thanks for the tips L3650.

utahmule · Jan 13, 2003

Bob,

If you're looking for remote in the lower 48, it's hard to beat the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ut.blm.gov/monument/>Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument</A>, in Southern Utah.

If memory serves, it was determined by <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/roadtests/1996/July/199607_lonelies.xml?keywords=most%20remote>some magazine </A> to have the farthest point from town, roas, etc. in the continental US. Somewhere on the Kaiparowits Plateau I believe.

If nothing else, read the magazine link, it's pretty funny.

This is one of the areas I work in, and I can tell you I've gone for days on some of the "roads" in the area and never seen another car or person. And that' s not even very far into it, as vehicles are not permitted in much of the area.

If you need any more info, I'd be glad to help. This part of the country is stitched full of desolate wilderness places. The Arizona Strip, from the north rim of the Grand Canyon, to the Utah Arizona state line, is another desolate area.

Bird · Jan 13, 2003

<font color=blue>The Arizona Strip, from the north rim of the Grand Canyon, to the Utah Arizona state line, is another desolate area</font color=blue>

Hmm. . ., didn't know it had a name (Arizona Strip), but the little town of Kanab, UT, is a nice place to stay, at least for RVers. Nice little golf course, and all kinds of interesting places to visit that are close enought to go and come back the same day; Lake Powell, Pipe Spring National Monument, the North Rim, and several others. But of course we didn't get far from the road into any "wilderness"./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif In the Kaibab National Forest we saw the biggest flock of wild turkeys I've ever seen.