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[mystictechgal]

Not an actual conference, although we will be meeting up with Environmental Science students from Steven's Point and the Ojibwa Community College to study the Great Lakes and participate in some environmental service learning projects. Who knows, perhaps someday it will become a conference.

At any rate, I post here as the most likely place people might respond. The week after next we will be leaving for a week of tent camping on the shores of Keweenaw Bay. Last time I was in the UP I was 8 and on a cruise with my Aunt down the Ste. Lawrence Seaway. I've spend a fair amount of time in Minneapolis on business, but I have never been tent camping on the shores of Lake Superior. I've only been tent camping once in my life.

I'll have my own tent, sleeping bag, etc., but I'm wondering about what to take for clothing, and a few other things, and hope that forumites can help. Shorts, jeans, or convertible pants? Long sleeves or t-shirts? Sweatshirts/pants or jackets necessary? We'll be taking a trailer for equipment, including kayaks. I'm a diver, and I love to swim. Diving isn't likely on the agenda, but should I take any equipment, at all? No clue what water temps are like. I have a full wet-suit, a mid-weight wetsuit (neither as warm as full neoprene, nor as light as a wet-skin), and two wet-skins. Which might be best for those temps? I could also easily take mask, fins, and snorkel. I'm not about to bother with tanks, BC, regulator/computer, etc., because I don't think a real dive is in the cards, and if it is, that equipment should be rentable. I will take my card and dive log, just in case.

Don't know if we'll have reception there. I will have my Droid and iPad and will be able to recharge them. I have some good cameras and lenses, including a Nikonos IV for underwater. Should I bother to take any of them, or rely on my Droid phone?

Any advice would be appreciated. We leave on the 11th. We will not be backpacking, per se, so weight's not really an issue.

[madhatter]

Bring a sweatshirt and long pants. It can get cool in mornings and evenings, and you might want them to ward off the bugs even if it's not cool. Raingear. You want good-quality raingear -- that includes a jacket and pants. Don't bring jeans - miserable for camping, as they are either too hot, too bulky, or soaking wet.

That area has a lot of granite. Bring sturdy walking shoes with thick soles, good socks, and pack a moleskin to deal with blisters.

Oodles of sunscreen and twice as much of the strongest bug spray you can find.

I have no idea about diving stuff.

[mystictechgal]

Bring a sweatshirt and long pants. It can get cool in mornings and evenings, and you might want them to ward off the bugs even if it's not cool. Raingear. You want good-quality raingear -- that includes a jacket and pants. Don't bring jeans - miserable for camping, as they are either too hot, too bulky, or soaking wet.

That area has a lot of granite. Bring sturdy walking shoes with thick soles, good socks, and pack a moleskin to deal with blisters.

Oodles of sunscreen and twice as much of the strongest bug spray you can find.

I have no idea about diving stuff.

Thanks, Madhatter! I really would prefer avoiding jeans. I prefer travel stuff I can wash and have dry by morning--I've just under-grown a lot of my previous clothes, so I may have to buy for this trip and need to be judicious. Rain gear! I'll have to look for it--I think I've got some from running years, thanks! I will need new boots and socks, unfortunately. I was planning to pack, as towels, the chamois I've used on dive trips. They take up little space, work well as a sports towel, and, as we discovered on an early dive trip, can be sliced up to act as moleskin for blisters in an emergency. Wasn't expecting to use them that way on the trip, but it saved the trip for a few fellow travelers in pain. I haven't traveled without them since, and all 15 on that dive trip promptly added them to their bags. Somewhere I still have almost 100% DEET that we got for black flys in AU. I'm not having any children--I'll use it.

Hat? If so, Tilley canvas, or the ventilated one I got in AU? Do I need to carry the fly face shield we got when we were in AU? Do I need a mosquito net for the tent? As I think about it I realize that I have absolutely no idea what conditions are in the UP in July, and there's less I've been able to find on the Internet than I was able to find when we visited the AU Outback years ago. How odd.

[madhatter]

A hat is good, of course. The type depends on your comfort. It can be hot and humid.

I think it will be past blackfly season when you go, but there will definitely be mosquitoes. I've never used any kind of special netting -- just a tent that seals up tight and has netting over the doors and vents.

There might be no-see-ums, too.

[barred_owl]

There will be mosquitoes, no-see-ums, and voracious deerflies in the UP in mid-July.  No need for mosquito-netting, as madhatter suggested; just jump in and out of the tent quickly, and zip it up tight.  Keep the bug dope handy, and don't forget to put some on your socks to ward off ticks.

Water temperatures in Lake Superior are always cold, hovering around 55 degrees near the Keewenaw:  http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/ofs/lsofs/fore_temp.shtml   There are dive shops around, although I don't know if there are any near where you'll be going; a lot of the Lake Superior diving activity centers around shipwrecks.  I suppose it would depend on how much time you'll have, given the other activities of your trip, whether or not you'd be able to go diving.  Maybe check with whoever is organizing the trip before you pack up any dive gear?

Raingear, definitely.  Warm clothing, most definitely--night temps can get down into the 50s, even if daytime highs are in the 80s.  Good hiking shoes are always a good idea.  Maybe some sort of water shoe/sandal for kayaking?  A hat to block the sun is something I'd recommend (keeping your head warm isn't really going to be the issue, except maybe at night).

[mystictechgal]

Thanks. I picked up the tent I'll be using from my friend, tonight. The one that I had that was stolen (as time goes on I realize more and more what he must have stolen, it's making it more, and more difficult to be decent at social engagements) was a pop-up. I just borrowed the tent I'll be using tonight. It requires pegs and stakes and has an outer fly. I got a mini-course on setting it up, but haven't, yet. Suppose I should try it before we get there,

Was also able to borrow a ground layer for my sleeping bag. Should be better than just using my yoga mat, which is what I did last year when I decided to sleep on the roof.

Thinking I'll take both my mid-weight dive suit (I've never actuaally used it before) and a wetskin. I can always double. I hate the full neoprene wetsuit. I only own it because the a**holes certifying us insisted on it to get certified. They almost refused to certify us because we bought them elsewhere. That suit--and their insistance--the fact that the required, and borrowed, from them, head-cover didn't fit and collected air, cost me our child. I've never needed to wear it on an actual dive, and don't ever really want to. It can stay on its damned hanger.

Have to find my raid gear from my running days, though the diveskin might work if we're working. I've used it for cross-country skiing. I'll need to buy new boots, and I may take some Teva sandals that I have, but the idea of something for kayaking? I have some Rykä water-aerobic shoes that may be able to do double, or triple-duty--the kayaking, wading/exploring, and general casual tennis shoe duty. I think they'll go along.

Never considered bug spray on socks to repel ticks. Thanks for the tip, Barred_Owl! Makes sense. God, I'm such a novice at this.

[barred_owl]

Speaking of pitching a tent, MTG, it occurs to me to suggest that you take some plastic sheeting (like the stuff used to cover windows) in a piece big enough to put under the tent--it'll help keep ground moisture from seeping in and will also protect the tent floor from abrasion.  And, yes, definitely practice setting it up before you go--it's no fun trying to set up a tent in the rain or the dark if you're not sure where all the pieces should go.

If the mosquitoes last night were any indication, you're going to need that DEET!  They came out right about sunset and kept us swatting at them for about an hour.  I can still hear them whining in my ears...

As far as cameras are concerned, I'd definitely take something with a little more capability than a phone camera.  There's some great scenery up on the Keewenaw, and if you happen to stop at Pictured Rocks on the way there, you'll be really glad you had something that can capture the colors (turquoise water) just right.

Sounds like it will be a fun trip!  Is everyone camping the whole time, or will you also have some motel nights as well?

[madhatter]

Speaking of pitching a tent, MTG, it occurs to me to suggest that you take some plastic sheeting (like the stuff used to cover windows) in a piece big enough to put under the tent--it'll help keep ground moisture from seeping in and will also protect the tent floor from abrasion.  And, yes, definitely practice setting it up before you go--it's no fun trying to set up a tent in the rain or the dark if you're not sure where all the pieces should go

Yep -- forgot about the groundsheet. A tarp is good, but cheap plastic sheeting will work too. For insulation under the sleeping bag, I'm old fashioned with a foam pad, but you can use an air mattress, yoga mat, or whatever. Not much comfort, but it insulates your body heat from the ground.

[mystictechgal]

A groundsheet was included with the tent, along with a rain fly, an extra fly to use over a table or tree branch, packs of plastic and wire pegs, a small hatchet, and a closed foam pad for my sleeping bag--all except for the foam pad enclosed in a pair of small bike panniers. He also suggested simply sleeping in my (loosened) clothes for warmth, and putting whatever clothing I might be putting on the next day inside the bag with me if it was a cold night. He uses clothes as a pillow, but I think I'll take one along since space and weight won't be an issue.

Based on his description of the water temps, I think I'll pack my mid-weight suit and a skin; I can layer, if necessary. I'll go ahead and take my Minolta 32mm digital. It has more lenses than my Nikon, including a zoom, and I won't have to deal with film canisters. Before I use the Nikonos again I probably need to replace seals, so I won't plan on underwater photos.

I need to remember to pack a flashlight, and check out the lantern in the basement to see what it needs. I also need to get to the camp store for some biodegradable soaps/shampoo, etc., along with a couple pair of convertible pants, since I noticed a hole in the front of the only pair I have that still fit. (Noticed only after I sat back down after doing the readings at church last week. *sigh*)

I just noticed my telescope sitting in the corner. I'll ask my prof if she'd like me to bring it. I'm imagining spectacular night skies, with far less light pollution.

Barred_Owl, it will all be camping, and I'm really hoping we'll have Internet. Two of us are in the same chem class, and we'll be missing the entire week (2 classes). We're taking our books, so we won't miss any lecture (one up-side to a prof simply reading the book to us), but a classmate has agreed to email me the homework, and it would be nice to get it. We're doing the drive in a day, I think, with stops at the other lakes minimal in time--but long enough to get wet at each. This should be interesting. We've all been in cars with Sister driving, and we've all found Jesus at some point on the drive. This time she's driving a van, and pulling a trailer (which she's never done before). I'm just hoping we all make it back alive and in one piece.

Oh, the talk about mosquitoes just made me realize that I should make sure my med kit still contains cortisone cream. Please tell me that bees/wasps aren't a problem. I really don't want to pay for a doctor's visit and another Epi-pen.

I guess I should spend Monday packing.

[madhatter]

Oh, yeah, amazing night skies.

Mid-July isn't likely to get too cold at night, but it's good to be prepared.

There are bees - I dunno what constitute a problem, though.  You aren't likely to run into a swarm.

[barred_owl]

Batteries!  Don't forget spare batteries for whatever electronics or other devices you'll have with you.

Matches and/or lighters for lighting campfires or campstoves...Which reminds me: what are you doing for food?  Will you all be cooking at your campsites or going out?  If you're cooking at the site, who's bringing the cooking gear?

Bees won't be a problem, in all likelihood.  Bears might be, though.  Keep all your food and smelly stuff stowed in the van, if possible.

On the one hand, it sounds like you're describing a backcountry trip, but I can't tell for sure, given that you're not concerned about weight or space.  I guess if you can drive into the campground, it's not really backcountry, although I suppose it could be a Forest Service (other other) campground with only pit toilets.  Sounds like fun, no matter what.

[madhatter]

I used to go on BWCA trips where you had to hang your food bags from trees to keep the bears away. Now THAT was fun.

[mystictechgal]

Sister was going to hire a cook, but either she couldn't find one or she just never got organized enough to look for one (most likely the case). At any rate, she says she'll be doing the cooking, and she's assigned herself to bring the food and equipment. She solo tent camps every summer as her retreat, so she should be fairly experienced. From what I understand there is a small town somewhere nearby, but it only has one restaurant and, maybe a couple of fast food places.

The only thing I'll need batteries for should be the flashlight. I have a cigarette lighter charger for the phone and iPad, and I think there's at least a few electrical hookups I can use for the camera (and/or the phone and iPad). It is a campground, but I gather it's pretty rudimentary and not highly populated.

I do know enough to keep food out of the tent.

[cranefly]

Light/white clothing. Deer fly are attracted to dark colours. If you haven't experienced deer fly in massive numbers, you have no idea what you are in for. You definitely want a hat, light coloured.

[barred_owl]

Just an update on the bug situation from the vicinity of the Keewenaw...

Mosquitoes are ferocious right now, especially just before and for about an hour or so after sunset, or in places that are thick with understory growth.

Deerflies are similarly ferocious during the day, seeking out what seem like the most vulnerable sites to bite.

There are also the biting flies--like smaller versions of houseflies, but they pack a wallop when they bite.  Ankles are especially favored spots for their attack, and these pests are active morning, noon, and night.

So far, no no-see-ums, but I suspect they're revving up for emergence in the next few weeks.

Forewarned is forearmed, as they say, so keep that DEET handy, MTG!