Thanks for sharing, Mike. I like the whimsy of the "pointless cairn," and love that old Coleman stove! Above all else, though, having an entire island (or whatever size) to oneself would be a wonderful way to enjoy a few days.
This looks like a great place. I said in another thread that last night was my second night at work and I am already looking for a place to go this fall. This looks like it has real potential. Were there many other people around?
Thanks for sharing, Mike. I like the whimsy of the "pointless cairn," and love that old Coleman stove! Above all else, though, having an entire island (or whatever size) to oneself would be a wonderful way to enjoy a few days.
I probably chuckled at my joke a lot more than they did.
Well, I've enjoyed your cairn joke quite a bit (and quite inexplicably -- sometimes the smallest things are the source of the largest amusement)... and besides, now it's easier to find my way to the shave gear each morning.
Blake
I consider it to be a great place. It is open year round, but May 1st is the opening of fishing and the ice is almost always out by then. for the first few weeks in May it is crazy busy according to the rangers. June and July are high season for family camper types. I was there third week in June. Even with that, I arrived Sunday mid day and it was pretty deserted. Left Friday mid day and I didn't notice a big week end crowd yet. Campsites are free and there is no registration. there are 60 campsites first come first serve. 2 for handicapped, 20 with picnic tables and the rest without. all sites have fire rings and pit toilets. I would say that as I paddled around only 1 in 4 campsites were occupied. the rangers talk about firewood being picked over by the time I got there, but I don't think it is possible. even my small island had so much down timber on it, that I could have collected several cords of firewood and still been able to find more. If you like exploring and flat water paddling, I highly recommend the Turtle Flambeau.
I was looking at this place on at work tonight. It looks incredible. The site said something about a "quiet area" but I didn't quite understand where it was. I found the lake in question, it just didn't make sense at 0330 in the morning. Out of curiosity, what camp site number did you stay at?
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/facilities/turtleflambeau/documents/2009Turtle-FlambeauMap.pdf
I know what you mean, and it wasn't because it was 0330. The online map of the lake lacks contrast in the color used to outline the quiet area. If you blow up the pdf to 125%, look at campsite C9, just to the east of it you see a line drawn across the water, that is the line used to outling the quiet area. Everything to the east of that line and contained by the shore of the North east group of lakes past Murrays landing up to where the Flambeau River enters, is the quiet area. I had them send me a paper map and the quiet area is drawn in a contrasting purple that stands out clearly.
I camped at Campsite D-23. Not in the quiet area, but it was quiet just the same.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/facilities/turtleflambeau/documents/2009Turtle-FlambeauMap.pdf
I know what you mean, and it wasn't because it was 0330. The online map of the lake lacks contrast in the color used to outline the quiet area. If you blow up the pdf to 125%, look at campsite C9, just to the east of it you see a line drawn across the water, that is the line used to outling the quiet area. Everything to the east of that line and contained by the shore of the North east group of lakes past Murrays landing up to where the Flambeau River enters, is the quiet area. I had them send me a paper map and the quiet area is drawn in a contrasting purple that stands out clearly.
I camped at Campsite D-23. Not in the quiet area, but it was quiet just the same.
Bon voyage! I'm interested to know, what if any changes in equipment are you making since the last trip?
Sounds good, if TMI in places. Bannock is definitely great. For some reason I'm reminded of the aluminum foil we used to cook canned biscuit dough in during Scout outings. You're probably way ahead of me, but my guess is that the evenings up there can get chilly, so I'd pack a jacket or long johns, too.
My best friend had set a goal to kayak every river in the state which was Nebraska. Unfortunately, he passed away this year at the age of 30 and never accomplished what he set out. I tried his kayak and have decided I want to kayak from where he grew up all the way down to the Gulf Of Mexico. We used to canoe as kids/teenagers so it wasn't bad to kayak. But I am not looking to do White Water Kayaking.
Now I am the envious one. I think September is a good time to go up there. I really look forward to the photos on your return. don't know if you found it, but there is a list of gps coordinates to all the camp sites and the landings on that DNR website. I plugged severel into my gps receiver and it made getting around the flowage very easy. just pick a waypoing and have the gps point the way.
What campsites are you thinking of and why?
happy paddling.
Unfortunately, I have no GPS.
As far as sites, we considered yours. However, we are thinking about staying in the the lake north of there. That would mean putting in at Fisherman's Landing. We want to be secluded, and thought it may be wise to stay in the quiet zone. Any suggestions or advice?