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Sierra Club Wilderness trips and expeditions
   Club: Sierra Club
   Chapter: Michigan (Mackinac)
   Group: Central Upper Peninsula (CUPG)
   Leader: Michael Neiger, Marquette, Michigan (Web site; e-mail; bio)


Review photo album from this completed expedition

Sierra Club--20th Annual
Canadian (Fall) Backpacking Expedition

7-Day Wilderness
Backpacking and
Canyoneering Expedition
to the Upper Agawa Canyon,
11-Mile Creek Falls & Canyon,
11-Mile Creek sidecanyons,
Shannon Creek Falls,
Austin Lake Mountain,
Austin Lake Fire Tower,
and Raindrop Lake Falls,

September 1-7, 2006

Type: Wilderness backpacking & canyoneering expedition

Destination: Upper Agawa Canyon; 11-Mile Creek Falls & Canyon;
      11-Mile Creek sidecanyons; Shannon Creek Falls;
      Austin Lake Mountain and Austin Lake Fire Tower; Raindrop Lake Falls
   Agawa Canyon
   Algoma District
   Wawa, Ontario, Canada

When: 8 a.m. Friday, September 1 to late afternoon Thursday, September 7, 2006

Level: Expert-level, high-skills, 30-degree backpacking

Difficulty: Extremely strenuous; extremely steep, mountainous, tangled, rocky, off-trail map and compass recon; multiple swift-water, deep-water river crossings; canyoneering; swamp crossings

Prerequisites: Participants must have prior wilderness tripping experience with leader and must be extremely physically and mentally fit

Fees: $15 (U.S. funds) club fee, payable to leader at trailhead; $64 (Canadian funds) for round-trip train fare, Zone 3, aboard Algoma Central Railway, payable to ACR conductor, half for northbound trip and half for southbound trip; $70 (Canadian funds) for Crown Land Camping Permits (Note: this fee will likely be waived if leader is succesful in securing a waiver for same from the Ministry of Natural Resources.)

Sign-up deadline: Required by August 23

Sign-up process: After thoroughly reviewing the material presented below, contact trip leader to sign up. If this is your first trip with the leader, you should submit a completed Participant Questionnaire, which is available by e-mail from the leader (not applicable for this trip).

Trailhead lodging and assembly location: To be announced by e-mail about a week prior to trip

Leader: Michael Neiger, Marquette, Michigan (Web site; e-mail; bio)

Club: Sierra Club; Chapter: Michigan; Group: Central Upper Peninsula

 

Page contents index

 


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Trip itinerary

This 7-day, expert-level fall backpacking and canyoneering expedition--our 20th Annual Canadian (fall) Backpacking Expedition--will involve a cross-country trek across the rugged, seldom-travel, eastern escarpment of the upper Agawa Canyon.

After flagging down northbound Algoma Central Railway train no. 631 at the Frater siding, mile 102, we'll toss our rucks in the baggage car and climb aboard for the ride down into the Agawa Canyon, an eye-popping geological feature and natural wonder. We will have the conductor, who we purchased our tickets from, stop the train near the northern terminus of the canyon so we can get off just south of The Gorge, where the mighty Agawa River is constricted unlike anywhere else in the canyon.

After hiking through The Gorge and taking in this thunderous place, we'll swim across the Agawa River and ascend 11-Mile Creek Falls. From the falls, we'll work our way up the seldom-visited 11-Mile Creek Canyon, exploring the nooks, pools, and waterfalls of this Agawa Canyon sidecanyon. We may well spend additional time reconning a couple of the sidecanyons off of 11-Mile Creek Canyon.

Once we climb out of this canyon, we'll explore the multiple waterfalls along the Shannon Lake Watershed, a tributary of 11-Mile Creek.

From this point, time-permitting, we'll travel cross-country and bivouac on the summit of Austin Lake Mountain, taking in the amazing views from the old, Austin Lake Firetower. We may also explore Raindrop Lake Falls before crossing the Agawa River and flagging down ACR train no. 632 for the trip back to our vehicles.

Since the watercourses in this region are largely unbridged, our unscripted route may require multiple deep-water, swift-water crossings, several fords of watershed tributaries, steep rocky climbs, and swamp crossings. Bivouacs will be rough, rugged, cold, and wet, at best, just as much of our route will be.

 

This is remote, unforgiving, Canadian bush, so this trip requires attention to equipment, rations, bivouac gear, physical fitness, mental health, and land nav skills.

 


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Destination information

Out route will take us out the remote backside of one of Ontario's most popular parks, Lake Superior Provincial Park, which covers nearly 1000 square miles of rugged, wild bush. Hidden within it are dozens of waterfalls and rapids, pockets of old growth, rocky peaks and valleys, narrow canyons, an occasional log cabin or lodge, overgrown logging roads, lakes, rivers, streams, and swamps.

The park lies within the southern section of the Canadian Shield and its bedrock is composed mainly of ancient rock types that date 2.5 billion years or more. Evidence of ancient volcanic activity, mountain building, crustal uplift, faulting and folding, often followed by long periods of erosion, are common.

Several geological features have been identified within the park. Faults and dikes form narrow chasms in the bedrock in many areas. A common dike rock is diabase; an intrusive black rock. Eroded dikes and faults are a common sight along the Lake Superior coast.

The majority of the park is blanketed by transitional hardwood forests and boreal forests. Over 250 species of birds have been spotted in the park. A diverse wildlife population includes moose, the rare woodland caribou, wolves, fox, and beaver.

(Contains material adapted courtesy of Lake Superior Provincial Park)

Additional destination resources

  • Lake Superior Provincial Park headquarters, 1-705-856-2284, http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/parks/lakes.html
  • Lake Superior: 2006 Vistor Information Guide, Lake Superior Provincial Park
  • Canoe Routes, Lake Superior Provincial Park brochure, 2000 edition
  • Lake Superior Provincial Park Map, a 1:100,000-scale map showing portage trails and available from the Provincial Park at 1-705-856-2284
  • A Paddler's Guide to the Rivers of Ontario and Quebec, by Kevin Callan (Boston Mills Press, 2003)
  • "Paddling Algoma's Sand River," by Beth and Dave Buckley, Kanawa (Spring 1996)
  • "Early Run on the Sand River," by Beth and Dave Buckley, Canoe & Kayak (March 1996)
  • Northern Ontario Canoe Routes, by Ontario Department of Lands and Forests
  • Canoe Routes of Ontario, by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (Queen's Printer for Ontario, 1991)
  • Canoe Canada, by Nick Nickels (Van Nostrand Reinhold Ltd., 1976)
  • Algoma Central Railway, 1-800-242-9287, http://www.algomacentralrailway.com
  • "Railpacking," by Don Stap, Backpacker Magazine, September 1985, pp. 48-49.
  • Backpacking and Wilderness Camp Site Areas in Algoma Central Country, undated 3-page photocopy by Algoma Central Railway.
  • Hiking Trails, Lake Superior Provincial Park brochure, 2001 edition
  • The Complete Guide to Walking in Canada, by Elliott Katz (Firefly Press, 2001)
  • Exploring Superior Country--The Nature Guide to Lake Superior, by Craig Charles (1992, NorthWood Press, Inc.)
  • Voyageur Hiking Trail Guidebook, (Voyageur Trail Association, 1998)
  •  Agawa Ice Climbing Map, (Granite Publishing, 1999) http://www.climbingcentral.com
  • Algoma Central Railway, by O. S. Nock (A. C. Black Limited, 1975)
  • Tracks of the Black Bear, by Dale Wilson and Gordon D. Jomini (Nick Belt Rails, 1990)
  • The Algoma Central Railway Story, by Dale Wilson (Nick Belt Rails, 1984)
  • Forest Trails: Mile by Mile, by Rick Vosper (Algoma Central Railway, 2002)
  • Ice Climbs of the Lake Superior Region--A Compendium, edited by Don Hynek (Granite Publishing, 2000) [Agawa Canyon and Montreal River Gorge, pp. 133-172]
  • Guide to Sea Kayaking on Lakes Superior and Michigan: The Best Day Trips and Tours, by Bill Newman, Sarah Ohmann, and Don Dimond (Globe Pequot Press, 1999) [Lake Superior Provincial Park, pp. 174-181]
  • Up the Creek: A Paddler's Guide to Ontario, by Kevin Callan (Boston Mills Press, 1996) [Coastal route, pp. 118-123]
  • Search destination in http://www.google.com search engine

 


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Emergency contacts

  • Ontario Provincial Police, Wawa, 1-888-310-1122
  • Ambulance, Wawa, 705-856-4203
  • Hospital, Wawa, 705-856-2335
  • LSPP Red Rock Lake Headquarters, 705-856-2284
  • Algoma Central Railway, 1-800-242-9287
  • Sierra Club Outings Department 24-hour help line: 1-888-outings

 


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Participant requirements

  • Trekker must be 18 years old or older
  • Trekker must be drug-free and a non-smoker and non-drinker
  • Trekker must practice low impact travel and bivouac skills, leaving alcohol, pets, and speaker radios at home
  • Trekker must have prior wilderness tripping experience
  • Trekker must be fully equipped with lightweight gear including rucksack, bivouac gear, survival gear, foul-weather gear, rations, stove, etc.
  • Trekker must by very physically fit (good aerobic endurance)
  • Trekker must have a strong mind and an adventurous spirit
  • Trekker must be comfortable around water and a proficient swimmer
  • Trekker must be able, willing, and equipped to travel off-trail and bushwhack through challenging, thickly-forested, mountainous terrain with a fully-loaded rucksack
  • Trekker must be able, willing, and equipped to slog through muddy, wet, tangled swamps with a fully-loaded rucksack
  • Trekker must be able, willing, and equipped to ford or swim unbridged rivers and lake narrows with fully-loaded rucksack, wrapped in a tarp, floating alongside.
  • Trekker must be able, willing, and equipped to travel and bivouac in foul weather.
  • Trekker must be able, willing, and equipped to travel and bivouac in very remote areas, far from roads, dry & level campsites, potable water, toilets, and fire rings.
  • Notice: please review the homepage on this Web site for general wilderness tripping requirements

 


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Warnings and advisories

  • Hypothermia warning: I have had to intervene on several cases of hypothermia in the past, 5 times in one year alone. These incidents were largely the result of trippers who were trying to go ultra-light and were not carrying the multiple, redundant layers of clothing that I recommend. Reversing hypothermia takes hours of work on the part of others on the trip--a lot more work than is required to pack a couple extra pounds of warm clothing.
  • State Land bivouac advisory: Anyone camping on land owned by the State of Michigan is required by law (Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Sec. 74201 et seq., P.A. 451 of 1994) by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to post a Camp Registration Card (Form no. PR 4134) at their campsite. This permit--which is free--must be filled out in pencil (to make it legible when wet). Since the permit (view permit as PDF file) is perforated and made of heavy cardstock to withstand weathering, it can not be reproduced. These 8.5- by 11-inch permits can be picked up from any Michigan DNR office, or they can be ordered by e-mailing the DNR at DNR-FMD-TREES@michigan.gov. While these permits are usually provided by the trip leader, you should consider obtaining one when you are camping on your own, especially the night before the start of a Sierra Club trip. There is a substantial fine for not posting a Camp Registration Card.
  • Crown Land bivouac advisory: Anyone non-resident camping on land owned by the Crown-- the Canadian government--outside of a provincial or national park, must purchase a Crown Land Camping Permit, which costs $10 Canadian per day, per person. These permits are widely available through local outfitters and stores that sell hunting and fishing licenses. They can also be purchased from the Ministry of Natural Resources. Waivers for these camping permits are available for non-profit groups such as the Sierra Club, and are often applied for by the trip leader a month or two in advance of a trip.
  • Long-term parking advisory: Reduce problems by keeping your car locked, relatively empty, and uninviting. ALWAYS USE A LOCKING GAS CAP (they are very inexpensive [$10-15], especially when compared to the alternative of a vandal ruining your engine or emptying your gas tank miles from the nearest gas station).
  • Sierra Club Liability Waiver Form: National Sierra Club Policy requires that all trip participants read, understand, and sign the club's liability waiver form before they can participate in a club trip. Review and familiarize yourself with this form--Acknowledgment of Outing Member Responsibility, Express Assumption of Risk, and Release of Liability--before the trip.
  • Allergies to bee stings: If you are allergic to bee stings, you must notify the leader in advance of the trip. You must also agree to carry an injectable epinephrine unit, such as an EpiPen or Ana-Kit, as prescribed by your doctor.
  • Prohibition on cotton clothing: No high-cotton-content clothing--save a bandana or two--is allowed to be worn or carried in your rucksack for safety reasons. When wet, cotton is hard to dry and can be deadly as wearing cotton clothing often leads to hypothermia. Wool or synthetic clothing fashioned from nylon, supplex, polypro, fleece, or microfibers are much safer and easier to manage in foul weather.

 


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Trip risks, hazards, and perils

Sierra Club wilderness tripping and expeditioning--especially remote, foul-weather travel, bushwhacking cross-country, cliff and steep slope travel, climbing, cave exploration, river fording, swimming, canoeing, portaging, skiing, snoeshoeing, winter camping, ice crossing, etc.--involves unknown and unpredictable hazards and perils.

  • A participants failure to physically train and mentally prepare oneself for a harsh Sierra Club wilderness trip; acquire the necessary skills and equipment for the trip; and recognize, take responsibility for, and avoid the unknown and unpredictable hazards and perils that often present themselves on such a trip will likely result in the serious injury, paralysis, or slow, painful death of the participant. There is no emergency medical equipment, doctor, nurse, or other trained emergency medical provider on Sierra Club wilderness trips.
  • There is no means of contacting emergency medical personnel or rescue personnel on Sierra Club wilderness trips. Emergency communications equipment, cell phones, satellite phones, GPS units, and satellite beacons (ELTs, PLDs, & EPIRBs) are not provided, and can't always be relied upon when they are carried.
  • Search and rescue services, emergency medical care, and evacuation of the non-ambulatory may be very difficult and costly to arrange; in some cases, the wait could be very long, painful, and fatal. On wilderness trips through remote areas in Michigan and Canada, it may take several days of rigorous travel by uninjured volunteers before emergency personnel can even be contacted for help.

Recommended physicals

Prior to undertaking a wilderness trip or expedition, it is highly recommended that a participant have a comprehensive health checkup, which should include a:

  • thorough physical exam
  • stress test
  • dental examination

Recommend insurance coverage

Prior to undertaking a wilderness trip or expedition, it is highly recommended that a participant obtain the proper insurance coverage, including:

  • medical insurance
  • prescription insurance
  • dental insurance
  • evacuation insurance
  • trip cancellation insurance
  • disability insurance
  • life insurance

Insurance vendors

Vendors for trip, medical, and evacuation insurance include:

Emergency communications gear vendors

 


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Special notices and equipment

  • Survival kit: An in-pocket (on-your-person) survival kit (knife, waterproof matches, firestarters, compass, and whistle) is highly recommended. Sierra Club loaner survival kits are available from the club stores for free by prior arrangement.
  • Fire-proof stove base: Carry a heat-resistant, fire-proof stove base to prevent ground fires, which have been a problem in the past.
  • River-fording gear: River-fording footwear, pack towel, and shorts are mandatory
  • Water containers: Containers to hump 4 quarts of water are mandatory
  • Water supply: Bring an adequate amount of water to the trailhead as there is generally no water available.
  • Safety glasses: It is highly recommended that some form of eye protection--safety glasses--be worn while bushwhacking.
  • Equipment waterproofing: To keep your gear dry during foul weather or when floating rucksack (wrapped in a tarp) across a river or other waterway, the main compartment should be lined with a huge heavy-duty "contractor" grade plastic bag. Critical items within the "contractor" bag, such as clothing, sleeping bag, and rations, should be further protected from moisture by lining the stuff sacks containing these items with heavy-duty "garbage compactor" bags. Avoid using regular garbage bags as they tear to easily. A waterproof rain cover should enclose the pack when it is raining or while it is being floated across a waterway.
  • Hydration and snack consumption on trail: It is recommended that you carry a water bottle and snacks on your waistbelt in separate pouches so you can snack and sip water while underway. Snacking and drinking water are essential for avoiding dehydration, hypothermia, and exhaustion when things get challenging, especially late in the date or during foul weather. Sierra Club loaner snack pouches and water bottle carriers are available from the club stores for free by prior arrangement.
  • Canadian trips:
    • Canadian money: You may want to consider getting Canadian money from your local bank before the trip, or using one of the money exchange services located in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, if they are open when you cross the boarder. Currency exchange calculators on the Net include XE.com: Universal Currency Converter http://www.xe.com/ucc/ or X-Rates: Canadian dollars exchange rate http://www.x-rates.com/cgi-bin/show
    • Gasoline: You may want to consider topping off your gas tank, before you cross the border, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
    • Identification: Bring appropriate identification with you to reduce problems getting into Canada as well as back into the United States. If you don't have a visa, a copy of your birth certificate can help establish your identity.

 


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Rations required

  • Breakfasts--6 (Friday morning is restaurant stop)
  • Snacks--7
  • Lunches--7
  • Dinners--6
  • Backup rations--1 full day (breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner)

How to pack your rations:

Measure, weigh, and triple check your rations. You should be carrying about 1.75-2.75 pounds of dry weight food, or about 2700-4500 calories of food per day, depending on your body weight and exertion level. It is recommended that you avoid "bulk" packaging and instead pack each meal serving individually in its own, separate plastic bag. This system has the following advantages over putting all of your snacks, say nuts for the whole trip, in one bag:

    1. You'll know for sure at home (visually) that you've packed enough food;
    2. In the bush, you'll now exactly how much to eat without eating into another days rations; and
    3. You will further reduce the chances of your food getting ruined if moisture penetrates the food bag itself as the moisture will still have to work its way into each and every single, individual meal unit.

Meticulous ration planning, measuring, and packaging is tedious but essential for safe & successful long-range recon of remote wilderness. Additional menu planning information is available on the rations and stoves page.

 


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Equipment required

Survival gear

[ ] Waterproof matches
[ ] Waterproof firestarters
[ ] Sturdy pocket knife
[ ] Compass
[ ] Whistle
[ ] Map of area

First-aid kit

[ ] Elastic ankle wrap
[ ] Moleskin
[ ] Vaseline
[ ] Band-Aids
[ ] Waterproof first-aid tape
[ ] Pain relief medication
[ ] Anti-inflammatory medication

Repair kit

[ ] 20 feet of 1/8-inch braided nylon cordage
[ ] Duct tape
[ ] Sewing kit

Head gear

[ ] 1 very thin balaclava
[ ] 2 thick hats that can be worn together
[ ] 1 pair of sun glasses
[ ] 1 pair of safety glasses (for bushwhacking)
[ ] Prescription glasses (spare if important)
[ ] Bandana
[ ] Sun hat (optional)
[ ] Rain hat (optional)

Upper-body gear

[ ] 3 or 4 thin polypro tops
[ ] 2 1/4-inch thick fleece or micro-fiber-insulated jackets.
[ ] 1 1/4-inch thick fleece or micro-fiber-insulated vest
[ ] 1 thin breathable nylon shirt
[ ] 1 nylon rain parka (no vinyl; no ponchos)
[ ] A heavily-insulated parka with hood is advisable on early spring and late fall trips

Hand gear

[ ] 1 pair of mittens

Lower-body gear

[ ] 1 or 2 pair of 1/4-inch thick fleece or micro-fiber-insulated pants (sidezips are very handy)
[ ] 1 or 2 pair of polypro long underwear
[ ] 1 pair of thin nylon hiking pants
[ ] 1 pair of nylon rain pants (no vinyl)
[ ] 1 pair of hiking/swim shorts

Footwear

[ ] 1 pair of sturdy boots
[ ] 3 pair of thick synthetic socks
[ ] 2 pair of liner socks (optional)
[ ] 1 pair of short gaiters (optional)
[ ] 1 pair of river fording shoes/sandals

Rucksack gear

[ ] 1 large rucksack lined with contractor-grade plastic bag
[ ] Raincover
[ ] Waist belt water bottle parka
[ ] Waist belt snack pouch (optional)

Bivouac gear

[ ] Tarp and bivy; or small tent and cook fly
[ ] Stakes and ropes to rig tent or tarp
[ ] 20 degree sleeping bag
[ ] Sleeping pad
[ ] Sleeping booties (optional)
[ ] Flashlight (LED is recommended)
[ ] Spare battery
[ ] Candle

Bug-management gear (hot weather trips)

[ ] 1 bottle of 100% DEET
[ ] 1 spare bottle of 100% DEET
[ ] 1 headnet
[ ] 1 spare headnet

Hydration gear

[ ] 2 one-quart durable water bottles
[ ] 1 two-quart water bladder
[ ] Water purification system (iodine tablets recommended)
[ ] 1 spare bottle of iodine tablets

Ration-heating gear

[ ] Lightweight backpacking stove
[ ] Fuel for stove (five to six fuel tabs per day for Esbit Nato stoves)
[ ] Lighter
[ ] Windscreen for stove
[ ] Fireproof base for stove
[ ] Pot holder
[ ] Pot
[ ] Lid for pot
[ ] Spoon
[ ] Mug
[ ] 50-foot food-hanging rope (use cheap, hard, 1/8-inch-diameter, slippery rope)

Personal items

[ ] Personal medications
[ ] Driver's license
[ ] Birth certificate and/or passport (recommended for Canadian trips)
[ ] Emergency phone numbers
[ ] Credit cards
[ ] Cash and travelers checks
[ ] Medical and dental insurance cards
[ ] Sunscreen
[ ] Lipbalm with sunblock
[ ] Wrist chronograph
[ ] Paperback book (optional)

Personal hygiene gear

[ ] Toilet paper
[ ] Synthetic pack towel
[ ] Toothbrush
[ ] Toothpaste or toothpowder
[ ] Toothpicks & dental floss
[ ] Handcleaner (optional)
[ ] Plastic spade (optional)

Vehicle gear

[ ] Extra car key on lanyard
[ ] Vehicle registration papers
[ ] Vehicle insurance papers
[ ] Locking gas cap
[ ] Battery in good condition
[ ] Road map (Michigan 1-800-292-2520; Canada 1-800-268-3736)
[ ] County map book of Michigan (1-800-777-6720)
[ ] Spare tire (check pressure!!)
[ ] Tire jack and lug nut wrench
[ ] Shovel (spade in summer)
[ ] Vehicle Safety Checks: tire pressure, wiper blades, wiper fluid, oil, radiator fluid, transmission fluid
[ ] Jumper cables (optional)
[ ] Nylon tow strap (optional)
[ ] Axe (optional)
[ ] Bow saw (optional)
[ ] Hi-lift bumper jack (optional)
[ ] Hand-operated winch (optional)
[ ] Pick axe (optional)

More equipment information

 


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Land Nav Team info

Topographic maps

  • 1:50,000 Grey Owl Lake 41N/8 Canadian Topographic Map
  • 1:50,000 Blackspruce Lake 41N/9 Canadian Topographic Map
  • 1:20,000 20-16-6800-52500 Ontario Base Map
  • 1:20,000 20-16-6800-52600 Ontario Base Map
  • 1:20,000 20-16-6900-52500 Ontario Base Map
  • 1:20,000 20-16-6900-52600 Ontario Base Map
  • 1:20,000 20-16-7000-52600 Ontario Base Map
  • Topo map ordering info, waterproofing info, & GPS prep info

Provincial Park map

  • None

County maps

  • None

       County map ordering information

Magnetic declination specs

  • 2006 magnetic declination for meridian of longitude line at 47° 30'N, Lon 84° 24'W:
             07° 39' west
  • Deviation of UTM easting grid lines from meridian of longitude lines:
             02° 01' east
  • Magnetic declination of UTM easting grid lines:
             09° 40' west (we correct for this figure, rounded to the nearest degree, in the bush)

    Magnetic declination information

GPS configuration specs

  • Grid coordinate system
             1000-meter Universal Transverse Mercator Grid (UTM)
  • UTM grid horizontal map datum:
             1927 North American Datum (NAD 27 CONUS) for Michigan trips
             1927 & 1983 North American Datum (NAD 27 CA & NAD 83) for Canadian trips
  • UTM grid zone:
             Zone 16
  • UTM grid hemisphere:
             Northern hemisphere
  • Unit of measure:
             Metric
  • Battery type:
             Lithium, for deep cold, or long-range use
             Alkaline, for 3-season use
  • Battery type setting:
             Select type of battery (lithium, alkaline, or Ni-Cad);
             battery discharge-rate differences affect meter accuracy

GPS configuration information

Misc land nav equip setup

  • Roamer UTM plotter scale(s):
             1:24,000 & 1:25,000 for Michigan trips
             1:20,000 & 1:50,000 for Canadian trips
  • Ranger pacing beads:
             Metric--9 100-meter beads; 4 1-kilometer beads
  • Magnetic declination setting on compass:
             0° of offset

Land nav team information

 


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Past trip journals and photo albums

 


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Travel info

 


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Wilderness skills & resources

 

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In God's wilderness lies the hope of the world,
the great, fresh, unblighted, unredeemed wilderness.

 — John Muir 1838-1914, Alaska Wilderness, 1890

Content Copyright © 1984 -- 2006-11-11
by Michael A. Neiger

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* Disclaimer *
The information contained on this Web page and this Web site are provided solely for information, illustrative, and discussion purposes. Although the author has made a sincere effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information presented on this Web page and this Web site, no warranty is expressed or implied. The author assumes no responsibility or liability for any injuries, damages, losses, or other consequences that may result from the use of the information contained on this Web page and this Web site. As with any human endeavor, omissions, inaccuracies, and errors will occur on this Web page and this Web site and the author makes no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the information presented or that the information presented will produce any particular result or be suitable for any particular situation, person, organization, or other entity. While corrections and revisions may or may not be made from time to time, any changes made to this Web page and this Web site are made without obligation to notify any person, organization, or other entity of any such changes. The activities associated with the information contained on this Web page and this Web site are by their very nature inherently dangerous and the information presented can not take the place of good personal judgment, sound decision-making, professional training, proper equipage, adequate physical fitness, and expert guidance by trained and experienced professionals.

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