Journey through Ontario's Slate Islands, an archipelago at the northern tip of Lake Superior. Kayak through rugged bays and inlets. View unusual geologic features formed by the enormous meteorite impact that created the islands more than a billion years ago. Discover different terrains, exploring the many islands. Catch a glimpse of woodland caribou swimming across bays or walking along shores as the Slates are home to the largest known, unpredated herd. Take a break from paddling and hike to the lighthouse where the view over Lake Superior is breathtaking! This trip offers a great mix of cultural and natural history that will help enrich your experience with Wilderness Inquiry.

Sample Itinerary

DAY 1: Your trip begins in Terrace Bay, Ontario, on the northern edge of Lake Superior. Ride with the group from Minneapolis or meet the group after dinner in Terrace Bay, discuss expectations and get started on sorting and sizing gear. You'll want to get a good night's sleep, to be ready to go the next day.

DAY 2: Rise early to catch the motorized shuttle to the Island group. Once on Patterson Island, you'll set up camp early in McGreevy Harbor and have time to explore the island group's inner passage. This area is sheltered from most harsh weather, and so this is the most likely place for us to spot the Islands' abundant wildlife. If we are lucky and quiet, we may even catch a glimpse of one of the islands' hundreds of woodland caribou.

DAY 3: After breakfast with the group, we'll set out to explore the rugged east coast of Patterson Island. The island should shelter you from the wind, as you head into Lake Superior. Our destination for the day is the sheltered cove behind Cove, Shell, and Pearl Islands, where we can camp and lounge on a beautiful stone beach that extends up into the woods.

DAY 4: Today is the day to explore the varied terrain of the south side of Patterson. We'll glide into Sunday Harbor and beach the kayaks to investigate the Slate Islands Lighthouse. A challenging trail leads to the lighthouse, but our reward is a breathtaking view out over Lake Superior. After lunch we'll continue on along the south shore, around Horace Point and into Horace Cove, where we will set up camp for the evening.

DAY 5: Our goal for the day, weather dependent, is to complete the circumnavigation of the island. This western coast is the scenic highlight of the trip, with lovely beaches, cliffs, and forests. We'll pass by Edmonds and McColl Islands and camp back in McGreevy Harbor. We may even spot more caribou.

DAY 6: Over breakfast we'll be on the lookout for the arrival of the charter shuttle, which will take us, our gear and the kayaks back to the mainland. Take one last look at these lovely islands. Once back in Terrace Bay, we will aim to leave for Minneapolis early afternoon.

Travel, Terrain, Etc...

TERRAIN/ROUTE CHOICES: The Slate Islands are rugged, with rocky terrain, small bays, and points. The group is most mobile when in the kayaks. The Slates offer a wide range of route options from very easy to very difficult. There are numerous bays and inlets to explore, or we can choose to take a hike inland.

TYPE OF TRAVEL/DISTANCE: You will travel in 21-foot Grand San Juan sea kayaks, which hold 2 or 3 people plus all necessary gear. An average day's travel consists of 3-8 paddling hours depending on weather conditions. Be prepared for the possibility of a wind bound day. Travel distances vary from 8-14 miles each day. To protect the environment, WI uses minimum impact camping techniques.

WEATHER: Temperatures in the summer months range from 45 F to 85 F. Rainfall can vary, but you should expect at least a day of rain. The weather is greatly affected by Lake Superior's large expanse of cold water. Lake Superior is notorious for sudden weather changes, so it is best to be prepared.

LODGING/BATHROOM FACILITIES: This is a camping trip. At night you will sleep in a comfortable Eureka Timberline tent. Typically, there are 3 people per 4 person tent (although other arrangements can be made). We recommend that you bring your own personal sleeping bag and "camprest" foam core inflatable mattress (a limited number of sleeping bags and mattresses are available as loaners for individuals who need them). Bathroom facilities consist of an outhouse or a foldable commode chair set up in a privacy tent. We make every effort to ensure privacy and cleanliness.

GROUP SIZE: The group size ranges from 8 to 10 participants, plus 2 or more Wilderness Inquiry staff. Each group consists of people of various ages, backgrounds and abilities, including people with disabilities.

CAMP CHORES: Our trips are cooperative in nature. WI staff will assist you in whatever areas you need, however, we ask that you pitch in when you can. Part of the adventure involves participating in daily camp activities such as cooking and dishes.

EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING: If you are new to outdoor activities, you need not spend a lot of money on gear. Wilderness Inquiry will provide all necessary kayaking and camping equipment. All you need to provide is your personal gear, such as clothing and a sleeping bag. A detailed equipment list will be sent to you upon confirmation of your participation. If you need to borrow personal gear, that can usually be arranged.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: No previous experience is needed to complete this trip.

Wilderness Inquiry is proud to serve Caribou Coffee on all our trips. Great food, great coffee, and great company are just some of the ingredients that make Wilderness Inquiry trips special.

[ Dates & Fees ]      

From www.terrace-bay.com/slateislands.html:

The Slate Islands are located 13 km off the shore of Terrace Bay and are only accessible by boat or plane, usually from Terrace Bay or Rossport. The Slates are composed of eight islands. The two largest, Patterson and Mortimer island, are surrounded by protected waters, coves, bays, and smaller islands. They are popular fishing spots and serve as a great place to pitch a tent. In 1985, the Township of Terrace Bay turned the Slate Islands over to the Ministry of Natural Resources and they were designated as a Provincial Park.

The Slate Islands' most recent distinction is the concentrated presence of woodland caribou. According to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, it is the largest unpredated herd of this species known. The caribou arrived on the Slate Islands in the early 1900's, when Lake Superior froze over. The Lake had not frozen over again until the winter of 2002/ 2003. The freezing of the lake allowed for at least two wolves to cross over to the islands. Until then, caribou did well on the Slate Islands due to the lack of natural predators, such as wolves and lynx, and to the lack of deer and moose who compete for food and carry a parasite that are lethal to caribou. Caribou can be seen frequently swimming across the bay or walking along the shore.

Another rare find on the Slate Islands is the presence of Arctic plant life. Dryasdrummondii is an arctic species which is usually found 1600km to the north.This species was found on the Southwest coast of the island primarily in rock pools. The second rare find was the Polygonunviviporum commonly known as smart weed. This species is considered a delicacy to the Inuit people and is normally found in the high Arctic areas. The plant grows in low lying mossy rock, and can usually be found on the northern shores of Greenland, Eslemere Island and here on the Slate Islands.

Scientists believe that the Islands were created in an explosive event, most likely the impact of a large meteorite. By this theory, which was introduced in the 1970s, the Slate Islands represent only a small part of a much larger impact crater beneath the surface of Lake Superior, representing the bulls eye of the cosmic blow. The islands rise to nearly 400 feet, 122 m above lake level.

Buck Sharpton, staff scientist at NASA's Lunar and Planetary institute, says that the meteor that created the Slate Islands was about 30 kilometers in diameter. The asteroid plunged 3 km inside the earth. The meteorite, moving up to 20 km per second, vaporized in a blast equal to more than one million megatons (megaton= 1 million tons) of TNT. The Slate Islands are a tremendous resource for scientists to understand the science of asteroids collisions with plants and to offer clues about the next "Dinosaur Killer" meteor in the earth's future.

 

For more information, visit these links:

Slate Islands

Slate Islands Wikipedia

Slate Island Ontario Parks

[ Dates & Fees ]

2009 Dates	Fee
07/06/2009 - 07/11/2009	$1295	Register Now
07/20/2009 - 07/25/2009	$1295	Register Now
08/14/2009 - 08/19/2009	$1295	Register Now
2010 Dates	Fee
07/05/2010 - 07/10/2010	$1295	Register Now
07/19/2010 - 07/24/2010	$1295	Register Now
08/13/2010 - 08/18/2010	$1295	Register Now
Transportation This trip officially begins at the Aguasabon Campground in Terrace Bay, Ontario, at 8 pm . By car, it is 4 hours north of Thunder Bay, Ontario, and 13 hours from Minneapolis. You can take your own transportation or use WI’s van transportation from Minneapolis. Most people meet us in Minneapolis early morning on the day the trip begins. Detailed meeting place instructions will be sent to you when you are confirmed for the trip.
Meeting Places:		Additional Round-trip Fee:
Minneapolis - WI Headquarters		$135 per person
Duluth - Best Western Edgewater Hotel		$95 per person
Thunder Bay		$50 per person
Terrace Bay		$0 (No charge)