THE NATURE OF MOOSEWATCH
A. BASIC ITINERARY
On the first day of your expedition you will take a ferry to Isle Royale. You will be greeted at the dock by the Vucetichs and/or the Petersons. Together, we will spend the next several hours at base camp for orientation, training, and packing food and equipment. Then, for one week, you will explore the backcountry in search of moose bones with your team leader. On the afternoon of the eighth day, you will return to base camp where your expedition began. Here you will debrief, record data, shower and enjoy a celebratory banquet. On the final morning, you will board a ferry back to the mainland.
B. DAILY SCHEDULE
While traveling through the wilderness, the team will hike together, camping each night in the wilderness. Most daylight hours will be spent moving relatively slowly through the forest, following animal trails and examining areas where moose skeletons are expected to be found. There will be ample time for observing nature and appreciating the wilderness during the course of each day.
The team will travel together with their team leaders, often spread out a bit for maximum coverage. Under the leader’s direction, groups may split briefly (e.g., to cover both sides of a pond). When moose bones are found, the area is searched to find and gather the dispersed bones for examination. A preliminary analysis of the remains will be made at the site. Several bones, including the skull, mandible, and a leg bone, are collected and carried back by the Moosewatchers.
Activities and conditions will vary by expedition. Teams I, II, and III will find somewhat easier hiking because the ground vegetation will just be emerging. This also means greater success in finding moose skeletons. Participants on team IV will encounter much thicker ground vegetation. The earlier expeditions are often challenged by cold temperatures, and the later expedition is often challenged by hot temperatures.
Daily schedules can vary substantially, depending on research needs. Flexibility in this regard is essential.
On some occasions, the team will return to the same camp after a day of hiking. This allows a participant, if they choose, to remain in camp for rest.
Navigation through the wilderness is by topographic maps, aerial photos, and compass. We purposely route Moosewatchers through regions of the island where we’ve not been before or haven’t visited in years. For this reason, it is good to be prepared for the insecure feeling of making mistakes in navigation. Even with decades of experience in this, Rolf and John still manage to get lost at times.
In general, the success of the expedition depends on genuine group effort and a strong team spirit.
C. LOW-IMPACT BACKPACKING
Isle Royale is a federally-designated wilderness and National Park. According to official, federal policy all activities in such places are expected to adhere to the principles of Leave No Trace. Before the beginning of your expedition, you should familiarize yourself with these principles by visiting the Leave No Trace website.
