Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Quetico Forum :: Local / Transport for 7 lovely fellows?
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lnghrdchld |
We are a *lovely group of seven people, who have been planning this trip for nearly two years in the making! Traveling from the US, Europe for this! We´ve come into some serious problems finding affordable transport from Thunder Bay to our spot at Voyager Outfitters. They don´t provide a shuttle, and taxis have quoted us at $2,000 CA round trip! In other years, we´ve gone more distance and paid $200! Car rentals are slim and even more expensive. Does anyone live in the Quetico area and have a bus that fits seven people plus seven bags and wants to make a good deal with some lovely individuals? We´ll be eternally thankful and provide you with a great deal of entertainment, and a nice tip! :) We´d love to meet you! Arriving August 7 in Thunder Bay! -Kevin |
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Jackfish |
With that said, I wish I lived up that way to offer a shuttle service. It would be a great way to meet a bunch of great paddling folks and help coordinate trips like yours and others. Good luck with this little problem, but have even better luck on your long-awaited trip! One more question: Are you all set with your Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) permits? |
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sns |
lnghrdchld: "Changing Outfitters is not an option for us - they´ve been too much of a help so far to abandoned them one week before a trip! But they just don´t supply shuttles anymore - no detailed reason given." Call Barry at Camp Quetico (& for that matter, all the other outfitters) to see if he's willing to help. Explain your predicament, and consider offering to pay more than his going rate since you are outfitting with others. I'd still consider fully switching; your outfitter may be very helpful, and I hear they are super people at VW, but ultimately they are not able to help with all your needs and transport is a critical element. |
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jdddl8 |
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sns |
Voyageurs Wilderness More Editing: If the OP is indeed in this eleventh-hour predicament, I'd switch outfitters if possible. OP & crew are almost certainly renting canoes if they are coming from Europe. The Voyageurs Wilderness website does specifically say they provide shuttles from the Thunder Bay airport...if they are not providing shuttles anymore, that might be cause to get a deposit back. Maybe. |
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sns |
In late May, one member of our party had to depart early - they picked him up and shuttled him to Thunder Bay airport in a van that would seat your group with room to spare. He was charged $200 USD. That said, we were also renting a canoe, stayed in a cabin, had meals in their dining hall and a total of five shuttles on our bill. They might not do a shuttle if they don't also have your outfitting business. Edit: I'm assuming you are entering Quetico from the north, not from the south through the BWCA. (Both sides have outfitters with Voyageur in the name, as Jackfish alludes to...) |
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Argo |
If it's really your intention to cross the border six times (USA (+Europe) / Thunder Bay / Grand Marais / Quetico / Grand Marais / Thunder Bay / USA (+Europe)) any reasonable person would be gobsmacked by this tortured plan. And how or why have you left your transportation from the airport to your put-in at the eleventh hour??? There is so much wrong in this scenario I think we are being punked. |
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lnghrdchld |
Loving the replies - I surely knew I would get some head wagging at the late transport issue. I wish we were not in this predicament but we´ve had a few changes at the last mile here and well, this is where we are at. Just to be clear - yes - we are traveling in from Nym Lake side! Changing Outfitters is not an option for us - they´ve been too much of a help so far to abandoned them one week before a trip! But they just don´t supply shuttles anymore - no detailed reason given. We do have a transport but just feel we´re being cheated on the costs here - and thought it´d be amazing to meet some old or young paddlers who might have some time on there hands....and a van....a big van. :) |
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Argo |
sns: "lnghrdchld: "Changing Outfitters is not an option for us - they´ve been too much of a help so far to abandoned them one week before a trip! But they just don´t supply shuttles anymore - no detailed reason given." Outfitters cannot transport folks who are not renting gear. Their insurance prohibits it. |
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Wispaddler |
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Argo |
Just pay it and don't hate yourself. You're on vacation. |
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billconner |
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sns |
Argo: "Outfitters cannot transport folks who are not renting gear. Their insurance prohibits it. " Interesting; did not know that. Being the contrarian, I would ask to rent one portage pack, and offer to pay double the normal rate for a shuttle. Does not hurt to ask! |
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Wispaddler |
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Wispaddler |
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jdddl8 |
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Luckee |
When I made some minor changes to shorten the plan a couple days, I found that trying to reserve the same rental in June was looking well over 2000!! They've got some demand-based pricing going on for sure. I kept the original rental and just took it back early, and Budget reimbursed me for the unused days. It always feels stupid to fly from CA, rent a vehicle, and leave it in a parking lot for ten days or so, but I like the flexibility to drive around and get provisioned and take my time and work with wind and weather if necessary. But if there were reasonable shuttles from International Falls or Thunder Bay, I might well use them! |
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Argo |
Luckee: "It always feels stupid to fly from CA, rent a vehicle, and leave it in a parking lot for ten days or so, but I like the flexibility to drive around and get provisioned and take my time and work with wind and weather if necessary. But if there were reasonable shuttles from International Falls or Thunder Bay, I might well use them! " Agree. But I just checked my reconciliation spreadsheet from 2004. The cost of the limo for six was $545. Eighteen years later I can imagine that inflating to closer to $1000 or the cost of a car rental which offers much more flexibility. Plus yours is a twelve day trip. Trip duration is the pivotal factor. The longer the trip the more days charged to rent a vehicle. If a limo service was available, the advantage would be for longer trips. But its all moot. If you're gonna fly, you have to rent...and book it as early as possible! Another alternative would be to fly to Toronto and rent a car. The drive around the north shore of Lake Superior is stunning and you could break it up and camp in many locations such as Lake Superior PP. |
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lnghrdchld |
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