Last night I came up from the basement, where I had just stumbled upon a Fisher Map, and I said honestly to my wife, " I really think I need a canoe trip next year." She told me she'd been wondering when I was going to make this annual declaration!
My plan this year is to incorporate 3 generations. My Dad is turning 70, my brother in law turns 40, I turn 40, and my son turns 10. My brother has an inconsequential birthday, but he is allowed to come anyway. We need a trip.

My Dad is too old to travel far and hard, not by his age, by his fitness. Brother doesn't like to travel, he's a basecamper. My Brother in Law and I like to travel and fish, and he and I are both pretty well rounded in our camp techniques. My son, is a newbie.

My preliminary plan is to get in, and set up a base camp for Dad and Brother. Stay with them 2 nights and make sure all is set up nicely for them. Then, Brother in Law, Son and I make a 4 night trip, and meet them at the takeout.

Goals are good fishing at the basecamp, followed by a reasonable 4 day loop back to the takeout. I want to introduce the boy to canoe trips properly. Considering a 3 man Wenonah for the three of us making the loop.

Any thoughts on potential routes? As always, thanks in advance.

TBL

As a start, you will need 2 permits because you are planning to split up. That could limit your route to some degree, based on the number of permits issued per day at certain EP's. That said, I'd done that before.

It sounds like you may have a week to do this. Is this correct?

How many portages do you feel the basecampers are up to (esp. your dad)?

Any aversion to a north-side (as opposed to a south-side) entry?

How much solitude are you looking to achieve (mostly for your traveling group)?

dd

Doc, My Dad is up for a days work to get to base camp.. 6 or 7 hours of travel is fine, but we'd do less if it was to the right place. He's fine on portages, no worries there. Solitude is nice, but good fishing, scenery for the travellers are most important. We have about 7 days total in mind, and we would enter the park wherever we thought it to be a good fit. no preferences, really.

The fondest memory of my 50 + trips to canoe country is when I was able to have both my dad and my son there. There's just something about those trips that can not be explained. To see dad down sitting on a rock next to my son was a special moment.

You might consider going in thru Beaverhouse and having the basecampers post up on either Quetico or Cirrus. This would give the basecampers a lot of water to explore.

Then the travelers have a choice of a couple of loops. One would head on east thru Kas, McAlpine to Batch Bay and then turn south -- Maria, Jesse, Oriana and back to Quetico to pick up the basecampers. Another option would be to head to the east end of Quetico and then turn south thru Conk, Jean, Burntside, Rouge River, Sturgeon, Lonely, Walter, Elizabeth, Jesse, Oriana and back to Quetico. If you want to haul it, both loops could be combined.

Of course, there are endless possibilities in QPP, but the Beaverhouse put-in means minimal travel for the basecampers.

dd

quote walllee: "The fondest memory of my 50 + trips to canoe country is when I was able to have both my dad and my son there. There's just something about those trips that can not be explained. To see dad down sitting on a rock next to my son was a special moment."

A Dream of mine.