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peteb
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02/16/2020 01:57PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Hi all,

If I were to enter Q at Cache Bay, camp on Saganagons, is it possible/legal to exit and return to the park to access some of the lakes outside the park(I.e. Smally, Bemar, etc.)? Pretty sure I know the answer but thought I’d run it past you folks and see if anyone has experience with this. We would be base camping on east end of Saganagons and looking for overnight or day trips in the area.

Thanks in advance!

Pete
 
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Eyedocron
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02/16/2020 03:11PM  
I look forward to someone with an 'official' answer, but I think you can do this, as your paid fee is not actually an entry permit, but is instead a backcountry per day per person camping fee.
Examples: If you are camped at Dawson Trail and go to lunch at the White Otter in Atikokan, you don't pay the camping fee a second time.
If you are paid through Friday and come out at Nym at 8AM on that day, load up, go east and visit Kakabeka Falls at 2, show your permit in the office and it covers the Falls entry fee.
Third example: You enter at Beaverhouse and portage to Quetico, then discover you left the tent in the car and go back and get it. The parking lot is outside the park boundary.
02/16/2020 04:23PM  
I don't have an official answer and have been in that area many times. From a practical standpoint I don't think this is a problem. But I wouldn't try to save a day of camping fees while out of the park. Also, if you want to paddle up to Mack Lake, you would be outside the park for a way.
billconner
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02/16/2020 05:22PM  
I had a conversation with previous QPP superintendent at Canoecopia a few years ago. My take absolutely. I asked the hypothetical could I buy a permit on Jan 1 for 365 days and come and go as I pleased - other than initial entry - and he said yes. But, you are paying Q fees for every night - in or out.

But, new superintendent could change that interpretation.

Since their budget is based on the fees, they like it you paying for more nights. I think he was ready for my 365 day permit fee.
peteb
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02/17/2020 11:31AM  
I appreciate the replies and thoughts.

East end of Saganagons is on the top of the list for my groups May trip(enter on 14th). I like to study up on the area, scout out possible day trips/fishing opportunities. Given the minimal portaging, we are thinking we can bring the kitchen sink, set up a nice basecamp, then do some day trips/overnights with a more minimal approach. I've always heard the fishing on Saganagons is outstanding, so who knows if we will seek out other lakes/opportunities. Any info on the area is certainly welcome.

Thanks again, Pete
02/17/2020 11:37AM  
Call the park.
02/17/2020 12:07PM  
May 14 is a very early entry for Saganagons. Check to ensure the ice is out... 2013, 2014, and 2018 were later than 5/14 for Saganaga. Your best fishing will likely be below Silver Falls as walleyes may still be spawning. I would look for moving water... check where flow comes in on the East End north of Boundary Point. Fishing could be tough. Eager to hear your report!
peteb
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02/17/2020 01:55PM  
bobbernumber3: "May 14 is a very early entry for Saganagons. Check to ensure the ice is out... 2013, 2014, and 2018 were later than 5/14 for Saganaga. Your best fishing will likely be below Silver Falls as walleyes may still be spawning. I would look for moving water... check where flow comes in on the East End north of Boundary Point. Fishing could be tough. Eager to hear your report!"


Noted. We try to time our trips as close to ice-out as possible, and we have experienced ice several times. We are looking for lakers(whisky over lake ice is hard to beat). You do raise a good point and a problem with the Saganagons plan. If it's a late ice-out, we are SOL seeing as we will need to deal with Big Sag(median ice-out May 6) first thing. I typically run a contingency plan in the spring on smaller or moving water in the event of ice. So a plan B is in order.

I sure appreciate the input.

Pete

P.S. Frenchy19- I rang Q several times, no answer. I will try again.
billconner
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02/17/2020 08:07PM  
"we can bring the kitchen sink, set up a nice basecamp, then do some day trips/overnights with a more minimal approach."

Just beware you generally can't occupy two sites on one permit, or leave gear at a site not occupied.
cburton103
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02/17/2020 09:13PM  
We paddled from Saganagons to Mack along the eastern boundary of the park with no issues or questions, and Janet the Cache Bay ranger knew our plans. We were there May 31 2019 and the water was still very cold. Fishing was very slow for us on Daganagons both on our way in and out way back out a week later. The only place we had any real luck was fishing the small inflow from Smally Lake into Saganagons. Otherwise, we caught one lake trout at the inflow from Silver Falls and a couple small pike elsewhere in about 5-6 hours worth of effort. Very slow by Quetico standards.
02/24/2020 01:00PM  
I once came out in the middle of my permit, resupplied on food, spent the night and then went back in. They don’t care.
02/25/2020 09:35PM  
billconner: ""we can bring the kitchen sink, set up a nice basecamp, then do some day trips/overnights with a more minimal approach."


Just beware you generally can't occupy two sites on one permit, or leave gear at a site not occupied."


Have to agree with billconnor on this I highly doubt you are allowed to occupy 2 sites on one permit.
Jackfish
Moderator
  
02/25/2020 09:41PM  
Johnh: "I once came out in the middle of my permit, resupplied on food, spent the night and then went back in. They don’t care."

How do you know? Did you talk to a park ranger?
billconner
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02/26/2020 06:59AM  
Jackfish: "
Johnh: "I once came out in the middle of my permit, resupplied on food, spent the night and then went back in. They don’t care."

How do you know? Did you talk to a park ranger?"


As noted above I talked to the superintendent.
peteb
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02/26/2020 10:29AM  
Thanks everyone for the input. I spoke with a lady at Q- she had no problem with exiting and re-entering the park for a day or overnight trip, only pointed out while outside Q, one would be bound to local regs/fees.

To clarify- my intention was never to occupy more than one camp in Q, but to explore some of the lakes just outside the park on the east end of Saganagons. Also, by 'the kitchen sink'- I mean a tent in addition to our hammocks, maybe some camp chairs. I suppose everyone has a different idea of 'kitchen sink'. We will leave the volleyball net and Weber grill at home this year.

As far as leaving gear at a camp while un-occupied(overnight)- not sure on that. Best I can tell, you can occupy only one site, but nowhere does it say you have to be there 24/7. For instance, my group sets up on Saganagons, makes a day trip to Elevation Lake to fish and stays the night returning the next day- is this ok? I'm sure someone here can chime in with the official language regarding that.

Courtesy and respect is always first order for my group while in BW/Q- plenty of opportunities to be a jerk the other 51 weeks of the year!

Thanks again, Pete

 
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