I finally got my permit today so I can go for my normal three weeks in mid-August. Now I wonder whether there will be anyone there (instead of the couple of people I normally see) or whether the border will open and the end of August and September will be packed. I guess I will have to wait and see,

Now my worry shifts to Maui in January with the border closed and a 14 day quarantine rule. Again patience is paramount.

Prepare for massive solitude especially if you trip in the south. Lots of us in the states are very envious.

I keep thinking of Quetico with nobody in it.

Imagine paddling up through Prairie Portage today and enjoying all that Quetico has to offer, and not a single person anywhere.

I bet nature is just loving this. All those turtles on logs, the loons with no pesky canoeists. Oh man...

Reminds me of the National Georgraphic show, "Life after People".

Jdddl8, I hope we run into you somewhere in the middle of the Q in August. You as a legal canadian and me as a legal, permitted RABC carrying guy from Minnesota.
Either way this goes I suspect Q traffic will be way down. Too many folks south of the border will find this much too complicated to navigate at the last minute if the border does open.

If you do come in August I will leave a light on so you know where I am.

Three weeks in heaven, John. Long time!

My trip starts July 23 for ten days. Stanton Bay through the B chain then either west through Sturgeon/Burntside/Bentpine or east to the poets. Will be a game-time decision.

It should be very quiet for us. Even if the border opens on July 21, I imagine most US paddlers will have written off Quetico by then. Notice of a July 21 opening would likely happen by about the 15th. That would be very short notice to gear up for a back country trip.

I hope you enjoy your trip and please tell us how it was different from prior years. Also how you found water levels. Last year was insane as the water was so high I had to paddle out part of the Beaverhouse portage.

I am going:
Beaverhouse,Quetico,Conk,Jean,Boulder,Your,Wildgoose,Egglet,Snow,Little Pine,Trail,March,BentPine,Jack,Sturgeon,Maxness,Tubman,Fred,Nam,Camel,EagCub,Baird,Metalcryst,Cutty,Cairn,Sark,Heronshaw,Kawnipi,Shelly,Alice,Gahn,
Russell,Lonely,Draper,Walter,Elizabeth,Jesse,Maria,Pickeral,Batchwaung plus checking out some No Names. None of it is new but a lot of it contains my favorites lakes, campsites & fishing holes.

jdddl8: "I hope you enjoy your trip and please tell us how it was different from prior years. Also how you found water levels. Last year was insane as the water was so high I had to paddle out part of the Beaverhouse portage.


I am going:
Beaverhouse,Quetico,Conk,Jean,Boulder,Your,Wildgoose,Egglet,Snow,Little Pine,Trail,March,BentPine,Jack,Sturgeon,Maxness,Tubman,Fred,Nam,Camel,EagCub,Baird,Metalcryst,Cutty,Cairn,Sark,Heronshaw,Kawnipi,Shelly,Alice,Gahn,
Russell,Lonely,Draper,Walter,Elizabeth,Jesse,Maria,Pickeral,Batchwaung plus checking out some No Names. None of it is new but a lot of it contains my favorites lakes, campsites & fishing holes."

This will be my fifth Quetico journey and my first since 2003 - this time with my son. Are you going solo? That's a lot of food to manage.

I'll definitely report when I return.

The loop from Keats around Kawnipi Creek towards Baird would be new to me. If you have any info on this part that you can share you would have my gratitude. I definitely want to get to McDougall again for some lake trout action.

I am not going to be much help. I have been to Baird many times but I have always taken Cutty Creek as my highway to the center of the park. One time I actually camped on Baird and paddled to Keats portage entrance but I have never done it. If you call Trevor Gibb, Park Superintendent, just before your trip he can tell you whether the portage has been cleared recently.

jdddl8: "I am not going to be much help. I have been to Baird many times but I have always taken Cutty Creek as my highway to the center of the park. One time I actually camped on Baird and paddled to Keats portage entrance but I have never done it. If you call Trevor Gibb, Park Superintendent, just before your trip he can tell you whether the portage has been cleared recently. "

Thanks John. I'll probably hit McDougall on the tail end of my loop. That'll take me through Eag anyway.

Thanks for the tip on portage maintenance.

I think the one way tourist travel from Canada to USA by air is nonsense. Not well publicized but fact.

GraniteCliffs: "Jdddl8, I hope we run into you somewhere in the middle of the Q in August. You as a legal canadian and me as a legal, permitted RABC carrying guy from Minnesota.
Either way this goes I suspect Q traffic will be way down. Too many folks south of the border will find this much too complicated to navigate at the last minute if the border does open. "

I thought RABC permits were no longer valid until the border opens. Did I miss something?

Argo: "

jdddl8: "I am not going to be much help. I have been to Baird many times but I have always taken Cutty Creek as my highway to the center of the park. One time I actually camped on Baird and paddled to Keats portage entrance but I have never done it. If you call Trevor Gibb, Park Superintendent, just before your trip he can tell you whether the portage has been cleared recently. "

Thanks John. I'll probably hit McDougall on the tail end of my loop. That'll take me through Eag anyway.

Thanks for the tip on portage maintenance."

Baird to Keats portage is a buggar even when it's in good shape

cowdoc: "

Argo: "

jdddl8: "I am not going to be much help. I have been to Baird many times but I have always taken Cutty Creek as my highway to the center of the park. One time I actually camped on Baird and paddled to Keats portage entrance but I have never done it. If you call Trevor Gibb, Park Superintendent, just before your trip he can tell you whether the portage has been cleared recently. "

Thanks John. I'll probably hit McDougall on the tail end of my loop. That'll take me through Eag anyway.

Thanks for the tip on portage maintenance."

Baird to Keats portage is a buggar even when it's in good shape"

Thanks Cowdoc. I was never really contemplating that portage. I will likely continue to McDougall via Cub and Eag.

LarryS48: "

GraniteCliffs: "Jdddl8, I hope we run into you somewhere in the middle of the Q in August. You as a legal canadian and me as a legal, permitted RABC carrying guy from Minnesota.
Either way this goes I suspect Q traffic will be way down. Too many folks south of the border will find this much too complicated to navigate at the last minute if the border does open. "

I thought RABC permits were no longer valid until the border opens. Did I miss something?"

No, you did not miss anything. I was just expressing my hope that the border would be open by then, I would have my RABC and would be in the middle of the Park.
Don't see that happening now.
But on one of my BW trips I will hit the border somewhere and take a portage on the northern side so my streak of being in the Q at least once annually will continue.
Just figured out I am headed out on a solo next week so will likely make that a goal.

An article from the CBC. Analysis of the current and future situation in regards to the border.

goatroti: "An article from the CBC. Analysis of the current and future situation in regards to the border. "

Thanks Ken. The August trip looks unlikely this year.

So painful. Hope the Canadians enjoy it while us Yanks are away.

John, hope you have a great trip and post a report.
--Goose :-)

OldGreyGoose: "John, hope you have a great trip and post a report.
--Goose :-)"

I will definitely post a trip report and comment on Quetico without people.

jdddl8: "

OldGreyGoose: "John, hope you have a great trip and post a report.
--Goose :-)"

I will definitely post a trip report and comment on Quetico without people. "

We Yanks will be living vicariously through you!

MichiganMan: "

jdddl8: "

OldGreyGoose: "John, hope you have a great trip and post a report.
--Goose :-)"

I will definitely post a trip report and comment on Quetico without people. "

We Yanks will be living vicariously through you!"

After 73+ years, I have finally found my calling. Now if my airline and outfitter don’t go bankrupt in the next month and my family and ride person from TB stay healthy, I should be able to complete it!

MichiganMan: "So painful. Hope the Canadians enjoy it while us Yanks are away."

Those Canadians visiting Quetico and Woodland Caribou this season are surely loving it. I'm really concerned about the financial status of all the outfitters. I've done a few fishing trips to non-park lakes and those guys are the best. I hate to think how financially devastating this is for them. I'm sure many will close, never to reopen.

I look forward to getting back to the Q in 2021 and catching all those fish that forgot what a lure looks like!
Joe

joewildlife: "

MichiganMan: "So painful. Hope the Canadians enjoy it while us Yanks are away."

Those Canadians visiting Quetico and Woodland Caribou this season are surely loving it. I'm really concerned about the financial status of all the outfitters. I've done a few fishing trips to non-park lakes and those guys are the best. I hate to think how financially devastating this is for them. I'm sure many will close, never to reopen.


I look forward to getting back to the Q in 2021 and catching all those fish that forgot what a lure looks like!
Joe
"

+1

joewildlife: "

MichiganMan: "So painful. Hope the Canadians enjoy it while us Yanks are away."

Those Canadians visiting Quetico and Woodland Caribou this season are surely loving it. I'm really concerned about the financial status of all the outfitters. I've done a few fishing trips to non-park lakes and those guys are the best. I hate to think how financially devastating this is for them. I'm sure many will close, never to reopen.


I look forward to getting back to the Q in 2021 and catching all those fish that forgot what a lure looks like!
Joe
"

Canoe Canada is one of the major outfitters. 98% of their business is American. As one of the 2%, I'm heading in to Quetico next Saturday. They have no other groups going in that day. One canoe...two campers...that's it.

Quetico is a pretty distant place for most Canadians. Don't quote me but about 95% of all Ontarians live below Algonquin Park. Lots of options for campers looking for a sub-three-hour drive from Toronto (Quetico is a 16 hour drive from Toronto). Unlike American outdoorsmen, most Ontarians have never even heard of Quetico.

So yes, not just the outfitters but all attendant business are suffering as well. Many won't survive without American revenue. It's a disaster.

I'll try to keep Jackfish updated on my trip through inReach. He can re-post here.

jdddl8: "I hope you enjoy your trip and please tell us how it was different from prior years. Also how you found water levels. Last year was insane as the water was so high I had to paddle out part of the Beaverhouse portage.

"

Apparently the water levels are low. All heat and drought this year.