Hello everyone,

We are aware of the RABC freeze. Nonetheless, we are planning a trip into Quetico via LLC in the late spring... would appreciate route suggestions and perspective on the extent of fire damage in western Q.

We typically travel out of Prairie Portage, and Argo has been about as far west as we've gone. Burn maps and trip reports indicate the 2021 fires caused some pretty significant damage in western parts. Last year we were up Kahshahpiwi creek into the area around Shelley/Keats so we traveled some of the most severely burned areas-- that was fine passing through them but they weren't the kind of place we'd want to spend much of the trip/camp.

This year we'll have 8-9 days at the very end of May for a trip. We will start at Lac LaCroix and can either loop and return back there, or paddle down towards Ely/BWCA exit point for a van pick-up.

Mainly seeking advice on routes that would minimize burn zone travel/camping, and also avoid portages that are still essentially impassable post-fires. We travel fairly light and fast, and can handle sporty portages up to a point.

Thanks!

If you're getting a tow from Crane Lake, the tow operator, either Andersons or Zups, should know the situation for loops via EPs 42, 43, 44 (Malinge, McAree, Bottle). I've heard the island sites on Darky and Argo are fine.

If your looking for a bit more adventure, EP 42 (Maligne) into Tanner and then to Poobah would be cool. Though keep in mind, the Maligne can be challenging due to high water in the Spring. Andersons and Zups should have decent intel on that situation after the first week of operation. Getting to Conmee from Poobah can be tiring but then you can move quickly into William and Brent, and then to Gardner Bay (Crooked) via Cone and Elk. That's about 35 miles single portaging. At that point its just a question about the exit. Either a tow from Bottle to Crane Lake or maybe a pick up at EP16 (about 30 miles from Andersons) would seem to make sense if there is a vehicle left in Crane Lake. All of this route should provide burn free sites for overnight camping based on the available fire maps.

If I didn't already have my May trip planned, I'd probably be doing the EP 42 route above exiting via a tow from Bottle (a 50-mile loop) using Anderson's.

Some intel from last summer.


SouthWest

Here is the Aug 2024 Q portage maintenance map. Portages shouldn’t be an issue.
Quetico Portage Maintenance Map 8/2024