Finally I think the details have been worked out. This will by my longest backcountry trip since our class made this group trip back in 1981. At 53 years old, I started returning to Quetico on a regular basis 3-1/2 years ago. I have probably been to the park at least twenty times since then. Now, at 57, I am planning to retrace our grade 8 class route. This will be a solo effort. Six days / five nights. Lerome entry to Nym exit. My longest solo trip by far.

Hoping to get in the park in mid may before the worst of bug season and after the lakes are clear of ice and the weather hopefully is decent.
I have done Lerome to sue falls and nym to batch prior, but now we are connecting the dots so to speak in one trip.

I told my son the other day (who is concerned when I go back in the bush solo) that it is like what they say about being a pilot. any landing you walk away from is a good landing so as long as I make it back in one piece, I will consider it a success. Wish me luck.

i will post a trip report at some point.
Thanks,
Rick

You'll have a blast. And you won't be the only one in there paddling solo in May...fishing should be excellent!

Cheers.

You'll likely be bagged by the time you enter Cirrus if you get there in one day which is completely doable. The landing on Cirrus is a nice beach depending on spring water levels. Straight south there's a pinch before you reach the main lake. There's a nice site on the east side of that pinch with nice flat Rock real estate as a landing. Spring water levels may reduce your front porch to some extent.

As a solo paddler and given the route you've chosen, you shouldn't have any trouble finding suitable sites as your route is probably the least popular on the north side of the park. But it's a delightful one!

When in McAlpine there's what looks to be a 5 star site adjacent to the 1 km portage north to Batchewaung. I hear that portage is flat and fairly straightforward as opposed to the series of smaller portages exiting from the SE. But You may want the wind to guide your exit from McAlpine. If from the west you'd be advised to do the 1 km portage. If from the east, you may want to do the smaller portages from the south east into Batchewaung. I'm just saying avoiding the wind on the first section of Batchewaung would be my advice.

sns: fishing should be excellent!

Cheers."

That would be a bonus. was in that area last year at the beginning of may. fishing was horrible. but then again so was the weather so....

Argo: "You'll likely be bagged by the time you enter Cirrus if you get there in one day which is completely doable.

When in McAlpine there's what looks to be a 5 star site adjacent to the 1 km portage north to Batchewaung. "

yes i have done that section in one day previously. it is a lot for an old guy like me lol. but not this time. since i have 6 days i am breaking up the travel into what should be easily manageable paddling days. and i am gonna spend night one on bewag to check out the campsites i have heard about. and the fishing as well.

i also saw that site you are referring to. i am hoping it is right at the port. if it is, and i end up there, i was planning on moving the canoe over in the evening and the rest of the gear the next day to break it up. i am assuming it is not actually right at the port though. but it's a nice thought.

Eager to read your report... you'll have a blast.

My first solo was a couple years ago at age 66. I was always too tired for fishing and more canoe time at the end of the day, but that was a traveling trip.

Enjoy !!

My son and I did the Lerome entry point a couple years ago and had a great time. We went in early June though, so a few weeks later than you will be going. It was a high water year, so Sue falls was really roaring. We struggled at first to find the walleye as they weren't on the rock structure we expected them to be relating to. Mosquitoes and black flies were horrible as the dragonflies had not yet hatched to cull their numbers. We finally found a bunch of walleye in a shallow muddy/rock bay feeding on hellgrammites that were getting ready to emerge and molt. The walleye were literally in 2-3 feet of water.











I am planning an anniversary trip myself next year. My first Quetico trip was in 1986, so it will be a 40 year anniversary, next year. I am planning on returning to the same lake, Bearpelt Lake, if things work out in 2026.

arnesr.....i am not much of a fisherman but i try. i guess that time of year it depends when they finished spawning and what the water temps are.
i know there is an area close to where i live that they catch the majority of the walleye in very shallow weedy water in the river before they migrate back into the lake.
i dont usually catch walleye but enjoy the smallmouth fishing.

starting to prep my food today:

food list

packed gear and unpacked gear only to repack gear......several times lol
here is the latest version

gear list

Looks like an amazing trip! Have a blast.

I'm 58, and while things have wound down a little for me, I've been getting out to Quetico for 9-10 days each time the past several years. For me a rest day (really a fishing and resting day) between each major paddle is becoming normal -- and necessary. :D

Luckee: "Looks like an amazing trip! Have a blast.


I'm 58, and while things have wound down a little for me, I've been getting out to Quetico for 9-10 days each time the past several years. For me a rest day (really a fishing and resting day) between each major paddle is becoming normal -- and necessary. :D"

Same here. Add double portaging to that list. We've covered a lot of group in our more ambitious years. Now it's time to fish and even take the odd afternoon nap.

i agree about rest days. unfortunately my plan didnt work out that way. near record high temps, extreme headwinds that changed each time i changed direction (every time for 6 days) made it tough to justify a day off. but i made it. i will post a link to my journal in another thread