I guess I shouldn't complain because I have had over 50 wonderful trips in Q. But at 78 I am running out of time and 2024 was a disaster. I had planed 2 trips one of 14 days in the spring and the other 21 days in the late summer- the latter which I do every year.

I should have realized that things weren't going exactly as planned because my first day had a number of bad omens. I went in at Lerome and first dropped my camera in the bottomless Bewag Creek and then to further ruin my first day I threw my fishing rod in Narrow lake which just confirms that old men shouldn't wear gloves to offset blisters. I had planned to explore the
lakes before reaching Q. I paddled right down Narrow lake to Owl hunting for a campsite but ultimately had to make one. I also noticed that I was earlier than ever before as there wasn't any conifer pollen in the lakes.

So on day two I made my way to Q and camped on Cirrus near Sue Falls. After Lunch I got extreme pain in my lower right abdomen. I stayed the next day and went fishing with waves of pain. The next day I move to Soho and again had bouts of pain specifically unbearable after I ate. I stayed there the next day but day tripped into Smudge and the two no name lakes beyond. Other than falling the lake when I tried to get out at a beaver dam the rest of the day was uneventful except the pain continue and got really bad in the late afternoon. So I concluded that I should get out. That night I called my wife who called the police who called my outfitter who flew in the next morning and rescued me.

My adventure wasn't over. The clinic in Atikoken were unable to diagnose my problem. So I decided to go home. I had to adjust my flight and paid 4x more than my round trip price. I drove six hours to Winnipeg and fortunately had pain for only about an hour. I then flew 2 hours home in Calgary and went into the hospital. Twelve hours later but now on pain killers I was told I had a kidney stone. Since another hospital operated on them I was put in an ambulance and thirteen hours later had it removed. Not my idea of a fun Q trip.

The summer trip started out great. I went in at Beaverhouse and except for the second day which had howling winds, cold temperatures and lots of rain the rest of the first ten days were normal with perhaps more rain than I'm used to. I had great days of fishing on Jean, Little Jean, Burntside and Bentpine. On the tenth day I was camped on my favorite island on Sturgeon with hot temperatures around 30 degrees C so I was swimming off and on all day and catching lots of fish. There was a really strong SW wind but I was camped exposed to the north. About midnight it happened with howling winds from the north, wave after wave of rain and temperatures just above freezing. For the next seven days it stayed like that. I stayed on my island for three miserable days then move with difficulty down Sturgeon to the bay before Sturgeon Narrows where I spent two more days but at least I was out of the wind. The next day I was able to move to Sturgeon East by staying on the west shore where I hunkered down for the last two days. On the next day the weather improved and the winds were reasonable, the sun came out and the temperature actually reached double digits in Celsius. Over the years I have had bad weather for a day or two but never for a week. So I ended my trip at French and came out a day early.

I am continuing my strenuous exercise program and hope that I can go back next year as the draw to Q is contagious. I am hoping that 2024 was an anomaly!

I hope I have your drive and abilities at 78!

Either way both trips were quite the adventures! But yeah, not the adventure you wanted. :)

The kidney stone removal…I work in health care and I’ve never heard of someone having to travel so much. Glad you are okay! You have some stories for the campfire or maybe for when you get old and finally slow down! :)

Hope 2025 has less character and stories!

T

As a 38 year old I'm impressed by your tenacity! I hope to still be getting out in the Q in four decades, although my tripping partner says he plans to be doing fly in cabin fishing trips instead! Here's to a more pleasant tripping seasons in '26 for you!

I just lost another year. I was referring to 2025 not 2024. Go figure!

jdddl8: "I just lost another year. I was referring to 2025 not 2024. Go figure!"

It was your subconscious trying to turn back time :)

jdddl8: " I stayed there the next day but day tripped into Smudge and the two no name lakes beyond. Other than falling the lake when I tried to get out at a beaver dam the rest of the day was uneventful except the pain continue and got really bad in the late afternoon. "

Wondering which two lakes beyond Smudge those were - the two inside the park boundary connected (mostly) by the creek or the two very close together? Reason for asking is that Magic Paddler and I were contemplating entering from Nym and going west into Smudge via those lakes and creek, vice taking McAlpine to get over to Kasakokwog. Hoping you could share any intel you have about the area b/w Smudge and Batchewaung. Thanks.

portage dog

You give me encouragement - I will be 78 shortly and hope to continue my Canadian trips into my 80th year. For me, so far so good. And keeping up the physical activity year round is absolutely vital.

surprised you wouldnt head to thunder bay if atikokan couldnt help you out. heck of a lot closer than winnipeg. direct flights to calgary as well on wj. glad it all turned out ok though.

Wondering which two lakes beyond Smudge those were - the two inside the park boundary connected (mostly) by the creek or the two very close together? Reason for asking is that Magic Paddler and I were contemplating entering from Nym and going west into Smudge via those lakes and creek, vice taking McAlpine to get over to Kasakokwog. Hoping you could share any intel you have about the area b/w Smudge and Batchewaung. Thanks.
portage dog"

sounds interesting. might be able to get through in high water with some bushwacking.