Our group of six has grown to seven because one of the dads has asked to join. He is a great guy, a hiker and a runner so he is a positive addition. He will also create a situation where we will have three generations of the same family on the trip. Cool.

So, do we now try to add an eighth man? If so do we try to split and travel and camp as two groups of four? How would you handle this? What are the pitfalls to look out for? We are moving from Stanton Bay to Kawnipi and returning to the same back through the B chain. Six nights.

If you think there is someone who would fit in the group , by all means try to find another person. If not, ask one of the guys if they would like to solo canoe. I enjoy having a canoe to myself sometimes. Go fishing when I want, stay out as late as I want. Sometimes I will venture off to another lake if I feel like it. Lots of freedom for the wondering soul.

Another chioce would be to rent a 3 man canoe, we did this back in 2005 and had a great trip. It also makes one less load across the portages.

You probably know this, but you can have a group as large as 9 in Quetico. So there is no reason to split up the group if you add an 8th person. I prefer smaller groups myself, but there is no real difference between 7 and 8. On the other hand, I also agree with the others who suggest the alternative of sticking with 7 and either having one person paddle a solo or three people in a three-man.

Did not know about nine but that will not factor into the thinking. Mu biggest concern is finding sites big enough to accommodate us and the logistics of cooking. Do we need another permit to occupy two sites? I assume so. Does the permit itself carry a cost or so we just pay by the day regardless?

You would need two permits. The permit costs something, but most of the cost is the per-person per-night fee, so getting two permits would not add a lot to your cost.

Of course, you have to make sure there are two permits available for your entry point on the day you want to enter, which might be an bit of an issue at many entries that only have two permits a day, but probably isn't an issue for Pickerel Lake (Stanton Bay) which has lots of permits. You know about the prohibition on non-residents parking at Stanton Bay, right?

Yes, I do know about the Stanton Bay issue as we are working with an outfitter. Just looking for a a broader sweep of insight from everyone here. I have lost a bit of confidence in the outfitter but that is too early to determine.
Thanks again,
Mike

You can probably find sufficient sites with 3 tent pads but if planning on 4 or more you'll probably want two permits.

I've done a number of Q trips with large groups (I'd call anything from 7 to 9 as large).

Most campsites, we had no issue finding room for a third tent site, but I have been on a small number of sites where a third tent would get tight or impractical. Most though, shouldn't be an issue, in my experience.

About the boats... When we have an odd number, we have always just put a third person in a boat. And they weren't even 3-man boats per se - just normal 2-man canoes. We just arrange the packs in a way that the middle person / 3rd wheel can be semi-comfortable, and even put paddle to the water if needed. We rotate the person in that spot, so that no one is stuck there the whole time. It isn't ideal, but it seemed to us to be a far better solution than adding an extra canoe with one person (makes portaging more difficult - but we always do single-trip portaging), not to mention was cheaper than having to pay another $50 a day or whatever it is for an extra boat.

I've never been in a truly 3-person as-designed canoe, but I'd have to think they are heavier and maybe harder to portage? Something to keep in mind if you go that route.

I see no reason you would need to split the group in two to travel and camp, and in fact that might sort of ruin some aspects of the trip for some people. Especially since it sounds like this is a family reunion of sorts. As said earlier, most campsites, having one more tent is not a problem. In fact, 8 people is, to me, an almost ideal size for a group, better than any odd number and probably better than 6. 8 people is great for two cars, great for two 4-man tents, etc.

Finding an extra person is probably the best solution to your odd-numbered problem, but whatever you do, don't drag someone out there who isn't really excited to go and/or isn't really ready for it. NOT worth it. Been there, done that.

Echos others thoughts on no need to split up. Also in Quetico there is no rule that more cannot travel together or get together--just not more than 9 can physcially camp together. You would be fine either way.

Add an 8th if it works but 7 can work out too. If you have someone experienced that wants to solo then by all means try it, but it sounds like you all know each other and want to be around each other so I'd go with a 3 man canoe. I own the canoe in fishguts photo (souris River Quetico 18.5) it works fine for 3 people unless you are all 6'5". 99% of the time I paddle it tandem---it weighs the same as any Kevlar (right at 50#)--and it is a normal canoe length so easier than soem other 3 man canoes to portage (getting around trees). the advantage of a 3 man set up is the portages are easier wiht one less canoe for the group to haul across. their are good advantages for a solos too already pointed out---just wahtever you prefer is the answer.

T

Throwing this out to the group: Isn't there also a limit on the number of boats you can have in one group?? I thought it was 4, but I've heard rumors its changed to 3. That could make for an uncomfortable fit in some cases.....looking for input.....

quote Longpaddler: "Throwing this out to the group: Isn't there also a limit on the number of boats you can have in one group?? I thought it was 4, but I've heard rumors its changed to 3. That could make for an uncomfortable fit in some cases.....looking for input....."

As far as I know it is 4 per each permit.

T