Lakes Visited: Beaverhouse, Quetico

Miles Paddled: 5.8 miles

Miles Portaged: 2.4 miles

Total Miles: 8.2 miles

I arrived at Beaverhouse parking lot around 12 or 1pm and fitted the canoe with gear. The lot looked very full, and when I exited it appeared to have gotten even more full at some point just based on parking spaces.

Another board member, danbogey, was scheduled to enter the same day and we met in the parking lot and did a group solo paddle the next few days.

Water was low and the longer portage to the lake itself was required - .6 miles one-way. The portage itself is flat, mostly gravel, and a two-track road the entire way.

Once on Beaverhouse we made quick work of the paddle down to the entry station - only to find it closed. I scribbled my name and reservation number onto a self-issued permit and dropped it into the box. We chatted with a group camping on the beach that had some topics in common with danbogey and I.

True to my memory of paddling a Bell Magic, the canoe was responsive to the paddle, and energy transfer was without hesitation. She flies through the water and my average cruising speed in the canoe this trip was 3.5 to 3.7MPH.

The portage into Quetico Lake was uneventful - though I did mis-judge the length and thought it was only a lift-over of the first rapid. I was already commited with just the canoe on my shoulders so continued on - making this a triple-portage.

Wind was up a little out of the east on Quetico Lake, but not quite to the stage of waves rolling over onto themselves. This would be only 1 of 3 headwinds the entire trip.

We pulled into campsite 38 on the point and prepped for a storm that was going to move through overnight.

A very nice campsite, it didn't appear over-used in comparison to some of the southern Quetico or BWCA campsites despite it's location and being 4-stars. The landing itself was fine, but navigating the incline to the camp area did require some minimal effort.

A storm did pass through overnight - some lightning and about 1/2" of rain.

Fire and Seating Area: