Well Paul, It sounds like you could probably go anywhere you want to with your experience.

It all boils down to how far do you want to paddle and/or how much are you willing to portage to find the solitude you are looking for.

This reply may be a little long, but you sound genuinely interested.

I would suggest that Quetico probably contains a higher density of solitude than the BWCA, but I'm not sure that's always true. A very good source of information about the perfect trip for you could come from some of the outfitters in the towns in the region.

Before each of my three trips to this area I phoned the Chamber of Commerce in the town nearest my anticipated departure and asked them to send my name and address to all of the outfitters in the area. Shortly thereafter my mailbox received tons of literature from the outfitters with many pictures of the area, descriptions of trips and routes, maps (These free maps are ok for getting a crude picture of the area, but are not to be used for navigation), and pricing information on equipment rental and services.

All of the outfitters send you their phone numbers and many send '800' numbers. You can call several of them and describe what kind of trip you are looking for, and if you call at a time when they are not too busy you'll find some who take the time to talk to you about your trip. I suspect, these days, that many of them are offering e-mail addresses.

Since you have a lot of outdoor experience, after you've spoken to enough of them you'll probably have a good idea of which is a good trip and who the knowledgeable outfitters are.

Most likely, you'll need to at least rent a canoe. The outfitters offer partial outfitting (where you only rent the things you need) or complete outfitting (where they supply everything they think you need). Once, out of convenience, I purchased a complete 'platinum' package and concluded that it was not only heavier and less efficient than the camp I would have wanted to carry in, but (and here's the kicker) it cost me as much as it would have cost to buy a complete set of everything (including food but excluding a new canoe) I needed for the trip!

Depending on where you go, a good set of maps and compasses and the knowledge of how to use them is very important. It really is a maze up there and it pays to know where you are at all times.

There are not a lot of rivers and rapids in most areas, but a dangerous rapid or a waterfall can appear out of nowhere. Good maps will show you where to expect them ahead of time and often you can hear them in time to pull up to the portage around them.

I have found that there is not one good map for exploring and navigating this area. The commercial canoe maps are useful, but they leave out important information. In addition to a good commercial map, I always carry a set of topographic maps purchased from the government. They may not always show every portage, but give you a multi-dimensional view of the 'lay of the land' if you know how to read them. Sometimes, I purchase a set of areal photographs which overlap and can be viewed with a stereoscope to see a 3-D areal view of the landscape.

Another useful tip is to be aware of the prevailing winds as you plan a trip. I awoke one morning with my fishing partner on the north side of a major North-South running lake (Agnes), to discover a strong Southerly wind driving whitecaps into us. We had 15 miles to cover that day and we made it, but it was a hell of a story.

You are miles ahead of many people if you see the value in knowing the proper way to handle a paddle. The 'J' stroke is critical. Others are useful. Practicing your new-found skills will pay dividends.

I think you'll be fascinated with a trip into the area. It's really special. Remind me where Angleworm and your proposed entry point is. I've seen the name on a map, but am not directly familiar with the route.

...Tom

Posted by Tom on September 27, 1999 at 00:59