Well the trip I took in 1994 was the best for me. My friend Todd and I had planned been planning for almost a year.
We started off with the tow to Prairie Portage. We almost always tow in. This allows us to get deeper into the park on the first day.
We were the first to get thru customs and the ranger's station, and were on the water early. We paddled north to North Bay. From there we worked thru a series of small lakes to Shade Lake. Then the workout, the next three portages are pretty tough. Mainly the one which goes to Grey Lake. I don't know if many of you out there have done this portage, but plan on a bath afterwards. The swamp is about waist deep, and I managed to get in twice. From there we camped on what is now called Walsh Lake, the lake just south of McNiece Lake. The sunset was outstanding and my partner and I still talk about how beautiful this lake is.
The next day we managed to get to Cairn Lake. By the way of McNeice, Kahshahpiwi, Keefer, and Sark Lakes. The campsite on Cairn was great, fishing to. We caught two nice smallmouth and put them in a wet well which someone else had built. We awoke on day three planning to have fresh fish. But a turtle had beat us to it. So instead we had oatmeal, with fresh blueberries in it. We spent the rest of the day on Kahshahpiwi Creek and Kawnipi Lake. Stopping on Rose Island for lunch.(nice campsite) We finished off by camping in McVicar Bay.Caught a nice pike there for dinner. Made poor man shrimp.
The next day we paddled through the lower Falls Chain to Wet Lake. There we turn back south thru McEwen Lake and creek. Our campsite on Glacies Lake had a huge cliff on the back side, which was great for exploring and checking out the veiw. The next morning we awoke to fog, so much that we couldn't even see the lake from our tent. All we could here was a splashing sound in the water. The smallmouth were feeding, and boy did we catch the fish. The two of us caught 13 fish in about 30 min. The smallest about 1 1/2 pound the latgest weighing almost 8 pounds. This was by far and to date the best fishing I've ever had. We were so excited that we turn them all loose and had oatmeal again. Mainly because of the time we had spent fishing.
We made it to Agans Lake for camp, camped just to the north of the falls. The portage around Louisa Falls is a tricky one. But the sight and the sound of the falls made it worth it.
Day 6 was our first day of rain. This made the Meadows Portage very sloppy. We paddled across Sunday Lake and had lunch at the Singing Brook Portage. Finished the day on Burke Lake and camped on the island near the portage to Bayley Bay. It has a well protected area and a tall cliff to veiw the lake below.
We got up early the next morning and paddled out. Was in Ely by noon eating some real food again.
This trip allowed myself and my partner I feel the real experince of Quetico Park. From hard portages, great campsites, the best fishing and yes even the rain this is what it is all about.
I'm looking forward to reading other responses.

Posted by Greg on January 18, 2000 at 12:54