i strongly agree with the fitness component
like a chain, your only as strong as the weakest link(or links)
i BECAME a solotripper because the 3 guys who i used to go with waited all year and decided to get in "shape" on the trips
that put a crimp in the travel plans year after year and made me the bad guy because i didn't want to spend the trip basecamping and partying!!
your goals and expectations should all be worked out pre-trip and the difficulty of the route chosen can be discussed!
While it's true that the weather conditions can make portages more difficult, it's still a good rule of thumb, that the longer portage the harder??
i know there are many exceptions to this but if you can't carry a pack or canoe a football field length at home then your going to be sucking wind on most portages i've been on!
It's not a prerequisite that everyone is in tip-top shape but it's nice if your all close to same level, whatever that may be??
Being the only fit person means YOU end up picking up the slack for your friends and that get's OLD real fast

An additional thought:

The pre-planning is critical, I think. And you need to include the others as well. Their fitness is critical; I've escorted friends who assured me they worked out regularly and strenuously, only to find out they played half an hour of racket ball once a week. How far and how rugged...everybody needs to be in on that discussion. Which in turn relates to whether to base camp or keep moving. 

Consider also the desireability of layover days rather than pushing on every day.

Tim

Welcome bizzer!

At least you are with the game making plans now.  Do some searches on the QJ site and you'll come up with some good possibilities and information.

DentonDoc is right on target about answering some key questions and setting some priorities (both for yourself and the entire group as a whole) prior to making your route plans.  That makes for a much more cohesive group which equals a more satisfying trip for all.  The amount of time you have allotted will also be a factor.

The planning and anticipation - not to mention the packing and re-packing - are exciting parts of the overall trip .

dlk

Beemer01 wrote on Aug 26^th, 2006 at 1:36am:

'Consistently' may be a better term. Accuracy, re: time and degree of difficulty, may depend greatly on style and perspective.

Robert Beymer has an outstanding book on Quetico trips, detailing dozens of loops, with day by day lake by lake descriptions.  Each loop is accurately rated for difficulty.   

This makes for wonderful winter reading and planning.

Do you have an entry point in mind?

Do you plan to enter from the US or Canada?

What are your top priorities?
    Fishing -
    Travel -
    Scenery -

How much base-camping versus travel do you have in mind?

Some of these questions (and others) might be useful to know to better direct you.

dd

Newcomer here, looking to do a 10 day trip in August next year.  Experienced at paddling around Ontario, but new to Quetico.  Will likely have 1-3 others with me.  Does anyone have any route suggestions/trip plans to start me off?
Thanks.  Have fun out there!