Good to know! I'll use them the next time I'm up that way.

HighnDry wrote on Aug 4^th, 2022 at 2:21am:

I sent an email about a month ago asking about a cabin for the night before entry and renting a canoe and received a timely response. Planning on calling in the next week or so to solidify plans and will report back.

Is he still in business? I was talking to some folks recently who thought he had sold the place and moved on. I'd be curious to know.

I can recommend Barry and Camp Quetico highly

We stayed in one of their cabins the night before heading out, and he shuttled us to Stanton. That was the year of the early snowfall and us getting windbound on pickerel. He came to the take out at Stanton looking for us before dark and left a note saying he'd be back the next day... Luckily the weather did indeed break, we got up towards emerald and made the break across to the north. About four inches of snow everywhere haha! We caught cell service and made our rendezvous for pick up two hours later.

Anyhow, we're planning on getting a cabin there again the night before our trip this September and renting a canoe from them

Wind-In-Face wrote on Apr 3^rd, 2022 at 3:34am:


wow that is awesome. you are lucky. i hope i can be talking about doing something like that with my son and his daughter some day.

Late to the party…just wanted to say that I’ve used Camp Quetico’s services every time I went to the park in the last few years. Barry Giles has been very efficient and friendly.

I’ve never stayed at the lodge cabins but everything there looks very nice and well-maintained. The main lodge is spacious and comfortable-looking.

I went in via Nym for 6 days in late August 2018. Like others have said, wind on Pickerel is an issue, so I’d opt for a pick up at French Lake, so you can surf west-to-east on Pickerel.

Wind-In-Face wrote on Apr 3^rd, 2022 at 3:34am:


Generally speaking the winds should be out of the West that time of year. If so you might get a push eastward on Pickerel if you're lucky?

Oh, and Phantom Jug too!

Jimbo, ST: thanks for the great info. I may be getting back to you later, but what you've already provided is wonderful. The wind direction on Pickerel will clearly be a factor in exit point. My son and his 16 yr old son(3rd trip) and 12 yr old daughter(1st trip) will be in a Minnesota 3(or similar). I will be using my Bell Magic solo. I've been all over the southern half of the park - Man Chain, Falls Chain, Agnes, Kash, Kawnipi, Sarah, Brent, Darky, Crooked... - but never the northern entry pts. I'm nearly 70, and its about time I got up there to some new water. thanks again. Be safe.

db wrote on Mar 31^st, 2022 at 3:33pm:


The current in Sturgeon Narrows is tied to the water level at the time. Much of the current comes from the water pouring out of Russell Lake.

Paddled into the current many times. It's not a big deal but if you stop paddling you'll be surprised how fast/far it will carry you back.

  So if you want to visit Olifaunt Lk, do you want to do the B-Chain with a full food pack going clockwise OR at the end with a empty one?

  Another thing going in August where the winds should be out of the West is the possibility of being wind bound for maybe one day or more?

  If you take 9 days and plan for 1 wind day, then you can probably hit Olifaunt and still get out on schedule.

If 7 days, allowing for 1 wind day, then Olifaunt might be a stretch.

I've only crossed Nym one time coming out one year. That was a white knuckel crossing because Nym can get pretty rough, same with Batch.

PJ can speak on that better than me. Just something to think about.