I've committed myself and have the entry permit, 15 days in the Q.  Looking for any other QJ solo paddlers who might like to come along or rendezvous on the trail...
Heading in via Namakan Lake, Namakan River, and Beaverhouse on May 18.  Pick up permit the 21st at Beaverhouse then proceed through Quetico Lake, Jean, Sturgeon, Russell (two days), Kawnipi, Agnes (2 days) and out Prairie Portage and Ely June 1st or 2nd.  

IC,
i would be interested but i'm missing you by 2 days, as i'm starting at Beaverhouse on the 19th and heading your same route to Sturgeon, but from there heading south to Darcy and then maing big loop NE to Burt and then up to Russell lace.
I'll try and "smooth" the way at least as least as far as Sturgeon ;) ;)
If your cnew to that area, send me a PM as I've been thru that wa numerous times and can give you info on camp spots etc??
 You'll lile the paddle, its some big water but very scenic ;D ;D

EXCUSE, the C's, i've lost the appropriate letter on keyboard :( :(

Hey solotripper, Maybe we can run into each other.  What days will you be on Russell?  I tentatively plan on being there the 25th and 26th.  What route are you taking north from Burt?  RE: Sturgeon campsites, I've travelled the south shore of Sturgeon twice, so plan to stick to the north shore unless stiff south winds would not make that possible.  Do you know of good campsites on the north shore?  IC

As usual, small refinements to the plan have been made...now getting permit at Beaverhouse on the 18th, traveling east and southeast: Quetico, Jean, Sturgeon, Russell and as far east as Alice or Chatterton, and will be there around the 23rd or 25th.  Then returning more or less same route back to Beaverhouse by June 2nd.  
How is the road from Highway 11 down to Beaverhouse entry parking lot?  How many miles?
Likely to disembowel my small, but spunky, sedan?
:-X

IC,
don't know exact mileage, but I've seen MANY small cars in the parking lot and even small motor homes.
There are a few spots that have the potential to washout, but I've never seen it yet??
Looks likes I'll be bird dogging you(or you me), as i'm coming out the 2ND as well ;D ;D I'll be coming out thru Russel and retracing to Beaverhouse but not sure exact dates?
I would call the park office just prior to heading into Beaverhouse, then you'll know for sure?

THe road to Beaverhouse isn't too bad, and you shouldn't have any problem if you take it slow and easy.

I know of a couple of campsites on north side of Sturgeon.  The site at the outlet of Lonely Creek is supposed to be a nice one, up high above the water.  Have camped a mile or so East of that one, at a nice site.  Its on a small point opposite Scripture Island, and has lots of flat rock shelves near the water handy for sitting or cooking.  Have also camped on one of the islands not too far from the mouth of Jean Creek, a mile or so ESE out in Sturgeon, and I recall that as being a good one.

The previous post reminds me of a campsite on the west end of Sturgeon Lake, well remembered by me, but not to be further described for obvious reasons. Anyway, a few years ago I was sitting in the dirt near the fire pit, running dirt through my fingers when I discovered little bits of black obsidian debitage. For those of you who are not flintknappers, debitage is the little chips of stone that are flaked off a blank being worked into a useful implement such as an arrowhead. Debitage is very distinct and easily recognized by a flintknapper such as myself. Now, a good question is how black obsidian travelled to Strugeon Lake. As far as I know, the nearest source of black obsidian is eastern Oregon.

I dug up a few more handfuls and discovered a shell bead. Now debitage is one thing, but a shell bead is altogether another. Shell beads are made of a little bit of shell, pierced with a stone drill, and used to decorate clothing. Once the Europeans started up trade in an area, the indiginous people pretty much stopped making shell beads. They are very labour intensive and extremely fragile. To find one in a Quetico campsite is remarkable.

After examining the debitage and the shell bead very carefully, I dug a small hole in the roots of a bush a few feet from the fire pit and buried the artifacts, where they will remain until the next glaciation.  

I look for debitage too...interesting to see what kinds of flint the First peoples used.  There is no doubt some campsites have been considered 5 star-sites for around 3000 years.  There is lots of indication of Jasper, Gunflint Silica, and the Knife lake Siltstone.  Also more occasionally Hudson Bay area flints, Obsidian, and Knife River (western North Dakota) Flint, and Quartzites from southern MN and further south.

I think the obsidian cliff in Yellowstone is black obsidian...and plenty of it.  It is a bit closer than eastern Oregon.  Obviously it walked to the place you found it.  They have tracked trade routes across the North American continent with that kind of information.  Apparently it was a more extensive network of trade than most of us would recognize.

Why would you bury something like that, Reallife?
You found it, I guess you can do with it what you please, but why bury it?

dwight wrote on Apr 12^th, 2007 at 1:31am:

You found it, I guess you can do with it what you please, but why bury it?

Because it's probably against the law to remove it. It is illegal to disturb archeological sites. The last research project I read about, had MNR approval and as I recall, put everything back where they found it. A little deeper perhaps but... Wish I remembered where I read it.

Don't know about the BW.

It is illegal to take items from the parks, even parts of living plants, and I guess even rocks.  It is also illegal to dig for artifacts.  
When I look I scrutinize any bare spots of the campsite, especially around where the camp fire is or likely was in the past.  Seldom do I find anything larger than tiny chips of stone, from which you can get an idea of the kind of rock was being used.  A lot of chips probably mean a lot of past activity on the site.
I just toss mine back onto the campsite.  Most people either do not look or do not see them, those who do will be able to enjoy the finds as I initially did.
I happen to live on a point on Lake Vermilion, at the southern edge of the BWCA, which has apparently been a campsite for thousands of years.  We regularly find artifacts when digging in the vegetable garden on the point.  I've attached a couple photos of our finds.  With a treasure trove like this here, I do not have to go far, or take anything from the parks, to enjoy these items from the past.
Re: Photos are of arrowheads and pottery shards (c 1000 AD) and a few fur trade artifacts from the late 1700's to mid 1800's.  We found an 1863 nickle and also recently an 1897 silver dollar, the serpent side plate off a trade rifle, metal awls and buttons, musket balls.

:o

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Here are the fur trade items:

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cool stuff IC. thanks for sharing

thebutcher

Those are some cool pics, thanks IC.

thanks for the pics IC....BUT.....

but? :-?

thebutcher wrote on Apr 13^th, 2007 at 1:51am:

but? :-?

That was a big BUT ;D , not a full moon! :o