Interesting route. McAlphine portage is rather long, a mile I beleive. Once you get to Batch, your portaging is all but over.

Regards to the newbie, involve him as much as possible. If your providing your own equipment, invite him over to help you "inspect" it for your trip. It will allow him to become more familiar with it.

Looks like we'll miss you guys, we are putting in at French on the 5th and out at Nym on the 11th. Going down the B-Chain to Sturgen.

Question, are you using an outfitter? We'll using CCO and staying at their bunk house. If you see 3 father son pairs running around Atikokan on the 4th, that will be us.

Kurt