During the "off-season" permit seekers can typically show up at the Atikokan park office the night before their desired put-in, pick permit paperwork up from a box, complete the paperwork, seal in their money, deposit all materials into another box, retain their stub/permit, & enter the park the next morning.  Nary a park official is involved in the process.  It is as easy as it gets.

This is my typical fall trip routine.  Alas, this year may not be so typical.

Does anyone know if the same arrangements are available at the Beaverhouse Ranger Station/park office?  I DO realize that the B'house station will be closed for the season.  On the other hand, the Atikokan office is also "closed" when I arrive BUT - nevertheless - the paperwork is made available for trippers.  I'm just wondering if you can still pick up a permit at B'house during the off-season?  People don't seem to be necessary to the process during the off-season in Atikokan.  Why should it be any different at Beaverhouse?  

Anybody KNOW the answer?

IF NOT, I'll just call the park office on Tuesday morning, get the gospel from them, & post it here for anyone who cares about such things.

Basically, I'm trying to save myself 2-3 hours of backtracking from Flanders Road to Atikokan & back.

Thanks!

Jimbo   8-)

I don't KNOW the answer, but I suspect the answer is NO.  Self-service is easy enough for someone to pick up at Atikokan, Nym or French Lake (even Prairie Portage has that option).  But, if someone has to cross the lake to take care of a drop box, my guess is that "it isn't happening."

Any any case, if you have to call the park office, please post what you find out because I may be following in your tracks next season.

dd

My suspicions, exactly, dd.  Yet, a few QJer's of the contrary opinion have IM'ed me.  

I'll let you know what I find out.

Jimbo   8-)

I've picked up permits in the off season at BH. It's just the same,,,permits in small box near poster shelter with info about the park,,,,drop in a slot cut into a large pipe nearby when you're done.

LLC is the same but it's in the front part of the ranger building,,,separate closed in porch area,,,door is side by side to the ranger station's main door,,,deposit in pipe there too,,,pipe is inside the building also.

Looks like I'll be going with Jim J's advice... since I can't seem to get the Quetico Park office to either pick up the phone or return the messages I leave.  

If I get in there & find no place to pick up a permit OR deposit money, I MAY just take the attitude that the park owes me about 5-6 days of refunds due to the several times we've opted to come out a day or two early (due to forecasted storms or personal circumstances) & neglected to get my money back!  [Somehow I don't think this argument would hold much water with any official that might happen by].

Anyway, thanks for the inputs!

Jimbo   8-)

Jimbo, The only hitch, and it happened once to me before, is if someone's taken all the blank permit slips. Then we just wrote our initials on our money and deposited it in the pipe. Best we could, and we never saw anybody anyway.

Good luck, have a safe trip. Hope we bump into you there.

I just got back from Q. I put in at Beaverhouse on Sun. 9/6 but picked up my camping permits at the Atikokan office. I heard from a local outfitter that the Beaverhouse station was closed on or about Aug. 21 due to problems with the "reliability" of the staffing.

I would NOT depend on getting the permits at Beaverhouse if I were you.

As I understand things, both BH and LLC are First Nation entries. I'm not sure what differences that entails but there is a slight difference. An extra drive or paddle? Six of one.... I'm sure either would be sufficient.

jimmar wrote on Sep 13^th, 2009 at 2:13am:

I just got back from Q. I put in at Beaverhouse on Sun. 9/6 but picked up my camping permits at the Atikokan office. I heard from a local outfitter that the Beaverhouse station was closed on or about Aug. 21 due to problems with the "reliability" of the staffing. I would NOT depend on getting the permits at Beaverhouse if I were you.

******************

Jimmar,

Their staffing at B'house has been iffy for the past couple years.  Also, Labor Day is always about the time they shut that office down.  However, "staffing" that office isn't necessary IF Beaverhouse offers the same outdoor self-serve process as is offered in Atikokan.  I've gone to Atikokan the night before entering the park, completed my paperwork through a self-serve outdoors process, never saw a park official, & never had an issue.  The real question I've teed-up here is: does the park offer the same service at the Beaverhouse station??  If it does, I can save myself time & miles.

Jim J says they DO offer self-serve at B'house... w/the caveat that the supply of self-serve paperwork may be gone by the time I get there.  

Anyway, db has suggested that I e-mail Robin Reilly for the official answer, since I am having difficulties contacting a live official via the phone.  I'll give that a try.  When I get Robin's definitive answer to that question, I'll post it here.

Jimbo   8-)

db wrote on Sep 13^th, 2009 at 7:25am:

As I understand things, both BH and LLC are First Nation entries. I'm not sure what differences that entails but there is a slight difference. An extra drive or paddle? Six of one.... I'm sure either would be sufficient.

One difference is the ranger can go home for lunch and each night at LLC,,,not so at BH,,,there they stay in the cabin. Usually the rangers trade back and forth each week between BH and LLC.

Jimbo shouldn't have any trouble going to BH. I'll be doing the same thing just before him by a couple days.

wrote on Sep 13^th, 2009 at 1:30pm:

Jimbo shouldn't have any trouble going to BH. I'll be doing the same thing just before him by a couple days.

Jim J -

Snag one of those remaining permit applications for me & hide it under a nearby rock!  Stick something inconspicuous - like a pink flamingo - next to the rock so I know where to look!

Jimbo   8-)

HERE IT IS... THE DEFINITIVE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION, COMING STRAIGHT FROM AN E-MAIL RESPONSE FROM SUPT ROBIN REILLY!

DRUM ROLL, PLEASE:
*********************************************************
"You can pick up the permits at any of the stations in the office……although once in a while they are all taken.   But you are correct that every station operates in the same fashion…..Nym Lake as well.    The stations don’t all close at the same time for example Prairie Portage is open until the third week in September.    Most close at the end of August or early September."
*********************************************************

Looks like Jim J nailed this one down pretty well.

I am grateful to Robin for his extremely prompt response to my e-mail.  Now I'm hoping there are at least a few forms left in the box by the time I get there at the very end of the month!

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread.

Jimbo   8-)

SO, if they happen too be taken :'(
What's the proper course of action?

I slip Yankee cash down the chute & a Jimbo Picto is created on the nearest wall, explaining the situation in detail.  Also, I commit to memory the serial numbers on a couple of the bigger bills I put in the till to preserve my show of good faith.

In any case, paddling back to the car, driving to Atikokan & back, ain't gonna be in the plan.  Too bad they don't show their form on-line; I'd print off a copy of a blank, fill it out, & take it with me, just in case.  [Robin, if you're reading, please note this "continuous improvement" suggestion.]  Could be that I circle back at the end of the trip to see if any forms have appeared.

Then there's always Plan B.  I could treat it like a "free coffee" day at the plant.  Every once in awhile we used to dispense free coffee to the workers... it went over pretty big.  Anyway, could be I interpret the park's lack of preparedness as a show of their "generosity" (ie. free coffee day).

Something tells me I need to stick with Plan A.

Later,

Jimbo   8-)


P.S.  Then there's Plan C.  Show up in Quetico Park with an American potato.  Canadian Potato Police would be on me before I could butter it!  I could get THEM to contact Q authorities... assuming they e-mail Robin versus trying to get anyone to answer the phone.

I'll let you guys know how it turns out.

I second your Internet printable copy idea, that would be so convenient.
But, I'm wondering if the reason they don't offer it, is so they can make you listen too the Park Orientation they offer in Atikokan if your there at the "right" time?
Even if they offered it "OFF SEASON", that would be a step in the right direction.
 Considering the re-occurring "staffing" problems they seem too have on Beaverhouse , it might be a big improvement ;)