Hi Gene,

Don't want to beat this one to death, and I think we're on the same page regarding backcountry etiquette, canoe slobs, and introducing kids to the wilderness at an early age. I don't think we have any big disagreements on the demands and responsibilities of parenting either.

I have had kids (one), she's grown up now too (and loves the wilderness), and I still donate some of my time to youngsters, though not in a wilderness setting. So I'm not in any way a kid hater.

I wouldn't overestimate how much psychological benefit an 11-month will get from exposure to the beauty of Quetico though. My reading of the developmental psych literature is that their memories from that age are probably zero, but I do accept there will be dissenting opinions here.

I am glad you never had problems taking your infant canoeing. But "absence of evidence" is not the same as "evidence of absence", and I would rather be safe than sorry.

No, noise does not carry for 10 miles in Q. But a half-mile to a mile is probably realistic, and most campsites on Pickerel are within a mile of their nearest neighbour and on Nym within a half-mile.

Enough of my (second) rant. Peace?

Joe