I'm hoping I can get some input.  I'll be doing a 3 week trip in August.  We'd like to put in at Nym Lake then head down through Jean to Sturgeon and up through Oliphant and the B Lakes and finish up at  French Lake/Dawson Trail Campground.  What I'd like to know is if it's possible to have our car shuttled from Nym to French.  Is there anyone that I might contact or talk to that could provide that service?
Thanks.

 Any of the outfitter located in/near Atikokan will do it for a price.
Google Atikokan and send out some e-mails/calls.
Canoe Canada is right in town. Largest of the outfitters.

solotripper wrote on May 25^th, 2010 at 6:46pm:

Any of the outfitter located in/near Atikokan will do it for a price. Google Atikokan and send out some e-mails/calls. Canoe Canada is right in town. Largest of the outfitters.

Thanks for the tip ST, much appreciated.

I've heard of them shuttling a person but driving your car to another lot?  News to me.

I think ST's right; you could probably get any of the outfitters to do it for a price.  

Ed Ottertail, out of LLC Village, has done it for me a couple of times (shuttled vehicles from Beaverhouse parking lot down to LLC).  I gotta believe that Dave Ribey (Quetico Wilderness Outfitters on Flanders Rd), Doug Chapman ("Canadian Quetico Outfitters" near French Lake) or Canoe Canada would do this sort of thing.  Since you're only talking about the 25 miles or so from Nym to French, I'd go with either Canoe Canada or Doug Chapman, due to their proximity.  Actually, I'd almost certainly use Doug Chapman because: 1) he is far more entertaining & 2) his credo is basically: "I'll do it YOUR way!".  Just ask MagicPaddler or Kingfisher re: his help during their infamous bushwhacking foray into McKenzie Lake.  Not many outfitters would have tackled that kind of trip offering THAT sort of service (special permits, dubious roads, etc.).

Doug Chapman would do it, I'm certain.

Jimbo   8-)  

PhantomJug wrote on May 25^th, 2010 at 9:02pm:

I've heard of them shuttling a person but driving your car to another lot?  News to me.

Quetico Dave (Ribey) shuttled my vehicle from the Wisa Lake put in (near Threemile Lake) to French Lake when I did my trans-Quetico trip a couple of years ago.  

That said, I think I'd try Canoe Canada first as well as it's less driving and thus presumably less $$ for them to make it happen.

Just make sure you have enough gas in the tank to get your car to French Lake and back.

I will second Jimbo and endorse Doug Chapman.  Assuming you are not solo drop off your gear and passengers and while they are carrying the gear down to the launch you can drive down to Dougs and have him drive you back.
Nice rout!
MagicPaddler

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I've never used him as an outfitter and I seriously doubt he'd say "oh sure, no problem" but I wouldn't doubt he'd figure out a way if you asked nicely. Or, you could fish around for someone going the other way.

Personally, I'd expect someone could still thumb their way back to Nym. French has showers...

db wrote on May 26^th, 2010 at 6:30am:

(You need to Login or Register I've never used him as an outfitter and I seriously doubt he'd say "oh sure, no problem" but I wouldn't doubt he'd figure out a way if you asked nicely. Or, you could fish around for someone going the other way. Personally, I'd expect someone could still thumb their way back to Nym. French has showers...

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Hmmm... I'm betting he DOES say, "Oh sure, no problem"!

Chances are that he will recommend keeping your vehicle at his place until just a day or so before you are scheduled to come out at French.  Or, he'll recommend that you use him to cart you the short hop over to his "One Start Building, Five Star Service" operations just over on Hwy 11.  He did that for me the year they were running into break-ins over on French (they caught the culprits somewhere in Manitoba the week after I left... and, no, I WASN'T in Manitoba that week!).

Jimbo   8-)  

Jimbo wrote on May 26^th, 2010 at 1:17pm:

Or, he'll recommend that you use him to cart you the short hop over to his "One Start Building, Five Star Service" operations just over on Hwy 11.

If you can, I'd get him to drop your vehicle at French instead of arranging a pick-up at French.  That way if you come out early or are delayed you don't have to worry about missing the pick-up time.  Your car will be there for you whenever you arrive.

While Doug didn't shuttle our cars for us we did something similar to your trip. We drove to his shop camped in the lot overnight. Then we loaded his van up dropped our cars at French and then he shuttled us over to Nym. I think our paddles touched the water on Nym before 7:00am. (Doug had gotten our permits for us the previous day)

I appreciate the feedback folks.  Canoe Canada doesn't do shuttling.  I wrote a note to Doug Chapman and hopefully he will be willing.  I'll let you all know.  
As I get closer to August I'm hoping some of you can share your experience regarding my route.  Unbelievably, after all these years of tripping this will be my first time in Quetico.  On top of that it will be the maiden voyage of my brand, spanking new Bell Northstar.  It will also be the first time I'll be taking fishing gear with me on a trip.  In fact I've learned to fish especially for this trip.  So, as you can all imagine, I'm incredibly psyched for this one.

Your intended route most/part of it, has been covered in numerous trip reports here. Take the time and peruse the trip report forums. I'll bet you will find everything your looking for, or at least narrow your question's list.

3 weeks is plenty of time do do it right. Since it's your first Q trip, I'd suggest taking the time too smell the roses 8-)

You find a nice site, has day trip/base camp possibilities, take it and enjoy the moment. You'll run across so many possible "distractions" along the way, that you'll soon realize you can't see everything in 3 weeks, with a route like yours.

Good advice that time of year, is travel early, get off the BIG water before afternoon winds pick-up. Go with the flow. Storms can pop-up in an instant, I'd have a tarp up first thing in camp. I'd also keep canoes/gear secured and organized, unless you want too chase them down :-[

I'd go over the PCD, and mark the obvious campsites along your chosen route on your trip map. Don't worry too much about the "ratings", there very subjective any ways.  Knowing the locations and having options is the better way too go in my book.

Take plenty of pictures, keep a journal, and submit a trip report when you get back ;)  Old routes take on a new perspective thru fresh eye's ;D

Oh, and being a rookie fisherman, I'd be willing to bet you do as well as anyone in that department. Just remember to keep the rod tip up, a tight line, and don't "lip grab" the Waldos or NP :'(

Snow_Dog wrote on May 26^th, 2010 at 1:28pm:

Jimbo wrote on May 26th, 2010 at 1:17pm: Or, he'll recommend that you use him to cart you the short hop over to his "One Start Building, Five Star Service" operations just over on Hwy 11.   If you can, I'd get him to drop your vehicle at French instead of arranging a pick-up at French.  That way if you come out early or are delayed you don't have to worry about missing the pick-up time.  Your car will be there for you whenever you arrive.

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Another alternative is to call him when you get to French.  They'll let you use the park office phone to do so OR they'll ring him for you.

Jimbo   8-)

Quetico North is very close to French Lake. Linda will drive your car to Nym to drop you off, keep your car at their place, and pick you up at French about 1 km away. Nice stop for a burger before heading home.

All the outfitters are kind of fun to work with and pick up some local knowledge & color. Kind of like bush pilots IMO.

I'll definitely take your advice, ST, and check out past trip reports.  We plan to take our time, as you suggest.  I reckon the trip we've planned could be done in 10 days so taking 17 should give us plenty of time to fish and check out the scenery.
I got hold of Doug at CQO and he was very helpful and happy to provide the service.  So thanks again all.