Seems like those Flanders Road guys (QDave, Ed Ottertail) become hard to reach or go missing/AWOL for periods of time only to pop up again later on when personal circumstances & the economy permit.  I can only hope THAT is the case this time.  Quite possibly it won't be.

Seems to be the same deal up in Red Lake with Goldseekers (the main outfitter for WCP).  The principal, Albert (another very good guy), up there has a full-time job (with the Gold Mine?) other than outfitting... out of necessity, I'm sure.  If you are dogged about contacting him, he'll eventually get back to you on the phone & he will figure out a way to assist you.  He has missed my business, however, in two separate years for failure to get back to my inquiries.  Being pulled in too many directions, perhaps, to deal with my mere "truck-in" needs.  My parties seldom require much more than that.

I hate that QDave may have cashed in.  While he was ultra-laid back, he generally /eventually got you what you needed or where you needed to go.  There still are a couple of full-time outfitters on the north side of Quetico who seem to hang on as survivors of the economy.  I doubt Canoe Canada is going anywhere anytime soon.  Doug Chapman of Canadian Quetico Outfitters also manages to eke out an existence over in the French Lake area.  Talk about somebody with a "missionary complex" for outfitting!!  I'm sure there are also one or two other fine providers on the north side that live on whom I don't have any experience with.

Outfitting has to be a tough business with fewer folks from younger generations each year replenishing increasing numbers of the older generation that are hanging up their paddles in favor of more sedentary past times.  Coupled with the ailing economies & the reluctance to plug discretionary cash into recreational activities across the border, it must be nearly impossible making a living as an outfitter.

Tip them well, my friends... their survival may depend upon it!!!

Jimbo   8-)