I am planning a trip this Summer with several Boy Scouts.  One of the Scouts spends most of his day in a wheelchair.  I have taken Scouts several times over the years.  Personally, I've made over 40 trips and pretty well can handle most situations.  However, this year's trip offers a
new challenge.  I have researched the forum and found several items concerning camper with disabilites posted back in 2009.  I'm wondering if anyone has any insight into what will make this trip special for this Scout.

We are planning to enter Quetico at the Black Robe Portage and spend the week camping on Minn Lake.  We will be using Campbell's Cabins for canoes and tows.  While I have visited many Quetico Lakes over the years, Minn Lake will be new to me.  Any suggestions as to portage conditions, campsites, and equipment would be helpful.  I think we will take a Sat. phone just in case we need to get out early.

Both portages are relatively flat, tho the Black Robe can have some shallow mud. Both have some rocks and roots, which would not be easy in a wheelchair. Minn has always been a 'pass through' lake for me, though I have heard that it has some decent bass fishing. Not knowing any more than what you posted, I would have questions regarding egress from chair to/from canoe, what happens if there is a capsize, sanitation issues, just to name a few. Probably you have thought through these issues and have some level of comfort with them. I guess it boils down to thinking through all of the possible 'what if' scenarios and having a game plan to deal with whatever issues may come up. We wish you well.

I don't know if I posted on this in the search you did, but on a trip in Maine, I saw a group with 3 people in wheelchairs. They had 2 counselors for each disabled person. The kids had non-motorized wheelchairs. On the water, the chair was lashed into the center of the canoe and the kid was loosely strapped in wearing a PFD with leg straps they couldn't come out of. The strap was loose enough that in a capsize, they would bob up and out.

On portages they used long wooded poles about 10ft long, 2" in diameter, which the lashed to arms of wheelchair on the portages. They would roll/lift as needed. Granted they weren't mountain goat ones, but not  flat paths either.

We saw them a couple of different times one day, and they had it down to an art.  They even had rods rigged to the kids wheelchair so they could troll as they moved. I was quite impressed. The canoes were Old Town Royalex trippers, heavy, but very stable.

I know your not supposed to have any type of cart in the parks, but IF you could get permission, I think one of those collapsible aluminum game carts like they haul deer with would be perfect for hauling folding wheelchairs/campers across a portage. One pulling cart, another assisting from the rear. They fold flat, have puncture proof tires and carry the weight balanced.
That way you wouldn't need real strong porters to carry like I first mentioned ;)

wrote on Feb 7^th, 2011 at 9:10pm:

I am planning a trip this Summer with several Boy Scouts.  One of the Scouts spends most of his day in a wheelchair.  I have taken Scouts several times over the years.  Personally, I've made over 40 trips and pretty well can handle most situations.  However, this year's trip offers a new challenge.  I have researched the forum and found several items concerning camper with disabilites posted back in 2009.  I'm wondering if anyone has any insight into what will make this trip special for this Scout. We are planning to enter Quetico at the Black Robe Portage and spend the week camping on Minn Lake.  We will be using Campbell's Cabins for canoes and tows.  While I have visited many Quetico Lakes over the years, Minn Lake will be new to me.  Any suggestions as to portage conditions, campsites, and equipment would be helpful.  I think we will take a Sat. phone just in case we need to get out early.

John -- check out Wilderness Inquiry.  They're all about providing wilderness experience to those with disabilities.  They'd have good advice for you.  Their website:   (You need to Login or Register

prouboy

It has been a while since I read this, but I think there may be good info for you there.  Something in the back of my mind says Greg Allen is no longer with us though.
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Honestly, for someone used to siting quietly this scout stands to see more critters than anyone else.