My introduction to Quetico was at the French lake put-in. Motors were banned and they had changed the level of the lake recently so as I paddled down river with people I barely knew, it literally looked like the intro to a horror film. It was all scary looking dead trees and mud banks. I wondered what I had gotten myself into and to top it off, there was a bloated moose carcass where it meets the lake. Oh, and did I mention the bugs yet?

Over the years that river has become a highlight of many trips and Mat makes an excellent point I've never thought of before. It makes sense to me at the moment anyway.