All -

At the recommendation of Doug Chapman at Canadian Quetico Outfitters, DentonDoc & I "discovered" a brand new "meals & lodging" resource that many of you may wish to check out.  It is the Quetico College School and you can research it at:   (You need to Login or Register .

I was absolutely amazed this huge former conference center even existed.  I've been going in on the north side of Quetico for over 25 years & had no idea it was there.  On the other hand, it HAS been "dormant" for quite a number of years.  Retired school-master Michael Heaton has come out of retirement to revive it as a prep school using a project-based curriculum that has worked well in other places like San Diego.  You can read all about that aspect of the operation on their website.  The MAIN point here is that Michael has opened up the facility for paddlers (& others) to get some use of his substantial capacity (many comfortable dorm room buildings, 5 fully furnished cabins, a very nice dining hall, a well-equipped recreation building, etc.).

Overnight accommodations (we each had separate & nicely appointed rooms) , dinner & breakfast ran us approximately $98... in Canadian funds.  In American dollars these days, that comes to peanuts.

Hospitality was warm, meals excellent, and the campus - situated right beside Eva Lake - was beautiful, quiet, & full of wildlife (apparently 4 moose frequent the property).  For those who must have it, it also offers WIFI.  Anyhow, the entire arrangement blows anything offered in Atikokan completely out of the water.  Also, the convenience of this resource for trips that originate on the east side of the park cannot be beaten.  You can reach the Dawson campground in about 10 minutes.

Those interested in more details should feel free to contact Michael Heaton by phone at 807 598-1600 or by e-mail at: Michael Heaton <queticocs@gmail.com> .  You will find him to be friendly, knowledgeable, courteous and engaging.

Apparently Michael heard Doug Chapman lamenting the fact that so many of his customers - in this particular case, DentonDoc & me - were seeking a "local" alternative to Atikokan lodging & meals.  Michael realized this as a possible opportunity and so he and Doug set us up as the guinea pigs. 

I'll let DentonDoc speak for himself.  As for me, I say it easily beats anything greater metropolitan Atikokan has to offer.  I recommend the Quetico College School as a "meals & lodging" option in the highest possible terms! 

QJ'ers should feel free to PM me for additional details.  This was a great discovery and one of the highlights of our trip.

Jimbo   8-) 

Good info.  Thanks!

Thanks for the post.  Interesting looking place.  Whether it can be successful in attracting enough students and other activity to sustain itself will be seen, but I hope so.

Sounds like a great option, thanks Jimbo/Denton Doc.
Maybe someday they'll have a drive-in option for the East Side of park that you can EASILY get to like BH?

solotripper wrote on Jul 29^th, 2016 at 8:25pm:

Sounds like a great option, thanks Jimbo/Denton Doc. Maybe someday they'll have a drive-in option for the East Side of park that you can EASILY get to like BH?

You mean like French Lake? ;)

BillConner wrote on Jul 29^th, 2016 at 8:11pm:

Thanks for the post.  Interesting looking place.  Whether it can be successful in attracting enough students and other activity to sustain itself will be seen, but I hope so.

Bill,

I share the very same concern.  He has a long row to hoe.  He seems determined and pretty sharp so there is reason to be hopeful.  While he is shooting for an initial enrollment of over 30, all he really needs is 6 kids to qualify for starting such a school in Ontario.  Ultimately, he is aiming for a much higher level of enrollment, including international students.  Right now it's "baby steps" first.

It's a real jewel of a spot.  I'm already making plans for using the facility a couple times next year so I'm really hoping the place survives.

Later,

Jimbo   8-)
   

Old Salt wrote on Jul 29^th, 2016 at 8:49pm:

solotripper wrote on Jul 29th, 2016 at 8:25pm: Sounds like a great option, thanks Jimbo/Denton Doc. Maybe someday they'll have a drive-in option for the East Side of park that you can EASILY get to like BH? You mean like French Lake? ;)

I mean a little EAST of there and South.

solotripper wrote on Jul 29^th, 2016 at 10:34pm:

Old Salt wrote on Jul 29th, 2016 at 8:49pm: solotripper wrote on Jul 29th, 2016 at 8:25pm: Sounds like a great option, thanks Jimbo/Denton Doc. Maybe someday they'll have a drive-in option for the East Side of park that you can EASILY get to like BH? You mean like French Lake? ;) I mean a little EAST of there and South.

I don't know if this is common knowledge or not, but this season Canadian Quetico Outfitters (CQO) owned by Doug Chapman (previously mentioned in connecting to the new lodging option above), is offering a shuttle service between his operation near French Lake to Northern Light Lake.  From there, it is possible to paddle to Saganagons Lake and run the Falls Chain.  I believe there was mention of a Lodge on Northern Lights Lake that could be used as a launch point.

With this service, it would be possible to paddle the route (one way) between the Falls Chain and French, with a shuttle at one end.

dd

As for my take on using Quetico College School for pre- or post-trip accommodations ... this is clearly a no-brainer.  The facility is excellent, the rooms (while smallish) were nicely appointed with on-suite bath/shower, the meals were well executed and enjoyable (from a dining hall which faces out onto Eva Lake), nice (paved) walking paths between buildings, and peaceful.  Like I said ... staying here is a no brainer.

If you are so inclined, there are common (meeting place) rooms, some of which have a refrigerator, sink with running water, microwave, satellite TV and so on.

Bottom line ... THUMBS UP!

dd

DD and Jimbo,

Thanks for the alternative lodging report.

He might want to form agreements  with the outfitters on the northern side. Perhaps he could offer parking and shuttle. ;)

Quote:

With this service, it would be possible to paddle the route (one way) between the Falls Chain and French, with a shuttle at one end.

That's good info to know dd. [smiley=cool.gif]

What I was talking about or should I say wishing for was a drive-in and park/portage option?

Back when Quetico Dave was outfitting he told me that he knew a route that he could drive in a put you on the Wawiag River. He had taken a small boat in there when he was Moose hunting. Said a network of logging roads could put you right on the river.

I never inquried too much after that becasue he said he would charge $200 American for one person/canoe because of the distance and rough roads.

I was thinking on the lines of paddling in to fish/camp and coming back out same-way, IF the roads system is even passable?

Next time I see him I'll ask him about it again.
You'd need a good 4x4 but IF there was a way, it would be nice for people who don't want to shuttle vehicles/people or solo travelers that would loop back to 'parking lot'. Park service would have to keep roads open IF that would even be feasible/

MagicPaddler & Kingfisher worked w/Doug Chapman to use those very roads to get them as close to the Wawiag as possible a few years ago... &  they were still miles away. Beavers and foliage have taken over due to the lack of upkeep by lumber companies ( no longer in the area).  I'm pretty sure there's an old trip report out there somewhere giving an account of their experience... which, as I recall, was extremely challenging. It took them a heckuva long time (& near dehydration) to reach the river from the closest drop off point possible.

Maybe Magic will weigh in & clarify....

Jimbo.  8-)

Jim
Good information.  What time did you get breakfast?
Solotripper
I have been down that road.  You can read about it in Spring 09 BWJ.
Comments and chuckles after the trip. To appreciate that rout you need to find the location on a map of the camp mentioned in this thread.
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In 2011 there was a way past the washout.
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Magicpaddler wrote on Jul 30^th, 2016 at 1:34pm:

Jim Good information.  What time did you get breakfast?

Lawrence,

Michael serves breakfast ANYTIME you want it... another significant plus!

Jimbo   8-)

I remember those trip report's and how they never got right at the river's bank. I'll make a point to talk to QD about it and see IF he has any maps detailing the route he took? Only thing that might be pertinent is Dave is a native son and he and his brother deer and moose hunt all over. Maybe HIS route was different than our illustrious QJ adventures and Doug Chapman's route?

One thing I do recall is QD saying something about being above rapids, but that's about all I recall.

I'll see what I can find out and report on it one-way or the other.

Also, I believe an entry such as the one we're discussing would require a "special permit" as it would not fall under either Pickerel/Stanton or Baptism Creek.  I also remember talking to QD about this route into the park.  Not sure how many times he actually took clients down there.  Nor do I know how he approached the permit issues.

Of course, outfitters fly folks into Clay Lake all the time.  There, they access the Wawiag via the Greenbrier, I think (have never done it, myself).  Not sure what permit they use (Mack Lake?)... and even this might not be the permit required by a logging route that accessed the park to the north and east.

Also, I remember QD or somebody telling me about issues navigating the Wawiag where it was accessed by the closest approach of logging roads.  Apparently it is a real rat's nest of tangles, logs & rocks in places.

From what I understand, those logging roads that currently exist actually get you closer to Belaire Lake vs. the Wawiag but I defer to Magic & Kingfisher's actual experience in this assessment.

Jimbo   8-)

If I were to do the trip from the washout to McKenzie again it would be down the road to the hunting camp described in the link below and follow the tracks to Belaire.  That would be 4.3 miles to Belaire which would take less time than the 3 miles KF and I did.  I have walked all of the 4.3 mile route and it is all easy walking. Most of it could be done on a ATV which might get past the washout with some long 2X10’s.

Quote:

Nor do I know how he approached the permit issues.

;) ;D I'm going to say as silently as possible knowing Dave.

My thoughts are to find out next time I see him IF there was at ONE time a route to the edge of river as  I understood him to say, and IF there are any map routes involved or whether he went down there with some PRIOR local knowledge?

IF there was a route then there COULD be again IF the park wanted to add another entry point. The permit part would work itself out IF you can even get there. :-/

When I bushwhacked from Belaire to up past the hunting camp some trees had been recently cleared with a chainsaw and there was some flagging tape. The trail does exists to below the rapids.  I ate lunch on a log jam just below the rapids.  Look at the map pictured in the second link below. That’s Belaire on the left and the Wawiag at the bottom.  My tracks touch the Wawiag in 2 places.  One is just below the rapids and the other is downstream at the park boundary then the tracks head straight north on the cut line that is the boundary for a while. 

I saw that MP. I have a KESTREL Explorer Series map coming that supposedly shows all the logging roads in that area?
IF it shows them, even old ones, I'll bring it with me next time I see QD and have him mark the map up to the best of his recollection.

I don't think the Kestrel map has GPS grids on it, but I do know they sell/work with logging companies, so I'm hoping the map is fairly detailed?

I have one right now MAP 15-21 Atikokan that shows areas mainly along Hwy 11. Shows a lot of entry points, lake access points and type of FISH in each lake.

I think IF the roads could be improved enough to make access possible in most seasons, it would take some pressure off the other entry points for people that don't want to shuttle or want to do a loop trip.

Maybe not financially feasible on the parks budget but I'm curious how QD got in there? Maybe like you did?
How big are those rapids? I thought QD had said he MOTORED up and down WAWIAG, but that might not be right at all?

I talked to a local who had ran the rapids more than once.  They said that most of the time they dumped in the upper ones and could not get out until after the lower ones and it was not a rout for a Kevlar boat. I could not see the rapids from where I was. Some of the satellite photos show the rapids. I think QD grew up in the area and that is where he played as a kid. Some of the roads that are in good shape except that culverts have been removed so they could be installed somewhere else. 

Ahem, getting back to the original topic: a new "meals & lodging" resource near the east side of Quetico... I thought I might mention that the campus sits right on Eva Lake.  Those who board there have free use of any of their 6 canoes (2 Kevlar Souris Rivers & 4 aluminum Grummans) while on the property.

I believe the lake is known for smallmouth bass, northern pike & lake trout.  Show up at mid-day, get settled, and get a few hours of fishing in before you even enter the park.

Camp Quetico is headquartered somewhere on that lake.  However, they ferry their clients to forty different lakes in the region, NOT including those they truck over to Quetico.  I'm guessing there's not a heckuva lot of traffic there.  I don't recall seeing anyone on the lake during our stay.

FYI

Jimbo   8-)

Quetico College School
1130 Highway 633, Box 460,
Atikokan, Ontario P0T 1C0
Tel
800-753-1747

Local
807-598-1600
Michael Heaton by phone at
807 598-1600

I have a room reserved for the 11th.
Once you turn north on 633 how do you find the place?

Magic,

You'll go a few miles, see Eva Lake on your right hand side, then slow down and watch for the sign (again, on the right) which will take you on to the campus.  Eventually you'll pass their race course/training platforms for BMX bicycling and enter a parking lot.  There, you will see cabins on the lake in front of you & an administrative building at the far end on the right.  That is where we first ran into people who were able to telephone Michael about our arrival.

Chances are Michael will meet you in that parking lot.  From there he will direct you up the hill, past tennis courts and a couple more buildings to their dormitory.  He'll likely bicycle there via a short cut campus pathway and meet you.  There, you'll park & he'll show you around.  The Rec Center and the Dining Hall are within a short, easy-walking distance.

You aren't going to believe this place.  All these years of heading up to the park, to crappy arrangements & poor food in Atikokan, and THIS place has been there all the while, just sitting dormant.

Let's just hope he succeeds & can keep it going!

Jimbo   8-)

Thanks I will report back in a couple of weeks.

Magicpaddler wrote on Aug 7^th, 2016 at 5:28pm:

Thanks I will report back in a couple of weeks.

In a sense, Magic has "reported back" sooner than anticipated.  Please note the exact location of Quetico College School, as follows:   (You need to Login or Register

Jimbo   8-)

I stayed at the Quetico College and found it a good deal. Michael was most accommodating.  He had a late meal available when I arrived. 

What's the cost per night of a stay?

HighnDry wrote on Aug 29^th, 2016 at 10:37pm:

What's the cost per night of a stay?

We were charged $60 (US) per room.  (Jim and I each had a room.)

I seem to remember that we were charged $28 for meals (dinner on our arrival and breakfast the next morning).

dd

I don’t remember the exact amount but it was less than Canadian $90 = about $70 US for 2 meals and a room with a private bath for the night.  That includes Tax. You don’t need to take the meals it was just easy for me.  Most Canadian restaurants open at 9-10 but he serves breakfast starting at 6.  I think my room was Canadian $60 + tax.  I did not save the receipt.