TomT, I was thinking of entering through Mudro to short cut to Argo last summer and talked extensively to my outfitter about it.  Q permits (Basswood River) are available on-line/via outfitters, RABC's via mail - as you well know.  It's the camping fees you need to pay at the ranger station.  They were going to let me ride a tow up/back to PP and pay the camping fees the day before the entry permit, said they do that somewhat frequently with no issues.  This is a lot like Solus described, but would have been in season.  For the BW, they said just a day permit, unless camping overnight.  It would have been a BIG stretch to get up through Friday Bay and the border in one day and you'd need a crack crew.  Robinson would be more do-able for sure.  We ended up going in via McAree on a Crane Lake tow.  There was a bit more money involved in doing that one.  Several ways to fillet that fish - as the rest have alluded to - some just involve more money.

pd