IC,
i would be interested but i'm missing you by 2 days, as i'm starting at Beaverhouse on the 19th and heading your same route to Sturgeon, but from there heading south to Darcy and then maing big loop NE to Burt and then up to Russell lace.
I'll try and "smooth" the way at least as least as far as Sturgeon
If your cnew to that area, send me a PM as I've been thru that wa numerous times and can give you info on camp spots etc??
  You'll lile the paddle, its some big water but very scenic

Hey solotripper, Maybe we can run into each other.  What days will you be on Russell?  I tentatively plan on being there the 25th and 26th.  What route are you taking north from Burt?  RE: Sturgeon campsites, I've travelled the south shore of Sturgeon twice, so plan to stick to the north shore unless stiff south winds would not make that possible.  Do you know of good campsites on the north shore?  IC

IC,
don't know exact mileage, but I've seen MANY small cars in the parking lot and even small motor homes.
There are a few spots that have the potential to washout, but I've never seen it yet??
Looks likes I'll be bird dogging you(or you me), as i'm coming out the 2ND as well I'll be coming out thru Russel and retracing to Beaverhouse but not sure exact dates?
I would call the park office just prior to heading into Beaverhouse, then you'll know for sure?

The previous post reminds me of a campsite on the west end of Sturgeon Lake, well remembered by me, but not to be further described for obvious reasons. Anyway, a few years ago I was sitting in the dirt near the fire pit, running dirt through my fingers when I discovered little bits of black obsidian debitage. For those of you who are not flintknappers, debitage is the little chips of stone that are flaked off a blank being worked into a useful implement such as an arrowhead. Debitage is very distinct and easily recognized by a flintknapper such as myself. Now, a good question is how black obsidian travelled to Strugeon Lake. As far as I know, the nearest source of black obsidian is eastern Oregon.

I dug up a few more handfuls and discovered a shell bead. Now debitage is one thing, but a shell bead is altogether another. Shell beads are made of a little bit of shell, pierced with a stone drill, and used to decorate clothing. Once the Europeans started up trade in an area, the indiginous people pretty much stopped making shell beads. They are very labour intensive and extremely fragile. To find one in a Quetico campsite is remarkable.

After examining the debitage and the shell bead very carefully, I dug a small hole in the roots of a bush a few feet from the fire pit and buried the artifacts, where they will remain until the next glaciation.

I think the obsidian cliff in Yellowstone is black obsidian...and plenty of it.  It is a bit closer than eastern Oregon.  Obviously it walked to the place you found it.  They have tracked trade routes across the North American continent with that kind of information.  Apparently it was a more extensive network of trade than most of us would recognize.

Why would you bury something like that, Reallife?
You found it, I guess you can do with it what you please, but why bury it?