hello all...

i will be heading up to Quetico this may with a friend of mine and his dad and some of his buddies ( they've been there many times before), and this is my first time doing something like this..... was just wondering what i should brind in terms of gear and such, i got some ideas but just wanting a little help from experienced people that have made many trips.

thanks,'
bigblue

 Click on the site map at bottom of page, and you'll find a gear maker list that will get you started.
 People choice of gear ranges from the bare minimum (even that is debatable), too the extreme in terms of comfort and convenience.
  I doubt ANY gear list would meet approval by 100% of the paddlers here
  IMHO, I would say you need as a minimum, two sets of clothes, 2-3 pairs of socks, a GOOD rain suit, 2 pairs of shoes ( paddle and portage/camp), a GOOD tent, a TARP that will protect at least a couple of people or more, a DEPENDABLE stove, a few fleece/wool garments to layer as the weather dictates. A GOOD set of maps/compass, BEFORE a GPS, although you can have that if you want. A water filter and First AID kit for the you/party. Enough rope to rig tarp and canoes. Some can get by with less, most of us take more. All depends on how hard your willing too work to take the extra items many like around camp
 I'd get with the "old timers" that have been there before and learn from them.
 The general rule of thumb is that you can bring as much gear as you like, as long as YOUR willing to carry it and not pawn it off on anyone else

ditto to what Magic said - that's your start;  most likely, an experienced group will already have taken the stove, tarp, cooking gear and food into consideration (but double check that).  That would typically leave your personal stuff which may include tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and eating utensils/cup/bowl - or that may all be part of the group gear.

PFD - you'll probably need to have your own, though a loaner will work if it fits properly.

Purely personal gear would be a complete change of clothes (double dry bagged - maybe in trash bag in a dry bag, or at least double trash bagged inside a stuff bag - I keep a small microfiber towel in with the clothes - if you need them desperately, you can dry off with the towel fisrt), one durable pair of portage boots, a second pair of shoes/boots to keep dry for around camp - should be good enough to portage in, in case pair A blow out; rain gear (good stuff, not cheap),
your toilet kt; TP, toothbrush, maybe a bit of biopdegradable soap, etc; a small first aid kit, including any medications you need (if you NEED them, then have a double set of meds, in two different packs) glasses? sunglasses probably, but if you need glasses or contacts to see, be sure to have spares as well; bug dope - double what you think you'll need, just in case; a good hat, and some type of spare hat in case hat A gets blown away; fleece jacket,
neoprene fishing gloves for paddling in cold weather, maybe a down vest packed away in case it gets really cold, or in case your sleeping bag isn't doing its job.  Typically, the last week of May could get cold enough to have frost, and could get colder - dress in layers - -  I go with polypro underwear (and a spare set included with your dry set - nice to sleep in if set A is wet or stinky), cotton chambray shirt with two button down shirt pockets for misc., polyester pants (Dickies work pants ) or nylon, somthing relatively quick drying is best, with one heavier shirt as a light jacket - either a wool shirt or a bug shirt; layered over that is a fleece jacket for around camp and early morning paddling (rare - the PFD and work keeps you warm enough), and rain gear as a final layer for warmth if needed.  Its nice to have a wool watch cap for sleeping in, and that could be handy if its really cold.
In your pockets - a compass, matches in waterproof container (at least double bagged in ziplocks) bug dope, maybe sunscreen, pocket knife - you can keep a lot of small stuff in a small fanny pack, or in the pockets of your PFD - but matches, compass, knife should be on your person at all times, regardless - I like a bandana as well.  If its hot, you can dip it and tie around your neck, or use it as a washcloth.

Add to the "must have" list above, whatever you need for fishing (we only bring one spare pole and reel for a group of 4 - depends on your group)

Booze if you want any and your group says its ok, possibly a few snack items though you should not pack them with your personal gear or keep in your tent.

Possibly some kind of chair or pad to sit on - a 1"x8"x15" garden kneeling pad weighs only a few ounces, and you can sit on it on the canoe seat if you want - strap/tie it on to the seat if you do that - drill/burn/poke a small hole to attach 4 foot of string to, so you can tie it to a rock or piece of wood to keep it from blowing away in the wind.

You might like to have a map of your own to see where you are going and where you've been - Friends of Quetico sell a reasonable map of the park (one side is about 1/4th of the park in detail, the other side is the full park at a larger scale - they are just about good enough to navigiate with)

A pack to put all that stuff in  - might be provided/loaned by the group, or not - you definitely need to knwo what volume you will have to work with.

That's what I would bring - heck, that's what I do bring.



added; to what you should keep in your pockets - a few lengths of string, maybe parachute cord - handy for tieing stuff to a thwart, or for small clothesline, or whatever;

and doh!  of course, a water bottle!

I'll throw one idea out there.  After asking your crew about its tripping syle (which was a very good suggestion), break your clothes down into 2 parts:  the part that you know is going to get wet, and the part that you absolutely know you need to keep dry.  I find that confidently packing the clothes I need to keep me warm if the going gets tough in a sacrosanct, dry place allows me to generally pack much lighter.   

I would also be sure that your "wet" clothes dry quickly.

Solotripper likes fleece and so do I. I have a hooded fleece sweat shirt that I use frequently.  On cold nights I use it as a night shirt.