Martin -

Sent you a PM.

East Lake would certainly take some time to investigate ... lots of possibilities.

I've actually plotted out a one-way route that would go from Big Hook Lake to Island Lake (MB).  Via Cocos & Joint Lakes, that route is about 57 miles.  Since your only choice is to fly-in/fly-out you could easily do two different points for put-in-/take-out (and going that direction puts you with the flow of the river).

Alternately, it looks like you could go south from the lodge on Big Hook and head west via South Lake (might even be possible to do a little bushwhacking and get into the south end of South Lake).

A couple of huge moraines to investigate ... huge wolverine population ... what's not to like!

(And, yes.  I did have more than one reason to pick up a folding canoe that could be packed as luggage/gear!  I think this thing was specifically built for river travel.)

dd

Marten wrote on Sep 21^st, 2012 at 12:17pm:

Is the figure 8 the one with about 6 miles of common route near the middle?  If so, I spotted that one as well.  (Even that could be cut down to under 2 miles by using one of the arms of East Lake and adding a longer portage/bushwhack.)  From the best I can tell, with one exception the portages are also relatively short, with only a few that reach the 80 rod class.  Maybe a bit more lining of the canoe than I'm used to doing, but none-the-less something that looks doable.

Tick, Tick, Tick.  I hear my biological clock running down also!

dd

BillConner wrote on Sep 21^st, 2012 at 9:19pm:

Look like it is mostly covered by a (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links), which I read as a crown land camping permit (~$10 per person per night).

But I think that getting this directly from an Ontario Parks authority (e.g., Claire Que @ WCPP would likely know, since Opasquia is now under the administrative jurisdiction of the WCPP) is advisable.

dd

FYI, in order for a non-resident to camp in a non operating Provincial Park in the province of Ontario, the camper (or party) must obtain a crown land camping permit.  In order for a non-resident to qualify for a crown land camping permit, the camper (or party) must be using a "camping unit" rented from a person who carries on business in Ontario.....my experience has led me to believe this means a tent or some other form of accommodation (perhaps a tarp).  It does not mean a cooking kit, pack, or barrel 

So, in addition to the crown land camping permit fee, a non-resident would have to also consider the cost of renting a tent or tarp or other qualifying piece of gear.  It's important to note as a 2 week + rental of a tent or tarp could drive up the cost considerably. 

The same goes for crown land camping around the Red Lake area, although most of that crown land is green zone so non-residents are prohibited from camping at all (Onnie Lake for example).

You can refer to this document for specifics.  See section 18

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

I camped on crown land for several years several years ago.  Our outfitter said that if we rented tents from him we would not need to pay a fee to camp on crown land.  He told us what the fee was and gave us a choice.  His tents were cheaper. We were never questioned I thought we were covered.  We were in an area where there were many fishermen so I would expect to see some policing going on in the area.