I’m new to the forum and would like the advice of all of you who have been to the Quetico. My wife and I are planning our first trip into the Quetico for May or June of next year.

I went to a YMCA camp as a kid in the northwoods of Wisconsin that emphasized canoe camping and loved it. I was supposed to go on their sponsored trip into the Quetico, but never went. I made it a point to someday do that. Well, over 20 years later I’m planning that trip. When I was a kid I was an experienced paddler. I always preferred and was picked as the stern paddler. I’ve tested the waters locally and found that I can still pilot a canoe like I did, kind of like riding a bike I guess.  

We’ve camped before, and my wife is a good outdoors woman. We’re both in fair to good shape, but are going to the gym more often now that we know we need to prepare for the rigors of a 6 day trip.

So my question- this will most likely be an early June (or even late May) trip and I want to be as far from another person (besides my wife) as possible. Day one will be early and hard if necessary. Day two to six should only require 5 hours of traveling. We will need at least one campsite for a two night rest, maybe at the end of the trip (so if bad weather makes the rest sooner). Interests are photography and viewing wildlife, fishing (lake trout- any other trout besides lakers?), pictographs, and wildflowers.  

Side question- my wife is the object of every bug’s eye. Any favorite repellants? Do they still make Muskoll?

Thanks for your input.              

Jeremy -

If you have no objections to starting your trip on the northern side of Quetico, you can get an early start.  Ranger stations typically open at 8:00, so that doesn't typically facilitate a "first light" entry into the park.  However, if you head up to Atikokan, Ont (location of park headquarters), you can check in the day before your permit departure date and be on the water very early.  You could then enter at (West to East) Beaverhouse, Nym or French Lake (Dawson Creek).  Beaverhouse and French Lake put you in a position to do a lengthy paddle before anything beyond what I would consider a minimal portage would be involved.  Yet, that kind of area does tend to produce more travelers.  Nym, puts you in about mid-park and if you head generally south from there, you can get into some less traveled waters relatively soon.

Not only do the northern entries tend to draw fewer people than southern entry points, it is a bit simpler since you don't need a RABC (Remote Area Border Crossing permit) ... just a passport/passcard to get into Canada.  Nightly camping fees are a bit less also.

The earlier in May you go, the fewer the bugs (generally speaking).  June tends to be "max" bug month.  I do wear treated clothing (as described above).  The only repellant I take is as near to 100% deet as I can get ... which I wear sparingly.  If you can go before mid-May, you can get into the park before a permit is required.  If you go during this period, you need to be prepared for some "brisk" nights.  (I think my last year's trip--last 2 weeks in May--had maybe 3-4 days somewhere around 28 degrees overnight.)

dd

Good advice on the Permethrin above.

Muskol is made in Canada. Canada has laws concerning the percentage of deet allowed. Some canadians I have met were interested in getting american insect repellent.

REI sells jungle juice which has about 98% deet. I'm not advocating using it frequently, as it can irritate fair skin, but it is strong. Does not completely stop the black flies either. You could get the pump and spray it around hat, collar etc. We put in a ziplock so less chance of leaking on other gear.

It's probably more of a mental attitude, but I don't know how you guys go in shorts and a tee shirt. I get nailed by the bugs also, but not nearly as bad as my wife does. We have gone in may and I don't always use repellent, my plan involves putting some clothes on. A hat and mosquito netting will help if you find yourself in a bad spot. A button down fishing shirt with a tee-shirt underneath seems to thwart most black flies for me. 

I hate biting insects too 
Try OFF Sportsman's insect repellent, it comes in a small (4 inches?) plastic bottle.  Resign yourselves to having to put it on.
Other remedies: Light weight mosquito & no-see-um screen tent for a refuge from the bugs in camp.  Hanging around down wind of the camp fire.  Camp on an open, rocky Point site.  Be ready to get into your tent by 9:30 pm and hope you do not have to exit again until daylight.  Wear long pants and long sleeved shirt, even if 85 degrees, when portaging.  An antihistamine (Benadryl or ??) after dinner will put you to sleep by 9:30 and make you forget all about the itching. 
Long live comfortable camping 

Jeremy,

My bug repellent consists of taking 6 or 8 garlic tablets a day beginning 2 weeks before a trip and continue taking them while on a trip. Seriously, this has worked for me for years now.......the bugs avoid me. The downside is that other campers avoid me also Before I employed the above method, I would bring along a bottle of IMITATION vanilla flavoring and apply that as bug repellent. It worked though I haven't tried it for many years now since going the garlic tablet route.

Welcome to the forum here on QJ and thanks for your contribution as an Inukshuck.

May you and your wife enjoy your trip

WR