BillConner wrote on Jun 9^th, 2017 at 9:39am:


Yeah, technically you're right.  Most of the outfitters will refer to it as a "Lerome entry", pretty much the same way they refer to the Batchewaung entry point as a "Nym entry."  Nevertheless, you're technically not in the park until you get to Sue Falls... & that's what it is officially listed as.

I also note that the chart you refer to shows the non-resident party quota for the Sue Falls entry at 1/day versus the 2/day I was guessing at & mentioned earlier.

I don't know what other entry permit would make sense for approaching the park via Lerome OTHER than a Sue Falls permit.  Of course, as we've noted, we're not really "entering" the park at Lerome... we're just approaching it.  I suppose one could go to Lerome with some other permit BUT they would have to do an awful lot of bushwhacking to actually enter at the point their permit allows!

On the other hand, many years ago I did something that might apply to this situation.  I secured a permit for entry into the park at Three Mile Lake.  Now, most folks who enter there hire an outfitter to drive them down to Wisa Lake.  From Wisa you can paddle right into Three Mile Lake.  However, THAT year I inquired about approaching the Three Mile entry point from Beaverhouse Lake (then Quetico River & Namakan down to Three Mile).  The park officials scratched their heads a bit over that one but finally agreed I could do it IF I "made reasonable progress towards Three Mile Lake upon arriving at Beaverhouse."

"Reasonable progress" being a somewhat fuzzy notion, my party took full advantage of that phraseology by camping/fishing at the east end of Beaverhouse for a few days before actually heading down to Three Mile.  I'm guessing park officials expected us to make a little more haste than we actually did.  Oh, well....

I suppose one could apply the same logic to accessing the park via Lerome on a permit "other" than one designating a Sue Falls entry.  That someone wouldn't be me, however.  It would make no logistical sense that I can see plus it would represent a nightmare of bushwhacking, etc.  Also, I'm 99.9% confident that park officials would never agree to it in the first place, if advised in advance.  Where would one enter Quetico from Lerome Lake if not at Sue Falls?  Batchewaung?  The Cirrus entry at the far west end?  I don't think so.

The only other consideration I can think of might be to secure a "Special Permit" for park entry at points OTHER than designated entry points.  Doug Chapman, of Canadian Quetico Outfitters, has worked with a few of us to obtain such a permit from park officials at times in the past.  I believe that is how Magic Paddler & Kingfisher entered the park a few years ago over on the east side, bushwhacking into the vicinity of Belaire Lake (not a designated park entry point).  For that matter, I suspect that is how they intend to do it again this year.  In fact, I think the park "encouraged" them as they hoped to explore the notion of adding a new official park entry point over on the east side. 

Sorry for the long post.  Lots of thoughts come together in response to a very short question!

Jimbo   

Bill,

I believe you will find the answer to your question is: "you can't do it."  To allow entry someplace other than the designated entry would effectively subvert the "quota system."

Do let us know what you find out.

Jimbo

Entry Point - Sue Falls

Information:
Permits can be picked up at the Dawson Trail Ranger Station or at the Atikokan Ranger Station. This entry point is accessed through Lerome Lake. Lerome Lake is located outside of the park boundary and non-residents must purchase a Crown Land Camping Permit to camp in this area.


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I think Jimbo is correct on the number of permits. I had no trouble getting one when I went in that entry. I seem to remember seeing a campsite on the southern island close to the first portage out of Lerome. There are also some flat spots on the eastern shore just past the last summer cabin that sits up on a ridge as you paddle past. So, there are options if you choose.