Bob,

You can pick up your permit either at the station in Atikokan or the one At the Dawson Trail office on French Lake or the one on Beaverhouse lake.  They are available as early as the day before and I have used all three in the past to enter at Beaverhouse lake. FYI

Jimbo 

I was told that (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) would pick up your permit for a fee.  If you are coming from the west that would save a lot of time.

Thanks Bill and all. I have not traveled the Quetico often and never near a ranger station.  It was unclear to me if I had to stop in and register at one and if so how much paper work I needed.

I get it now - should have from the get go - that I do not need to visit if I already have my park paperwork and have previously passed the border.

Thanks again all.

Bob.

Magic,

I have not typed well at all relative to this thread.  I should never post while at work, too little attention to detail.  I meant to respond that my confusion had more to do with the combo of border crossing and park permits.  I cross at Fort Francis and get permits in Atikokan or through VWP on Nym Lake.

I was unclear if I HAD to use the Ranger station on BH if I had crossed by vehicle in Fort Francis.  I have made my reservations with Atikokan or VWP then picked them up the day I wanted to put in, like you mentioned. 

Sorry I made a mess of this.  I appreciate all responses.

Bob.

Yeah, that was Ed Ottertail.  He's a heckuva nice guy, a former Mountie, and was one of the elders over at LLC.  He ran the General Store on the reservation and also did some outfitting (ie. towboat service, shuttle service, etc.).  I used him a few times when my trips took me down towards LLC and got to know him a bit. 

I was surprised when I learned last Spring that Ed "was running the office at Beaverhouse."  No, "administration" would not have been Ed's strong suit.  You could never depend upon him to answer the phone of his "other businesses." More often than not, it was his towboat service that I was looking for and, half the time, it was "having work done on it."  Whenever I actually got hold of him, however, he was always true to his word. 

I ran into some Park rangers in the middle of Quetico many years back.  I think it was the very first time I had used Ed (Quetico Dave had recommended him for an LLC boat shuttle). They asked, "Who will be picking you up at Bell Island?" (for the tow back to the park office at LLC where my vehicle was shuttled). When I mentioned "Ed", they laughed.  One of them said, "You don't actually expect him to remember to pick you up, do you?"  I must admit, that comment gave me pause as my four person party sat on the floating dock at the bottom of the Maligne River, waiting for him.

As it turned out, Ed was late, sure enough, but he DID eventually get there.  During our wait, we actually had something of an adventure (which we would NOT have enjoyed, had he been on time).  The last page of a story I wrote back in 2003 tells the tale (see: (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) ).  Incidentally, Stu Osthoff of the BWJ "censored" this particular page from my, "Of Inukshuks & a Stroll Through the Park" story, published that year (or the next).  I think you'll see why....

Anyway, I have ALSO heard great things about Ed Ottertail's offspring as park office attendants (both at BH and at LLC).  I met one of them at LLC.  Ed was/is a "character" but he certainly raised his kids well.

I suppose I could write VOLUMES of Ed Ottertail stories but that would just get us more offtrack.

Bottom line: if Ed's kids are manning the desk, you're in good hands!

Jimbo