I started dehydrating my own meals many years ago after being totally un-impressed with some of the purchased meals that I had taken on one of my first adventures. I cook all of my meals during the winter months (I have more time then, and there is less humidity which helps the process), and then vacuum package and store in my freezer. Packaged this way, food will last for a very long time. I ate a meal that I packaged in 2013 last year that was just fine. A really big advantage is that you can cook in bulk (chili, spaghetti, etc.) and build an inventory for future use. Most meals can be dehydrated once the basics are understood.

Just to add...I did a 15 day trip from Rain Lake to Cedar Lake and back last year, and my food (including packaging, and food bag) weighed in at 25 pounds. I did not go hungry at any time!

I have done the Tim River a number of times. Always west to east. In the summer (low water) there really isn't any reason why you would not be able to travel east to west. I did an ice-out trip that involved the Tim River in 2017, when water levels were very high. I had my paddle in the water only to maintain control of my canoe, I made it from the Shah Lake portage to Shippagew Lake in record time. Paddling from east to west, at that time, would have been extremely difficult if not impossible!