TVMatt wrote:

Paddlerunner, I remember you! You were the last person we saw for days. You were lucky to have that tail wind along with a double blade. What was your route before that? Maybe next time we can stop and chat for a bit! 

Cool! Would love that--and have been wanting to meet Mark for several years now.

Re. my route before running into you guys, I'm glad you asked. Was filming my own trip down the Pet from Cedar to Radiant, up the Little Mad to Hogan, down to Opeongo, back up through Happy Isle, Merchant, Big Trout, Longer, and had camped on Red Pine Bay the night before running into you. Working on final part of the series now, but here's what I've got to date, in case you're interested.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMOgnnutAdKyeh04QrsfLzfQ_beCxeKps

MartinG wrote:

I've parked at Mew Lake to access the air field without giving it any thought. Didn't realize that was an issue. I wouldn't be concerned parking at whitefish, as a group campground they have tons of space. No one is going to say boo as long as you have some kind of permit on your dash.

As far as the reservation system goes I'm not much help. 90% of my trips can't be booked on line because of some kind of hiccup. So, I've just got in the habit of calling them in. Or just getting a permit when I arrive. Yes, I just say whatever access is closest.

2 weeks from Sunday Lake. Hmm, Meanest Link?

Yessir. Trying to strategize to get the overused and abused cottagy section out of the way off the top so I can enjoy the pure carrying hell of the low-populated, high portage section later Thanks for the tip on Whitefish; another good option.
 

Thanks solos. I think you're right, it's going to depend on the specific access point and its proximity to official ones. I was looking at Sunday Lake but have decided against it as it'll be a trip over 2 weeks long and I don't think I want to leave my vehicle in such out of the way place for that much time. Considering other options at this point.

Marko_Mrko wrote:

Just tell them the closest official access point. And go in wherever you want, and have fun!

Thanks Marko. Hmmm . . . well, that works as far as I'm concerned, but it would seem to make a mockery of both the reservation system and the permitting procedure. I suppose, however, anyone patrolling vehicles for valid permits only looks at the return date anyway. 

I think I like trippythings' vision a little better than scoutergriz's . . . just saying.

Not sure if it's okay to be revisiting this thread or not. I wasn't on here during the first go-round on the topic, and I guess I'm glad I wasn't, since my own reaction on learning the Parks had been closed was rather less than 100% supportive. But if this pandemic has taught me anything, it's that the new normal is a continuous state of change: changing infection/death statistics, changing government policy, and changing social reaction to name but a few. And for me what started as an attitude of haughty rebelliousness has slowly transformed into grim acceptance of the facts. 

The problem for me is over the past year or so I've pretty much made my life over to be about one thing: being in the backcountry. It's not that I have the luxury of doing this full time, but when I'm not out there almost all my off hours are spent either planning new trips or producing videos of past trips. Reason: I came to the realization that there's simply nothing else in this world that I can count on to restore and inspire myself than the great outdoors. 

So when I first heard the Parks were closing I thought, 'okay, time to start planning a crown land trip'. Then the Government announced the province-wide fire ban and I thought, 'okay, not as much fun but I can live without'. And now, finally, I realize that it's just not going to happen at all anytime soon.

So now all I wonder is, how long will it take to be past 'anytime soon'? How can I learn to accept such a nebulous target? How do you plan for trips when there is no visible time horizon to plan on? Will we lose half the paddling season or all of it? How come we aren't smart enough as a society to be able to put a specific end-date on this thing? And a whole host of other inane, childish and petty complaints that speak plainly of my egocentric, brooding state of mind. Of course it doesn't help to be more or less locked up at home all the time, with my morning commute reduced to the 10 steps between the kitchen and the place w

solos wrote:

TripperMike wrote:

...My two cents: don’t count on going on a canoe trip until June or later, given the current situation of our world...

Only a masochist would plan a trip for June.

Does anyone else find it bitterly ironic that after several years in a row of prolonged ice-outs and later backcountry openings, it looks like we're finally going to get an early ice-out, only to be prevented from going by a virus??? 

I wouldn't be surprised if a mid-June start-date actually works out well for avoiding bugs this year. I'm working from the following equation: earlier warming + less snow to melt = earlier bug season with lower bug population. Maybe my assumptions are incorrect, but I'd definitely chance it anyway at that point . . . and enjoy every minute regardless of the bug conditions!
 

Hmmm, reminds me of Nadine -- or at least the day I was there -- but then that seems too close to your last WIA. Nevertheless, that's my guess.

Somehow had a feeling you'd get it, MartinG. I don't know what possessed me to book this site for an early spring trip, but it was a windy, chilly and rainy experience after a fairly heavy travel day. Not a lot of fun. Could be great in high summer when you need some bug relief though. Back to you!