I like the trippythings compromise route. You're not missing much besides a bit of river travel and a lot of portaging and still get to include Burntroot in your travel plans. 

 

MooseWhizzer Dave wrote:

I was prepared to quickly set up a reservation when ice out was declared and take my chances getting my desired route. Assumed trip would start around May 8th. The next date I am available after the 12th and my route is available is May 23rd so that's what it will be. That's very close to bug in. Crud.

On the positive side, this site is where I found out about the notice, which enabled me to set up a reservation before any opportunity disappeared.....so I'm grateful...even though I will probably become Purina Fly-Chow.

I wouldn't give up on a May 8th camping trip just yet. The long-term forecast is looking pretty solid right now, so there's plenty of ice melting weather coming. But as ice-out will be average to late this year, I also wouldn't expect you to have too many bug problems on a May 23rd trip... depending on how long you're going to be out there I suppose!

Manitou

EddyTurn wrote:

Jdbonney wrote:

I don’t see a massive difference between lake specific and site specific reservations.

There's one big difference: if you are forced for some reason to camp on a lake, which you didn't book (and considering one is in the wilderness, it could happen to anyone any time) - in former case it could be reasonably done; in latter there's a good chance that someone will arrive who has properly booked this site - and then what?
 

If they were to actually go down this road, there would have to be unreservable "overflow" sites on most lakes (aside from those without enough campsites to support that). And I suppose they'd have to be the crappiest sites on the lake to make sure people aren't actually staying there by choice rather than by necessity. 

Edit: but of course that doesn't solve the problem of waking up to 80 km/hour winds and not feeling safe to leave the site you were legimately on, but now are supposed to leave. What happens if the new owners brave the wind and waves and show up? Do you have to pack up and hope to hell you can make it to the nearest overflow campsite?

You frame the argument as the poor and downtrodden family with three tents who needs to be able to book a specific site versus, in your exact words "those that want the flexibility to camp on whatever lake they want, whether they've booked it or not"

You're not remotely discussing this in good faith, so stop pretending to be the defender of all that is good and just in the universe. 

I would disagree that the entire park reservation system should be retooled to accommodate those with disabilities. Don't misunderstand me - I'm 100% for supporting equal inclusion and opportunities for everyone - but the vast majority of the Algonquin interior requires portaging. Often lengthy, rocky, rooty and hilly portages. Suggesting that site-specific bookings are necessary because someone's disability wouldn't allow them access to certain campsites is a little absurd if they have to navigate 4 kilometers of portages to reach that lake to begin with. If they can do the portages, the campsites will not be an obstacle. If they can't do the portages, the reservation system doesn't need to be revamped. 

Which brings us back to AlgonquinLakes' suggestion - which I doubt would ever happen as much as anyone else - that a hybrid solution would be the most appropriate. Make a distinction between the access point lakes and the rest of the interior, and it may be the best of both worlds. 

Or are you suggesting that your protected rights extend to the park needing to build and maintain cart-trail-quality portages throughout its entire interior? 

The same BS would start up that already happens with car camping sites. Book a maximum length, 21-day stay for the prime site(s) you want in the backcountry 5 months in advance, because it lets you book those sites before anyone playing by the rules has access to them. Then update your booking a couple months later to remove the first two weeks of your trip, shortening it to the trip you planned all along. Sure you eat some fees in the process but hey - you got the campsites you wanted!

 

MartinG wrote:

APP has very recently done an inventory of campsites. It's possible they are considering moving to a site specific bookings.

I am irrationally angry at you for even suggesting this.