We camped in a 4 person backpacking (not 4 person car camping) tent last summer for 23 days in Algonquin and had no trouble finding sites that were already present - but I would not want to go bigger than that. Personally I would recommend between 2 and 4 person tents - unless you have some real solitary types on your trip (who need their own solo tents).

I think this is a very personal decision. I take an inReach on solos and text my other 1/2 at least twice a day - I don't find it takes away from the experience - we sometimes take the cell phone - I like it as a camera - I can see using it for reading. I think a lot of it has to do with how one uses it and how one defines getting away from it all.

I would call it th Brent Run no matter the speed - to me it is a route in the park - Kevin C calls it the Brent Run in his book and recommends 8-10 days suggesting with humour not to expect a crowd cheering after doing it in the worst time in history.

I take Mojo on solos but it is a lot more work so definately worth thinking about. My first solo was Achray after I was familiar with the route. Nothing worse than being in the bush and the only group you've seen in hours is a group of guys who made you nervous - so my suggestion is start with a route that has people on it like Achray, Canoe, Smoke, etc.

Also Mojo loves canoeing and is good on trips - but just like kids - he has bad days - once 1/2 way across Smoke Lake I told him if he didn't settle I was taking him home and going without him. Another time he pulled so hard he flipped me with a barrell on my back. Once we had to wade a river because he was afraid of the bridge.  The day I miscalculated and went too far on the last portage it took some coaxing to get him in for the last paddle. But I never regretted bringing him.

Can you tell us about your bug net?

I don't know about setting them back but it is still pretty cold on the south-east corner of the park so I do not anticipate the swarms until it warms up a bit.

Like Martin, I am sure AO has their insurance up to par. From experience in other industries I suspect if there was an accident, your insurance would kick in first (as most insurance policies allow for others over a certain age to drive your vehichle with your permission) and then theirs would kick in if yours did not cover it all.

In terms of shuttles, commercial ones are going to be expensive because it costs a lot to run a shuttle and their goal is to make money. When we have done our own shuttles and it is time intensive and still expensive enough - so it comes down to cost vs time. Last year we started at Kiosk and came out at Opeongo. We got someone to pick us up in our vehicle (if we had not found a friend to do this we would have had to drive to Opeongo and arrange to leave the car there which would have been another day). Then we drove to Kiosk in our other car. The day after we got picked up at Opeongo, we drove back to Kiosk to get the other car. So we saved some money but still had the cost of gas for the second drive up and the time invested.