Quetico Provincial Park is a region of isolated Canadian
wilderness straddling the Canada - United States border between southwestern
Ontario and northern Minnesota. Quetico is composed of over 1 million acres of
forests and thousands of miles of water routes. This park is where the famed “voyageurs” paddles and moved furs back
and forth from the North to Montreal and beyond.
Quetico
is truly a special wilderness area not only because of it ties to the famed “voyageurs”
but because it is pure wilderness today. I say this first hand, the water is so pure you drink from the lake/river with no worry, as is . It is rugged yet breathe
taking in it surroundings. When you are in the park you practice “leave no
trace” approach and practice camping and hiking techniques to minimize human impact
on the park itself.
I
took a short 3 day trip with my son Nicholas whose last visit was 10 years ago
in 2004. Nicholas had been in the park 3 other times 2002, 2003 and again last
in 2004 all with U of D Jesuit High School and Academy. His trips were long 7
and 8 days.
I
can say this having to portage your canoe (70 lbs.), along with 3 other packs (food;
70 lbs.) (stove; 40 lbs.) and your (clothes and tent 65 lbs.) on your back for
840 meters up at least a 60 foot incline over mud, rocks and everything else tests
yourself beyond your wildest dreams. Paddling with nobody in site in calm,
rainy and windy conditions (10 -15 mph) all within the same hour, does
something for you. You learn team work and trust each other to move on.
The
nights of silence of the wilderness is something else to behold and hear. The
loon, owl, the quaking aspen trees making there sound in the wind it can be called " natures symphony”
all against a sky you can see no place
else on earth. Quetico to me is a place that lets you find out who you are and helps
you in discovering more about yourself because of the challenges it presents
you and then at the end of the day you are able to reflect on who you are and what
you did.
I
want to go back and spend a longer time in this beautiful place and face the challenge’s
it might present on that trip whatever they might be.
To
take this trip with my son Nick I can truly understand in my short visit why he
enjoyed coming back and wants to come back many more times.
Below
are some pictures of our trip. No random order.
If you go I would only use one outfitter and they are the Voyageur Wilderness
Program.
Just take my word on this , just call them first.
Here
is there link, please use them:
The last Picture.
With the owners and the Best outfitters in Quetico.
Dale and Michelle.
In closing just for the record, I was with the best guide possible for my first trip.
This was just a 2 person trip.
A canoe,food, clothes and a map,no compass.
My guide was Nicholas,he took care of us each step.
Thank you son.
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