Quetico: Sturgeon -Kawnipi - Agnes Loop

So, in my trip planning for the 2024 paddling season, I made plans to finally get to Quetico. I carefully chose my route, wanting to get deep into the park and see many of the highlights on the eastern side in a ten to twelve-day timespan. I decided on a figure-eight loop trip that looked like the one seen on the map provided. The 2021 fires that decimated 14% of Quetico were also a factor in choosing my route. While I didn't mind paddling alongside recent burn areas for small sections of the trip, I certainly didn't want to spend days on end in those areas. 

Well, I learned that this trip would be a lesson in adaptability, reminding me that on a canoe trip, one has to roll with the proverbial punches. 

First, I was planning to do the trip with my father. Earlier in the spring, I had sent him some information to see if he was up for the long drive and the trip that I had planned. After learning more about it, he was eager to join. Unfortunately, less than a week before we were supposed to depart on the trip, he had a dental emergency that required immediate attention and subsequent visits to the dentist; he was forced to abandon the trip. I had already booked the trip and purchased my permits, and due to the quota of canoeists allowed in Quetico, I didn't want to cancel and miss my chance to go. Alas, I would be doing the trip as a solo paddler. 

The second big cause for adaptation was that I exacerbated a niggling knee injury descending next to Louisa Falls at a point on the trip where I was furthest away from my vehicle. (More on that on Day 6 and 7!) This forced me to change my original route and paddle the most direct route back to my car rather than complete the originally planned Figure Eight that you see on the map.  

Map provided courtesy of Toporama which contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. I have made additional markings to show route information.