Just figured out that the reason why I never see anyone when I go in through EP49, Skipper/Portage is that people acquire the Skipper permit and then go in through Lizz/Swamp. Took me years to realize it!

(Sarcasm font) Imagine that, people not obeying the rules, I don't buy it! But in all seriousness, I bet it happens quite a bit with multiple EP's serviced by the same lake. But the positive to that is your going to get some solitude not far from an EP.

I don't know how widespread that practice is. I had a permit for Skipper last year in August and it was a hopping place all the way to Banadad. Evidently no one wants to go from Banadad to Long Island Lake if they do go in Skipper.

We exited out of Skipper on June 9th. Not sure how many permits are issued per day, but we ran into 2 or 3 groups headed in. 4 people/2 canoes in the lake and then a very large group - or 2 groups - on the portage. And the day before 2 kayakers came through the portage - we checked to see if Skipper was open when we were looking for a camp on Thursday June 8th.