Our earliest camping for the year is ice out. It looks like it might be late this year. One year we left in April. This is our ninth year, that's the only year the ice was out early enough to get on the water with boats.
From last May. Maybe next month I''ll post June camping pictures.
When the ice is off the water, we head out, usually a day or two later, It's good to get out one before the bugs get bad. It's about a 2 well window. Bugs are almost always in the air by May 25th.
I haven't been back packing since I went up into Little Yoho 30 years ago with my kids. If you don't have a lot of good canoe routes where you live, I guess back packing is the next best thing. Although carrying everything all the time leads to a serious lack of comfort items. I carry 70 pounds and a canoe, but usually not for more than 20 minutes. And we often make two trips. For the last ten years I've been dependant on a good air mat to get a good night's sleep. You can get away with a lot less when you're younger.