Only about 1/2 into the video so far, but enjoying it. Some overlap with the route I took this summer, plus a bunch of areas I want to get to on my next trip - thanks for the reminiscence and scouting report in one.
The area you point out on Mudchannel Lake as possibly being the route over to Pinetorch, i think the route is actually a bit south of there. I'm operating solely from memory, and having to transpose things in my head since I was heading South and you were headed North, but I think it's 1/2-ish of the way between that little bulb off the main body of the lake and the outlet. In any case, it's not easy to find, but it is there and is passable (and the route from Mudchannel to Pinetorch is really pretty).
also - I think we fell into the same bog on the long portage between Bluesucker and Florence. Hope you had as good of a laugh about it as I did afterward.