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 Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Trip Planning Forum Solo trip suggestions. Reply
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| Previous Messages: | |
| Author | Message Text |
| mjmkjun |
12/16/2017 05:15AM Last September I experienced one morning cold enough to make me wish I would have packed a pair of thick wool socks. Otherwise, the skies were clear & beautiful & bug-free. A bit chilly in the mornings and perfect day temps for paddling. No rain for those 5-days/4 nights, either. Other trippers were far and few between. On one portage, I encountered a group of three guys--all wearing open toe sandals. Ah! to be young, sure-footed and daring again. You know your capabilities but the canak would be a PIA to load/unload at portages on a 10-day solo. Wilderness canoe trippers come in various fitness levels, it's true. |
| billconner |
12/13/2017 08:12PM If you are in the BWCAW or QPP, there are no bad routes imho. Coupled with not fishing and age 66, I also feel in that advanced beginner intermediate category, but I do get there once or twice a year for past 16 or so years. So, I would think an entry with options and just take it a day at a time. Feel like traveling, do it. I also take a lot of maps - on Mackenzie all around where I think I'll go. Feel like layover, do that. Mix in a day hike. Take a few novels. At least a couple of liters of wine in plastic bags. I like looking at maps in the evening to see where to go next day. Hate feeling I have to go here or there. I think the canak is not so easy to load and unload, and significant weight over a solo. Not mentioned Canoe Country Outfitters. Was Bill Rom's place. In Ely and on Moose Lake. A great multi generational family business with great service. But I think all the outfitters are probably very good. |
| macsvens |
12/13/2017 11:54AM Thanks. This was very helpful. I too am 66. I've made 4 previous trips (3 solo) spaced out over the years, the last over 10 years ago. Live in Calee-fornia so don't paddle much. Would classify myself as a advanced beginner. Yours and others suggestions has me rethinking my plans and routes. I just really want to get away and relax and not set the world on fire. Pretty sure I'd be doubleportaging every time. Although the solo prism is light, I really didn't like it-seemed to affected by the wind. Liked a light weight aluminum or royalex better. Was considering Sawbill Outfitters because they offer a hybrid canoe/kayak. I do kayak out here. Also there are severalroutrs I could take from there. Have a year to decide. |
| macsvens |
12/13/2017 11:51AM Thanks for the info. It helped. Will look into those routes. |
| macsvens |
12/13/2017 11:50AM Thanks for the info. |
| sedges |
12/13/2017 07:48AM Put in Round Lake to Missing Link entry through Snipe(gorgeous) to Cross Bay Lake(lots of wildlife) to a couple days on Long Island Lake than on to a couple days on Cherokee. Out the same way or to Cross River Access. A short walk back to Round Lake Access. 20 or so portages, great campsites. I used a bunkhouse and secure parking at Tuscarora Lodge and Outfitters. Great folks and they offer a great breakfast for your start. They would be a good outfitter for your tour. I ended up doing this when I abandon a longer loop through Brule, Winchell, Gaskin, Kiskadina. I bruised my foot the first day and shortened up the trip to avoid developing a chronic injury. It was a great ten day double base camp trip. Both LIL and Cherokee have lots of exploring potential. There is also very little fire effected areas(only east end of LIL and going out Cross River and Ham Lake if you use that exit. Wonderful forest on this route. |
| billconner |
12/13/2017 04:27AM I know its just different preferences, no one more "right", but the 2 or 3 base camps in 10 days seems very limiting. And I probably don't understand your priorities, except we both are not fishermen so I get that. But I look at the math and think three nights in each of three sites, and that means up to two day trips from each site. I presume a day trip covers more distance than moving camp: single portage, lighter, and dont have to allow time to break and make camp. Maybe double the miles. So I travel 10 miles and then need to find one or two 15 to 20 mile day trip routes from that site before traveling 10 miles to next base. Seems like I'm paddling a lot of the same route. So just help me understand because as I'm almost 66, and realize I might not be able to break and make camp and travel 12 to 15 miles every day for 2 weeks for ever - my current practice. Especially since I dont fish, which I think about taking up to justify to myself base camping when I'm old (which my sons decided began 20 years ago). |
| carmike |
12/12/2017 11:21PM You might also want to add this question to the solo forum. Mid_September shouldn't be too bad if you get away from the entry points. It sounds like you're willing to go almost anywhere...Any preference at all? There are lots of options out there for sure, but a little more direction on which area (Sawbill Trail, Ely, or Gunflint) might be helpful. |
| cowdoc |
12/12/2017 09:16PM Tuscarora outfitters. Brant entry. Up to Flying, Fay, Chub river. Over to Lil sag, back thru smaller lakes. Tuscarora to Howl swamp. Come out Snipe...Missing Link back to Round. A great mix of lakes and rivers for a fall trip. Should see few people |
| Grandma L |
12/12/2017 05:18PM Outfitter - Ely - I like - Voyageur North, Piraguas or Spirit of the Wilderness. September is a good time - no bugs, less people and nice cool paddling weather! Route? My choice would be border - up Moose, east up to Ottertrack, loop south through Esther, Hansen, Knife, Kek, Wisini, Thomas, Fraser, Ima, Ensign back to Moose. |
| macsvens |
12/12/2017 12:34PM I’m planning at least a 10 day solo around mid September 2018. Looking for smaller lakes, wild life, easier portages. Not a fisherman. Day trips from maybe two or three base camps. Somewhere off the Gunflint or Sawbill Trails. Is there anywhere around there that offers some solitude? I’m thinking about Sawbill lake or Lizz lake entry points. Ely isn’t out of the question. Thought about Lake One but hear it’s pretty busy. Would be going through and outfitter. Would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks. |
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