Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

Solo July 2015
by Hueyav8r

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe
Entry Date: 07/29/2015
Entry & Exit Point: Little Indian Sioux River (north) (EP 14)
Number of Days: 3
Group Size: 1
Trip Introduction:
First a little back story of why I decided to go on a solo canoe trip. My wife and I decided the summer of 2014 to separate. During the time I was trying to sort it all out, I was reading Cheryl Strayed book Wild” From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. During her trip she met a wise older man that told her that she was on a Spiritual Journey. I felt I needed the do the same thing. I suggested to my wife that we both go on separate trips. I was going to head into the BWCA, I suggested she head to NJ to spend time on the Shore (her favorite place). A solo trip is out of my comfort zone. I’ve been referred to as a Safety Dad. I’m retired military, helped lead a BSA troop for 10 years. I normally have a back up plan for everything and travel in a group minimum of 4 to 6 in case of emergency. My back up plan for this trip was a SPOT device I rented from the Outfitter. The spring of 2015 Canoecopia in Madison WI, I mentioned in passing to another traveler in our van that I was thinking of this trip. She had a similar trip a couple years prior and suggested I talk with Voyageur North Outfitters. They had a booth at Canoecopia. There I put together a rough plan to spend a short week in the wilderness to think.
Day 1 of 3
Wednesday, July 29, 2015 I decided to take two days to drive and arrived in Ely on July 28th. I did the tourist thing in Ely including visiting a couple of the museums. I got that out of my system, and then met with Lynn at Voyageur North to finish up the business side of the trip. Found out that Lynn had traveled the same route and suggested a couple camp sites. My entry point was #14, Little Indian Sioux River (north). When I arrived there the morning of the 29th, I noticed another group getting ready to head to the water. I rushed to get my things together and did a single portage to the water. In the process I dropped my map and one of my bags. I realized I was starting off wrong. The other group was helpful and picked up my things. Finally loaded my canoe and took a deep breath ready to get started. The water was just as I hoped. It started off as a clear day with little wind. Unfortunately that didn’t last long. When I made it to the Upper Pauness Lake, the wind had picked up. It was about lunchtime, I found a small camp site and stopped to eat and see if the wind would die down. It didn’t, that’s when I remembered that my main reason for this trip was serenity and to spend some alone time. I wasn’t in a hurry to go anywhere so I set up camp. I was in camp site #39. A small site, but for one tent it was fine.

I spent the balance of my first day watching the water, waving to a couple canoe groups passing by and cooked myself a steak dinner.

 
 
 
 
 
 
~Upper Pauness Lake

Lakes Traveled:   Upper Pauness Lake,