Day 1 of 5
Saturday, August 01, 2026 Day1, I live several hours south of the gunflint trail, I had all of my gear loaded up the evening before so I could get a quick head start. The 1st stop has become somewhat of a tradition in my short time traveling up to the gunflint trail. That is stopping at cascade restaurant for lunch in Lutsen (my dad and I stopped here on the way up to voyagers) excellent food.[paragraph break] After a quick bite to eat, it was on to Rockwood Outfitters to pick up the Garmin in-reach device. They were very busy I was bit confused trying to set the Garmin in-reach up with my phone. Then after some comical banter back and forth, the incredible staff at Rockwood took time out from their canoe rentals and outfitting expeditions and took care of me. Grade A service very happy with them and the vibe at the resort.[paragraph break] From there I headed to Bearskin Lodge to pick up my rental canoe. Mind you, I hadn't been in a canoe in over 25 years! The one and only time was when I was a kid, me and dad took an aluminum canoe into trout lake, unforgettable memories.[paragraph break] After some words of encouragement from the staff at the front desk. They informed me the canoe was still out on a late rental for the afternoon. I would have to meet the vessel in the morning. I headed to East Bearskin Lake Campground to set up my tent and have dinner.[paragraph break] After the tent was set up, I didn't eat much of anything, just drank some water and started to process what I had actually signed up for. I made quick work of the evening doing final checks on the gear and got as much sleep as I could. With the nerves of butterflies in my stomach and the pride of a lion in my heart. I hit the bed unsure what to expect. Would I dump canoe, keep it balanced, what was around the next corner. I really had no clue what to expect.[paragraph break]
[paragraph break]~East Bearskin Lake
Day 2 of 5
Sunday, August 02, 2026 Day 2 started with rain drops falling onto the tent. I had woken up early about 4 am to set off on my Voyage. I had set up with the resort to have to the canoe ready at 5 a.m. After hearing the rain and the nerves in my stomach, I headed back to bed. I woke up at 6 a.m. and still hearing rain I headed out of tent unhappy with hearing the rain. Getting out of the tent to my pleasant surprise that wasn't rain falling that was dew dropping from the trees! Learning my 1st lesson on this trip when you wake up, get up. The weather outside was always nicer than what was perceived in the tent.[paragraph break] I packed my tent, sleeping gear and my pack into the car and headed to East Bearskin resort a quick check in at the desk along with dropping my keys off. I was told "good luck! It's down at the beach waiting for you!" [paragraph break]I headed down to the where I met a younger gentleman who helped explain the yoke and simple trimming adjustments with the canoe. The canoe I was rented was a Northwind 16' solo magic. [paragraph break]I kept on hearing on how hard it was to get in and out of a solo canoe. I watched a video or 2 on YouTube before I headed up the prior week. I simply just flopped my butt in the seat and let my feet drip off before swinging them into the canoe. I was using a double bladed paddle and I pretty much just pushed off and headed towards the 1st portage.[paragraph break] It took about 3/4 of a mile to kind of figure out a stride or stroke. But the canoe was stable fast and traveled straight like a arrow. After about a 4 mile paddle I was at my 1st portage.[paragraph break] 1st a group of 3 canoes leaving. I waited my turn I then pulled in, another 2 canoes are coming my way. I back up and wait my turn. After they leave I head in for my 1st true portage in the BWCA. I get to the end of the portage and there is another group! Wow a lot of people leaving today. As I set off from the East Bearskin Lake portage into Alder Lake there is another group leaving. [paragraph break]I paddled from that portage to the north shore following it until the 4th campsite on the north shore of Alder Lake. Wow what a campsite to see! This campsite had it all, truly it did. One of the best campsite I've ever seen. I ate a quick lunch and continued on to the portage to Canoe Lake. Simple easy portage and I was on to Canoe Lake. Looking around I see all 3 sites are taken my goal was to make a loop but heading up to Johnson falls and staying on pine sounded like a bit more work then I wanted or knew if could do.[paragraph break] I chose to head to Crystal Lake. Crystal lake was long and narrow. I forgot to mention I had been fighting a 5 mph head wind from the east the entire way so far. I continued into crystal lake the waves aren't bad but they are bigger then I would like for my 1st trip very small white caps. I stick close to the shore and keep a eye out for the 1st campsite. I looked and looked but couldn't locate it I continued on to the next campsite it was a gamble. I'm not sure if it was the right play I was tired it was about 2 P.M. Crystal lake is a dead end lake if anyone was at that last campsite im not sure what I would have done. I guess attempt to locate the 1st campsite I couldn't find. By the grace of God the campsite was empty. [paragraph break]
When I got to the campsite (campsite 738) I immediately felt very alone and homesick. I sent a Garmin in-reach message, set up camp, filtered water, set the bear hang, ate dinner in the dark and headed to bed.[paragraph break]
Day 2 travel - bearskin resort, Alder Lake, Canoe Lake, Crystal lake - campsite 738 
~East Bearskin Lake, Alder Lake, Canoe Lake, Crystal Lake
Day 3 of 5
Monday, August 03, 2026[paragraph break] Day 3: I woke up from a great sleep. I had been worried about sleeping alone in the woods, as I might not get much sleep. I was so tired the night before I slept like a fallen tree.[paragraph break] Today's weather was amazing blue skies, sunny, and hot it felt like a storm could be rolling in today. I sent a message on the Garmin in-reach asking about the weather. The water was flat and the wind was calm all day. It was a beautiful day, I chose to base camp this day. I was tired from yesterday, putting in just a little over 9 miles with paddling and portages. I ate food and drank a ton of water. Today was all about resting and getting recharged.[paragraph break] Later in the day I headed over to Spaulding Lake via the portage that connects right to the campsite I was staying at (campsite 738). I couldn't see much of the lake from the portage landing. I didn't bring the canoe, but I found the local bear toilet. I stayed around for maybe 30 minutes or so unfortunately, I didn't bring the canoe I assume that lake would have been beautiful and from what research I have done there was a solo miner who set a mine up on Spaulding Lake looking for copper and silver around the 1900's my research maybe incorrect.[paragraph break] About 7:30 P.M. I got a message back on the Garmin in-reach "Storms just to the south of you." [paragraph break] Today was a great day, the homesickness wore off a bit. It was peacefully beautiful I was stuffed and was well hydrated. I cleaned up camp in case of weather and headed to bed.[paragraph break]
I awoke to major lighting storms that lasted about 2 hours a couple strikes were within a mile. There wasn't much rain with this storm. 
~Crystal Lake, Spaulding Lake
Day 4 of 5
Tuesday, August 04, 2026 Day 4: After the storm passed I slept like a rock. I woke up to wind. A lot of wind. That long narrow beautiful flat lake, Crystal Lake had turned into something more than I wanted to experience with my canoe skill level. On that day I truly don't think I could have left even if I had to. I kind of hung out around camp windblown and stir crazy. I wanted to do a loop on this trip and now I was on my 2nd day of base camping. Not what I had expected or wanted to do the homesickness came back and thoughts about what the heck am I doing here came into play.[paragraph break] By the end of the day I had come to the conclusion that the boundary waters is just to dang beautiful for 1 person. I had 3 days left on my trip and I wanted to go home.[paragraph break] The wind started to die down a bit and I chose to head out to the middle of the lake to get some water for the evening. Me trying my best to stay dry ended up very wet with a few inches of water in my canoe. Another lesson learned always wet foot. After draining the canoe and swallowing my pride I headed back out soaking wet; but I came back with the water for the evening.[paragraph break] Later in the evening I got a weather report from the loved ones on the Garmin-in reach. "Weather tomorrow calm". "Weather following day more wind but stronger then today".[paragraph break] I made the decision to head out the following morning if the water was calm. I've read a lot on the bwca.com forums one thread that I've read many times is the thread "solo thoughts". There is one comment on there that mentions paddling hard.[paragraph break] That's all I could think about. "If this water stays flat, I'm paddling as hard as I can tomorrow". I finished up camp chores packed my bags and headed to bed very early with the intent of going home the following day.[paragraph break]
~Crystal Lake, Spaulding Lake
Day 5 of 5
Wednesday, August 05, 2026
Day 5:[paragraph break] 3 A.M. wake up. I wake up to dead calm conditions. I quickly pack my sleeping gear, tent, and bear hang. I send a Garmin in-reach message at 5:15 A.M. "Just pushing off from camp". I make rather quick work out of Crystal Lake. Checking my GPS speed at the 1st portage into Canoe Lake 4.8 miles per hour. "Paddling hard".[paragraph break] I make canoe lake last only minutes. Being sure to take many pictures on the way out along the portages. I make it to Alder lake. FLAT. "No wind thank goodness". I make it to East Bearskin Lake and want to take it all in. [paragraph break]I spend about 30 minutes at the portage taking pictures and just recording my thoughts to the camera. As I'm sitting there, the wind picks up. The wind never lets up, coming right at me I have about 4 miles to go. I buckle down and paddle hard I stick very close to the shore. I'm not sure if this was beginner stupidity or not but I kept going I wanted to get home. I had to paddle with the double blade nonstop, had I stopped; I would be traveling backwards. There were white caps on the lake but not horrible by the shore. That last 4 miles really cost a ton of energy. I pulled into Bearskin resort at 10:20 A.M. Just a little over 5 hours to get back. I returned the canoe, took a quick shower, dropped off the Garmin in reach at Rockwood Lodge and headed home of course having to stop at Cascade restaurant on the way home.[paragraph break]
~Final Thoughts:~[paragraph break] •Bring less food[paragraph break] •Don't expect the weather to be what it sounds like in your tent when you wake up. GET UP[paragraph break] •On good weather days move[paragraph break] •Always wet foot[paragraph break] •The BWCA is too beautiful for one person[paragraph break]
~~~One week later reflection and thoughts:~~~[paragraph break] •The BWCA is not too beautiful for one person[paragraph break] •I will be going solo again[paragraph break] •I have purchased a Garmin-in reach mini 2 [paragraph break] •I have put a down payment down on a used NorthStar solo Magic to pick up at the end of the outfitting season[paragraph break]
Quick Question for the community:[paragraph break]
Will the homesickness get better with more solo trips?[paragraph break] 
[paragraph break]~Crystal Lake, Canoe Lake, Alder Lake, East Bearskin Lake
Lakes Traveled:
Crystal Lake,
Canoe Lake,
Alder Lake,
East Bearskin Lake,
