On another thread re wearing PFDs there has been some discussion of the safety ramifications of traveling alone vs being in a group. It gave me some pause to consider how wise it is to travel alone.
I usually do 3-4 group trips and 1 solo trip every year. I see the positive aspect of having someone else with you on a trip in the unlikely but possible medical event. I had an issue once and was glad I was with three other guys. I would have been fine regardless but was I glad they were there.
On the flip side, at least for me, there are some upsides to traveling alone when it comes to safety. I am more likely to hug the shore when paddling simply because I like the view more. I am more likely to always have my PFD on. I am less likely to go out in rough and windy weather, always playing it safe. I am much less likely to have that extra drink at night that can cause problems. On portages I am willing to double portage with lighter loads rather than taking one very heavy load across, reducing the chances of a fall. I always have a PLB or Spot in my pocket. I never swim in water over my head. The list goes on of how much more safety conscious I am when I am alone. I know I could do all of these things with other people but we don't always do so.
In short, at least for me, I believe I am safer traveling alone than with someone else.
Watch, on my solo next month in the Q something bad will happen and I will wish I was traveling with someone else. Solo or group is still safer than the drive up and I don't worry about that.

Adventure is not without risk. For some, the risk makes the adventure.

Not to be flippant, but I live alone in my house. There are hazards in every house, like stairs and baths. I do not consider myself to be engaging in risky behavior.

Sometimes people like garnering attention for what ever personal reason. I don’t take that bait.

Just some of my opinions here. No matter the number of people on a trip I refuse to take risks that might cause injury.

Hugging the shoreline (an arbitrary distance to say the least) to me can be more dangerous than staying a ways from shore as I find more rocks just below the surface the closer I get to shore. I had a buddy hit the same rock kayaking as we entered and exited the BWCA. Good comedy for me as he wasn't hurt only a couple new scratches on his boat.

Most of the same risks are there regardless of the number of people involved. With more people along there are obviously other risks that are now added to the mix. For example you've decided to fish from shore next to your buddy and he thinks he's going to hook a big one but ends up hooking you instead.

So Granite, are you saying you are more likely to take a risk while on a group trip? I think you are trying to convey you are being more cautious. I would counter that you should maintain the same sense of caution no matter the group size.

Good thread, I think we will hear a lot of good opinions on the matter. Thanks for posting it.

I completed my first solo trip at the end of June, so I have very limited group vs solo safety experiences to compare. The only differences in this solo trip compared to all my other (group) trips were:
1. I deliberately slowed down on the portages to minimize the possibility of slipping, tripping, falling, etc. Same around camp.
2. I always made sure that the first aid kits and satellite communication device were in the same places and immediately available whether I was on the water or in the canoe.

I never took a satellite communicator until my WCPP trip in 2015, and that was a group trip.

P.S. --- Thanks to all the contributors to the Solo Tripping Forum who helped me think through various issues while I planned the trip.

SevenofNine: "Just some of my opinions here. No matter the number of people on a trip I refuse to take risks that might cause injury.

Hugging the shoreline (an arbitrary distance to say the least) to me can be more dangerous than staying a ways from shore as I find more rocks just below the surface the closer I get to shore.

"

In a conversation with another, more experienced solo paddler - he said when paddling alone he limits his distance from the shore based on his ability to tow his boat to shore should he capsize. He can confidently and consistently heel his boat and paddle with the gunnel barely above the water - capsizing isn't something he typically does. As a much newer solo paddler it made me feel better, because that has been my standard operating procedure, too.

GraniteCliffs: "On another thread re wearing PFDs there has been some discussion of the safety ramifications of traveling alone vs being in a group. It gave me some pause to consider how wise it is to travel alone.
."

I have much more limited solo canoe time under my belt, but I have spent a significant amount of time solo hiking. I have considered the risks, and when soloing I feel much more aware of my responsibility to look out for my own safety. My day pack contains what I would need to safely (not necessarily comfortably) spend a night or two in the woods.

I feel that attitude carrying over into solo canoe tripping. I don't want to be the person making the news "canoeist got cold, lost, and hungry so pushed the PLB help button." If I make the news I want it to be "major catastrophe strikes; well prepared solo canoeist is able to self-rescue and assist group of 10 unprepared trippers out of the danger zone."

Bad things can happen, I just don't want to make stupid things happen.

I think of risk as little more than a probability calculation -- usually a contingent probability at that.

Since there's risk in just about everything, what we really mean when we say something is risky or dangerous is that the probability of harm reaches some arbitrary benchmark. Lots of factors determine where those arbitrary limits are, and it's a little foolish (I think) to argue for some "objective" one that works for all of us.

Plus, humans aren't all that good at thinking about risk; we (usually grossly) overemphasize the salient and rare instead of the common and every day. I do a lot of soloing, and it's always interesting to me to be asked about how dangerous it is by people who smoke, drink too much, have Size 44 waistbands, ride motorcycles and bicycles, etc. I usually find it best to acknowledge the risks and avoid asking said person about his/her weight or lifestyle choices. :)

I'm with carmike. I was in an airport looking at security screening and wondered if we spent as much effort and money on obesity if we wouldn't save more lives. Measuring risk is not at all easy.

Plus I'd rather die in icy water in the Q than driving on the EIsenhour any day of the week, and God forbid in a bed after any illness or health issue.

Life is not without risk; live with it.

Yes, there are some risks unique to soloing, but being with others doesn't eliminate all or most of the risks of wilderness canoe tripping.

I’m very careful about what I do when solo. Theres a heightened sense of awareness that I don’t have when in a group. It’s very noticeable. I like that feeling of “ok, it’s all on me now. I take full responsibility for everything.”

I recall an instructor in a public policy class I took use farmers and tractor tip overs as an example in risk management. Horses usually do not tip but when the first tractors came out they had a narrow wheel base and high center of gravity. Tip overs followed. They lowered the center of gravity and widened wheel base and tip overs dropped briefly then increased. It seems some farmers are just willing to take more risk and will find that steeper hill to plow. I think we are all a little like that. I have lost the thrill of the steep hill as I age.

I have witnessed groups in the BW and Q that I am quite sure were at more risk than most all of the solo paddlers I know. I'll just leave it at that.....

cowdoc: "I have witnessed groups in the BW and Q that I am quite sure were at more risk than most all of the solo paddlers I know. I'll just leave it at that....."

Im sure that is true. But i think if you take that same experienced soloust and put them in a group, they would at least be as safeas when soloing. Take the inexperienced group canoeist and putthem in a solo alone, i suspect they are definitely at more risk.

I have run solo for a very long time. In my twenties I ran a trap line in a few different states. I often ran my hound solo at night through some of the thickest cover the land had to offer. I was probably somewhat lucky as no one ever really knew where I was.......I never thought it odd or the least bit dangerous.

I go into lots of urban environments solo as well. If I find myself in the wrong part of town I roll my windows down and crank the culturally appropriate music...... Act like you own the place and all usually turns out well, usually ;-)

And now I basically canoe trip by myself.......not my first choice but who can go for 20+ days? Besides, I am perfectly content alone for about that long.

Is it more dangerous? I don't think so but the scriptures overrule me......"two are better than one for if one falls the other can help him up".......or words to that effect, Book of Proverbs if I'm not mistaken.

I may cut points if conditions are optimum but I like paddling near shore. Dump far away and it could easily be the bitter end. Besides, I like looking in the water and the shore.......I also like the feeling of the land slipping away.

inspector13: "
Not to be flippant, but I live alone in my house. There are hazards in every house, like stairs and baths. I do not consider myself to be engaging in risky behavior.


Sometimes people like garnering attention for what ever personal reason. I don’t take that bait.


"

so true, anything can happen anywhere, lose the fear and embrace life. be smart.

While the discussion is interesting, it is largely supposition- what people "feel" about the relative safety of solo or group travel. In trying to search for studies on the issue the best I've come up with is a master's thesis on search and rescue statistics in Utah that then compares the stats with National Park Service search and rescue statistics. Both data sets actually show that solo travel is (in terms of search and rescue) slightly safer than group travel. 76% of backcountry travelers were in groups of two or more and they accounted for about 80% of incidents.

The conclusion on solo travel was: "Based on frequency of rescues, it would seem that solo backcountry travel is safer, if safe is defined by not needing to be rescued by SAR professionals."

Its a fascinating paper. I recommend it to all wilderness trekkers. I won't comnent on Banksianas conclusion, but this is the author's stated conclusion.

Conclusion
The commonly believed dangers of solo travel in the backcountry may not be as
true as is often taught. Solo backcountry travel based on SAR incidents shows no
difference in risk compared to partner/group travel. This finding should be used with
caution when educating backcountry users as there is still benefits from having a partner in the backcountry. Additional research of a similar nature is needed to validate these findings for other areas. There is also great benefit to finding backcountry travel data to compare against SAR reports. This requires more time and yields smaller sample sizes, but the resulting data put risk factors into a much needed perspective. More effort should be placed on lack of preparedness, groupthink, risk perception, and preparedness perception as these seem to be the strongest contributing risk factors. The U.S. is facing issues with obesity and outdoor recreation is one tool that can be used to mitigate it. Safe practices in the backcountry are important to understand to provide positive experiences for those that seek exercise in the backcountry (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012).

Link to pdf download of paper

Was solo for 50 ish miles the last trip but in a group.

Number one lesson I learned if I were to attempt anything truly solo. Get off the lake at the first sign of any storm. Thunder or not get off the lake and wait it out..

A day paddling Solo in the BWCA is much safer than most days spent in civilization. You are not driving a car down the road passing other cars just a few feet away speeding in the opposite direction.

When I am alone, I have no where I need to be, nothing to prove to anyone else, and an awareness that I are dependent on myself, therefore, I feel safe.

With a group, especially as a leader of others who have less experience in the wilderness, it's likely less safe. People with less experience are much more likely to do something that is unsafe, thereby possibly putting you in an unsafe situation.

I wonder how many times a rescuee has said "accidents will happen" while the rescuer is thinking " this guy was an accident waiting to happen"?

Still more likely to die in the car on the way to work than in the wilderness, soooooooo

While you may be less prone to accident while soloing, accidents may prove more dangerous, particularly for seekers of solitude. Occasionally accidents happen that can not be avoided by safe practices.

I once helped portage a man with a badly broken leg from Knife -> Vera. Breaks like that can be fatal if left unattended.

So, I agree with the premise of the consensus here, that you're less likely to have an accident, but claiming that you're safer because you're soloing doesn't fairly consider what happens after the accident.

Banksiana: "The conclusion on solo travel was: "Based on frequency of rescues, it would seem that solo backcountry travel is safer, if safe is defined by not needing to be rescued by SAR professionals.""

Maybe this is skewed because SAR was never called about all the missing solo travelers: they were just quietly never heard from again! :). Seriously, though- interesting read on a cold Monday in January.

OCDave: "Adventure is not without risk. For some, the risk makes the adventure."

truth

inspector13: "Not to be flippant, but I live alone in my house. There are hazards in every house, like stairs and baths. I do not consider myself to be engaging in risky behavior."

also a good point.

I think I'd agree that the average solo wilderness traveler is more safety conscious than the average group wilderness traveler. I'd also agree that people in any situation generally feel safer when with a group of other people. Not sure if I could claim overall that one side or the other IS actually safer, though. (safer...more safe?)

I would also think that people who solo are much more likely to have a fairly good level of experience, which would enhance their safety in any number of ways.
I had to laugh when I saw this thread resurrected today. I just renewed my PLB registration to I can take it with on some mountain camping these next several months.

My first solo foray into the woods was at age 5. I came out alive, crossed the street and went into the house to tell my mom about a bird I saw. In the 60 years since then, probably 95 % of my time outdoors has been solo. Really.

The risk of injury in the woods in the winter motivated me to train my Newfoundland dog to find me and lie alongside me if I were on the ground. When I saw how much he enjoyed doing that game and I recognized its broader usefulness, I started the first SAR dog unit in Minnesota. For many years, it was common for handlers across the country to go out alone with only their dogs, including at night. (The exception I experienced was in AK, where the bear risk was too great.) That changed when the law enforcement agencies started paying more attention to risk management regarding volunteer SAR groups.

Because I’ve always been aware of how long it actually takes to find and treat an injured solo traveler, I’ve been fairly conservative in my preparation and decision making. But it doesn’t make me want company. :-)

And I’m absolutely sure that statistic about the safety record for solo travelers is skewed by the experience level of that group ... plus the difficulty of hauling a lot of beer around when you’re alone.

There is a school of thought that our immune systems are suffering from lack of exposure to dangerous situations which were commonly experienced by our ancestors. I personally feel very safe while soloing even in stressful situations because my concentration level is at its peak.

Completed my second solo trip in the BWCA last year, a week long and the second year in a row. Other than a small cut I came out safe, sound, and eager for my next solo. Totaled my car and canoe on the drive out.

I have way more time and experience driving solo than I do paddling in the BW solo. Go figure.

Paddle4Hike: "Completed my second solo trip in the BWCA last year, a week long and the second year in a row. Other than a small cut I came out safe, sound, and eager for my next solo. Totaled my car and canoe on the drive out.

I have way more time and experience driving solo than I do paddling in the BW solo. Go figure. "

Wow, that sucks. What happened?

I wish I had some cool, crazy or incredible story, but all I have is the sad and humbling reality....

I had just exited at Snowbank after a wonderful week in the BW. A tough windy paddle down from the Disappointment portage left me feeling satisfied and ending on a good note. It was midday on a beautiful, but windy, Sunday in September. My Bell Yellowstone Solo canoe on top of the LR3, gear "loaded" (read: mostly dumped or stuffed at random) inside and off I set for the Hotel in Ely. You all know those mixed feelings....looking forward to a shower, a meal someone else cooked and a real bed, vs. the sadness of leaving such a wonderful place and the knowledge (for many of us at least) that it will be some time until we can get back here.

I had my window open enjoying the breeze as I started out on the gravel road from Snowbank. I had gone maybe 1.5 miles, doing about 30 or 35 I suppose, with a big dust cloud behind me and the sound of gravel spitting out from my tires when: simultaneously coming around a corner and topping a slight rise, I spotted a man and small boy walking toward me in the road.

I immediately took my foot off the accelerator and slid farther to the right, not wanting to kick any stones up into them, or cover them in dust. (This thought process would come back to haunt me in conversations with my insurance company) Unfortunately, my right front tire did some sliding in the loose gravel at the edge of the road, and it started to pull off the road. As I learned a short time later, there was no transition from gravel to steep embankment. I felt the vehicle begin to pull right, I countered with steering and recognized no effect. That is when I remembered thinking "It's a Land Rover, you are in Gravel Mode, it can drive out of this" so I stepped on the gas in an attempt to power through the issue.

I should pause here to say that I typically only share this story with my closest friends. Those that already know far too many of my embarrassing moments, and view this as just one more chink n the armor. But in the vein of "Safety" on Solos, I will continue.

As I heard and then saw the side airbags deploy several thoughts went through my mind. I will save those for a campfire bourbon talk. I came to rest on the side of the car, the trees having stopped the "roll" at slightly more than 90 degrees, and down the steep embankment. I realized that I both saw and smelled smoke, but quickly ascertained that it was from the airbags deploying. My proudest moment (one grasps at straws at a time like this :) ) Was that I had the presence of mind to put the car in park (yes, I know it wasn't going anywhere) and turn the ignition off and place the key in my pocket. Then I turned my attention to gracefully getting out of my seatbelt and the car, through the open window. Emphasis on gracefully. This is usually where my "friends" make me pause so they can relive the details of my graceful exit, and make the point that it's necessity was only self induced.

About this time I heard the guy on the road (who will never know that in future discussions he would be compared to a white tailed deer) talking with what sounded like a 911 operator. "No, I am not hurt" I responded to his query. Sotto voce: "only my pride".
It turns out that, according to the very nice, tolerant, and slightly bemused Deputy Sherriff, I was in one of only a few places on that road where cell service works.

Since I am being verbose, I will consolidate some facts. The Deputy showed up in about 15 minutes, and was very kind, helpful and tolerant, The tow truck showed up in what has to be the shortest time span I have ever experienced. Tony's in Ely, You Rock!!

Now for the saddest part of this mis-adventure. (And I appreciate those of you still investing your time in reading this woeful tale.) The very fast responding tow truck operator was trying to right my vehicle, so he could then try to drag it up the embankment. Early in this process it was noted that several birch trees of about 4 or 5 inches in diameter began to bend over, toward the tail end of the car. The operator and I must have reached the same conclusion within seconds. He stopped pulling the winch in, looked at me and said, "I make no promises about the state of your canoe".

It was during the next few short moments that my Bell developed a significant bend in the hull. It was tough, but the trees and leverage angle had the advantage. In hind sight I should have stopped the recovery, unstrapped the canoe and then resumed. Hindsight is so much better. My car was pulled to the roadway, started fine , but smokey, and I followed the tow truck into Ely.

I drove 950 miles to Louisville KY where the insurance company totaled my car. The canoe is on me. So, if you want to sell a Bell Yellowstone Solo, I would love it if you reached out to me first!! Or, If you have experience "fixing" a bent and beat up Royalex canoe, please reach out to me!!! I found a Bell Rock Star as an interim fit, but I can't give up hope on the Yellowstone.

I am sure there are lessons to be learned here, and they are as plentiful as those that would care to comment.

I completed a week of solo canoe travel in the BWCA without incident. Some could say when I let my guard down after exiting, bad things happened. I know that I felt that being back in "civilization" removed a significant amount of "Risk". Thoughts Paddlers?

Yikes!! Well, thank God for those trees. Seems like it could have been a lot worse.

As we all know when we are out there and get back, our outcomes could have been a lot worse! I hope my reply was not too lengthy....
I have enjoyed more than one of your posts on these forums.

My 2019 trip, however, will be amazing! (and hopefully car wreck free)

Oh wait, my 2018 trip was also amazing, if you delete the driving portion.