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lundojam
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04/24/2019 04:32PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I have my first solo planned May 18 Wood Lake. Just a long weekend. I plan to catch some walleyes and take some naps. Should be nice and easy, not really interested in a big physical challenge, just a weekend of fishing and relaxing. I have extensive solo paddling and fishing experience; it's where I do some of my best work. :) Never camped solo though, so I'm having some of the usual anxiety that folks express before a solo and am wondering if anybody has any tips for either the mental side of it of for the camping side of it. I'm not freaking out or anything, but more information is almost always better.
Thanks!
 
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WonderMonkey
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04/24/2019 04:41PM  
lundojam: "I've got my first solo planned May 18 Wood Lake. Just a long weekend. I plan to catch some walleyes and take some naps. Should be nice and easy, not really interested in a big physical challenge, just a weekend of fishing and relaxing. I've got extensive solo paddling and fishing experience; it's where I do some of my best work.:) Never camped solo though, so I'm having some of the usual anxiety that folks express before a solo and am wondering if anybody has any tips for either the mental side of it of for the camping side of it. I'm not freaking out or anything, but more information is almost always better.
Thanks!
"


The solitude is something that will have to be gotten used to. It's not the normal solitude you do when out for a day solo trip, or even one night of it. It's more than that. Some will say it isn't a big deal but it is different for everyone. If you like music, take some along even though nature is right there doing its own sounds. Read a book, etc. Think about what to do in the camp when you are not fishing. Sure, naps, but what else?

I suggest that once you arrive, go slower. When gathering and processing wood, do it leisurely. Cook your meals carefully. Clean up slowly. While doing these activities look around and see what you are interacting with.

Need to be better at plant and tree identification? Take along a book for that. Same for birds if you are into that.
 
04/24/2019 08:14PM  
Lundojam-

Lots of useful discussion about it on the solo tripping forum. Check it out.

I've done a lot of them - about a dozen in the BW, some in the ADK's, some backpacking here (WV) and lots of solo hiking, hunting, fishing, camping. Relax, enjoy yourself! There's nobody else to worry about, just do what you want. Everybody has different ideas about BW trips and preferences, and this is never more true than when it comes to a solo!

I like to keep it simple since I'm the only one doing the work, then I like to just relax and enjoy the peace. Some people like to stay busy, some people like to take a nap. Some people like to travel, some people like to base camp.

It's normal to feel a little anxious about the solo camping thing, but my experience is it disappears pretty quickly once you get out there and get going. You should be fine with all your experience.

Enjoy your solo!



 
lundojam
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04/24/2019 09:11PM  
Thanks folks. I am looking forward to it. I will definitely read, bird watch, etc.
Keep the advice coming.
 
04/24/2019 11:13PM  
I love your easy, laid back solo plan. Man after my own heart. Bring a comfy chair and/or a hamock. Also a book.

I like to bring a classic book, like one I was suppose to read in high school. One I may not read if it was not the only book I had. Barnes and Nobel has a rack of classics. Many have found their way on my solo trips.
 
SaganagaJoe
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04/25/2019 05:35AM  
I'm contemplating my first solo trip as well, depending on when/if my current job dries up. Mine, I think, would be a bit more aggressive - Saganaga to Ester and Hanson, through Cherry and Lake of the Clouds and then back to Ottertrack. But I know the area fairly well, having been through a lot of it on several other trips, so not having the "new territory" think to deal with would be helpful. I'm thinking around five days.



 
bwcasolo
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04/25/2019 06:42AM  
SaganagaJoe: "I'm contemplating my first solo trip as well, depending on when/if my current job dries up. Mine, I think, would be a bit more aggressive - Saganaga to Ester and Hanson, through Cherry and Lake of the Clouds and then back to Ottertrack. But I know the area fairly well, having been through a lot of it on several other trips, so not having the "new territory" think to deal with would be helpful. I'm thinking around five days.




"

i will be in that area in the next few weeks. coming up moose lake.
 
04/25/2019 07:31AM  
Like others have mentioned. A book or 2 is a great idea. Kindles give you more bang for your buck weight wise . They keep a change for a very long time.
 
Pilgrimpaddler
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04/25/2019 08:24AM  
lundojam: "I have my first solo planned May 18 Wood Lake. Just a long weekend. I plan to catch some walleyes and take some naps. Should be nice and easy, not really interested in a big physical challenge, just a weekend of fishing and relaxing. I have extensive solo paddling and fishing experience; it's where I do some of my best work. :) Never camped solo though, so I'm having some of the usual anxiety that folks express before a solo and am wondering if anybody has any tips for either the mental side of it of for the camping side of it. I'm not freaking out or anything, but more information is almost always better.
Thanks!
"

I did my first solo last June, and while I expected to have a few anxious moments I found that I really didn't have any issues, even though I had some wild weather and got turned around once on my way out. From my very limited experience, if you're confident in your skills and can stand your own company for an extended period of time, you should have clear sailing (or paddling).
 
QueticoMike
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04/25/2019 08:42AM  
I only have one trip report, it is about my first solo trip. Just click on the trip reports icon under my screen name. It happened during 9/11 and I didn't find out about 9/11 until 9/15.

You need to go on a longer trip to get the full effect of the solo trip, but this will be a good starter. You need to like yourself if you go on a solo trip or you will be battling demons in your head. Take a radio if you want if you get tired of yourself or you want some company or even a weather report. You get up when you want. You eat when you want. You eat what you want. You do what you want. You fish where you want. You fish what you want to fish for. You fish as long as you want. You go to bed when you want. Take naps when you want. You get the idea, no one to worry about but yourself. Take along a camera or cell phone with a self timer so you can get fish picture selfies. Get plenty of wood, gives you something to do at night. It will go fast and will seem to be over as soon as it starts. Have fun!
 
04/25/2019 09:15AM  
There is nothing like paddling with great people. But I can say the same about solo tripping. It really builds character... haha, I imeadiatly think of fishing with one of those short rods and going to cast my rapala only to have the hooks sink firmly into my back. Good thing it was barbless... you really learn to improvise. Haha.
People always want solitude... then bring 8 others who of which are out to break up any solitude from happening. Haha. In the seventies I duck hunted Wood Lake every MEA weekend because my hunting buddies cousin who had access to the boats down there. Great Lake! I’d take a day trip north into Indiana and the other neighboring lakes. I also look at where I’m at and see if there is something I might want to explore. Rest, but stay busy... books are good. But enjoy where you are... just take in every moment you can.
 
treehorn
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04/25/2019 11:24AM  
I did my first solo for 4 nights last year.

Lots of good advice here. Bring things to pass the time, because what I found was that the time did go slow, and the days were long.

Even as you go about your chores and fish for a while and do whatever you like, I found I would feel like I accomplished plenty during a given day, and it would only be 3pm or something. That's including packing/moving camp, paddling to a different lake (not terribly far away, but still), fishing along the way, and setting camp up again, or a decent day trip.

I was there during some of the longest days of the year, so it will be different for you in May as the sun sets at a normal time and you can hit the rack if you're tired. I had daylight until 10pm, so those evenings would drag on a bit.

People have mentioned radios, I like that idea. I found I would pull out my phone and watch videos of my kids and stuff...mostly out of boredom, but also reflecting on what my family means to me, etc.

I certainly do look back on the trip very fondly, but I was also a bit surprised at how bored I was. Not expecting that going in, I don't think I brought much for myself to do outside of fishing and a book that I ended up not liking and not reading much of. In the future I think I could do a better job of avoiding that.
 
mjmkjun
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04/25/2019 04:32PM  
If you get those unique fidgety, anxious moments of being solo........it passes relatively quick. And all is well again.
 
04/25/2019 04:36PM  
Naps are good. When you get done with whatever activity or distraction you choose and lay back on your pad or hammock or bit of sandy beach, it may then hit you that you are quite alone and isolated. My hope for you in that moment is that you will remember this: not that far away your mail/junk mail is piling up, your email box is filling, your voicemail is filing with messages from friends and telemarketers, junior marketers from every company you work with are desperately trying to get your attention, the news is trying to convince you everything is a falling apart and you need to focus on them. Your friends are eager to reach to you let you know what their work day was like, or what they ate, or what happened at their kids sporting event. Your smart phone, smart TV, smart car, smart refrigerator, smart microwave, and smart toaster all want to tell you how much you need to pay attention to them. And all the crap happening on your Facebook feed - don't even get me started.

Technology is shrinking our world at an astonishingly fast pace. It can create enormous opportunities, but also creates constant and often trivial demands.

When you start to nap and that moment of isolation hits you - relish it. It is becoming phenomenally rare in this world.
 
mpeebles
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04/25/2019 05:11PM  
I did my first solo two years ago, a two trip in WCPP. It took me two or three days to get comfortable being alone. After that I was perfectly OK with everything. It was almost as if I became part of the wilderness, strange as that may seem. Slow down and do what you enjoy doing when you want to do it....whatever that may be. I found out a lot about myself on that trip and was damn glad I did it. It was a real game changer for me.

Enjoy and safe travels!........Mike
 
04/25/2019 11:25PM  
I’ve only done one solo, about 5 years ago, but I would do another in a heartbeat. Too many kids and friends to justify another at the moment. Here are a few takeaways.
1. Make sure you can get along with yourself.
2. When you quit paddling, everyone quits paddling.
3. Play rock, paper, scissors for chores. You will always lose and chuckle every time.
4. Don’t get sick. A 24 hour bug in September with rain, highs in the low 50s and lows at 30 sucks.
5. You will fish less and relax more, but bring bobbers.
6. Bring a weather radio. Weather is a bigger factor when you are solo.
7. Books are good.
8. Leave an itinerary. I brought a Spot that didn’t send my first 2 OK messages. Probably my fault. My family was in panic mode. Wanted to send out a search party.
9. Cook yourself a couple nice dinners. I have fond memories of bacon wrapped venison back straps on LLC, post sickness spaghetti dinner on Oyster, and fish tacos on Nina Moose. Have bad memories of throwing up broccoli cheddar rice with foil chicken on Oyster. Along with the hash brown breakfast and gorp lunch earlier in the day.
10. Make sure you can get along with yourself.

 
AG4
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04/26/2019 07:57AM  
Everyone has given great advice and there is definitely more of the same in the solo forum. On my first solo, my anxiety was the worst in the days leading up to my trip. I questioned everything... my gear, my route, and my ability. Once the canoe was in the water, all my fear and worry melted away. I knew I would be just fine. I can't wait to do it again.
 
04/26/2019 08:17AM  
My worst nightmare going with people is there is always that guy who wants to cut the trip short. Alone I don’t have to worry about that. With members here I never had to worry either. With Suncatcher you were up watching the sunrise every morning... even on cloudy days.
 
04/26/2019 02:50PM  
I had a book on my solo, but I also found that I appreciated having a radio along. I'd brought it to listen to the weather. Couldn't get the weather stations, but did get the Ely NPR station, so I listened to that in the evenings while I was preparing dinner, clean up, etc.
 
04/26/2019 05:15PM  
I took 2 solo trips in the bwca last year and although I have spent many days camping alone I was always within a days travel from home or help. I spent all winter planning my route and getting my gear just so. ( I enjoyed this almost as much as the trip) Before I hit the water I got all paranoid- what if I cant find the portage? what if all the camp sites are taken ? if I tip over? if I get hurt? etc. Once I got on the water all my worries went away one by one, the canoe paddled the same in the bwca as it did in Wisconsin, when I missed the portage I went a little farther and there it was! ( for a while there I was sure it had got up and moved to another lake ) All the things I stressed over became non problems. I read my book, took pictures, fished, explored, ate like a king and did what I wanted when I wanted . I will admit to one minor problems it took a couple of days to get over-- it was hard to sleep with all that damned quiet!
A few things I learned: start slow and discover your limitations , you will be stronger and wiser as your trip goes on. Take a big steak for the first night .
 
04/26/2019 06:56PM  
Bannock: "I love your easy, laid back solo plan. Man after my own heart. Bring a comfy chair and/or a hamock. Also a book.


I like to bring a classic book, like one I was suppose to read in high school. One I may not read if it was not the only book I had. Barnes and Nobel has a rack of classics. Many have found their way on my solo trips."


Stephen King has some good books, very relaxing.
 
04/26/2019 07:14PM  
I like the disconnect from the distractions Jaywalker talks about and the uninterrupted flow between me and the immediate world/task. Don't take a book that connects you back to those. Monotasking is a wonderful luxury these days.
 
LilyPond
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04/28/2019 07:41PM  
I've been solo tripping for years---bike camping, backpacking, and paddle tripping. My first solo paddling trip caused an awful lot of anxiety in the days before. It's the unfamiliarity that gets you. Once you know a place the anxiety fades, usually by the second day. Now, nights can be spooky. Solution: wear yourself out with paddling and camp chores and bring a radio and a book. I usually fall asleep after reading just a few pages, or listening to the radio for 15 minutes (bring extra batteries). On the long spring and summer nights it can help to go to bed before it gets completely dark, so you can still see outside your tent. A good lantern for your tent helps. I usually bring at least two lanterns to have a well-lit campsite if needed. The hardest solo trips are when the sun sets at 6 pm and you have 12 hours of darkness ahead of you.
 
04/29/2019 07:28AM  
GSP: "
Stephen King has some good books, very relaxing."


I once read Night of the Grizzlies on the train trip to go backpacking in Glacier National Park. Wrong! :)
 
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