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07/22/2019 01:17PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Hi all, long time listener, first time caller.

I've got my first solo planned for next month, entering on Moose Lake on Thurs Aug 15 and exiting Snowbank on Sun Aug 18. My tentative plan has me getting a tow up to Ensign, then going Ensign->Ashigan->Gibson->Cattyman->Jordan->Ima and trying to get a spot there, then seeing how plausible it is to check out Reflection Lake and Sedative Creek in the PMA on the 16th.

Back through Ima->Jordan->Adventure->Jitterbug->Ahsub->Disappointment on the 17th, and then exiting on the 18th through Disappointment->Parent->Snowbank.

Part of the plan for this route is that I'm familiar with the Snowbank to Cattyman area as we took a family trip up there in May, and for a first solo it seems prudent to pick some lakes and portages that I already know. I'm expecting I'll double portage, so that first day getting to Ima would be 747 total rods, and the third day from Ima to Disappointment would be 504. Then on the last day, 528 rods.

On our May trip we came out the Disappointment->Snowbank portage but the extra distance to the entry point, especially on a windy day, was ... not pleasant. I'm thinking that for the solo it'd be best to shorten the distance required on Snowbank even if it means extra portaging through Parent.

Is 2mph a reasonable average speed including double portaging, or is that primarily a paddle-only speed? Should I ballpark about 1.5mph on average including the portages?
 
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07/22/2019 01:38PM  
I think most people average about 3mph with average portaging. Weather and your tripping style can change that. Always better to underestimate than over.
 
07/22/2019 04:03PM  
I can paddle at 3 mph using a single blade paddle and an easy stroke speed. Portaging slows me down.
 
07/22/2019 05:23PM  
I use 3mph on the water, 1mph land (actual walking distance...if I am double-portaging, I am covering the distance three times, so portage length x3...single, just once, so use the actual portage distance. 1.5X portaging, I double the portage distance in the calculations.)
 
07/22/2019 08:24PM  
I use 2 mph as my average travel speed with the extra mileage for the added portage trips to double portage. It works pretty well for me, but can be affected by many variables. Average travel speed is meaningless when you're wind bound. I don't plan to travel every hour of every day, nor every day of a longer trip, so that's a little extra space for dealing with things. Just keep track of your actual travel speed to see if it's a good one for you. It sounds like a good plan.
 
07/24/2019 03:55PM  
noodle: "Hi all, long time listener, first time caller.

"


Nice reference to the Mr Obvious show.

JD
 
07/29/2019 11:00AM  
Thanks everyone for your feedback.

boonie: "Average travel speed is meaningless when you're wind bound. I don't plan to travel every hour of every day, nor every day of a longer trip, so that's a little extra space for dealing with things. Just keep track of your actual travel speed to see if it's a good one for you. It sounds like a good plan."


Same. My first day will be the longest - I've got a 7am tow so hopefully I should be able to make some good ground towards Ima on day 1, then day 2 have a buffer day, day 3 work halfway back to the exit, day 4 head out. And with no obligations beyond heading out on day 4, my plans can easily adjust based on wind, weather, campsite occupancy, travel time, etc.
 
HappyHuskies
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07/29/2019 11:18AM  
Sounds like you've planned a conservative and prudent trip. Should be relaxing and fun. If you find you're traveling faster thank expected you can always find places to explore. Please be sure and tell us about it when you get back!
 
01/12/2020 09:29PM  
HappyHuskies: "Sounds like you've planned a conservative and prudent trip. Should be relaxing and fun. If you find you're traveling faster thank expected you can always find places to explore. Please be sure and tell us about it when you get back!"

Well, I promptly forgot to tell you all about it when I got back, and I'm daydreaming about all the trips in 2020, so I might as well recap the trip.

Day 1:
Got the tow up to the portage from Moose to Splash, got dropped off, and promptly thought "What the !%@*& did I just decide to do?" That lasted all of a second, and I started portaging over to Splash Lake. I got my stuff over, loaded the canoe (Wenonah Prism) and pushed off from the portage just as three guys were coming in from a fishing trip. They wished me luck and encouraged me to be safe. (This is foreshadowing, kids!)

I got to the portage from Splash to Ensign and thought "This is like three rods, and there's enough high water for me to get through here - you know, I can just wade and pull the canoe behind me, that'll be fine." And it was, until I got across and was in thigh-deep water with no easy way back into the canoe. I managed to find some secure footing and got back in with only minimal wobble, and thought ... "ok, one dumb mistake behind me, I can just take it easy. I have all day to get to Ima. You know, there's a campsite right over there, #1274 on paddleplanner's maps, let's just stop there for a sec, have a granola bar, just take it easy."

So I pulled up to that, the landing seemed gentle and easy, and I stepped out ... only to find that the slanted rock landing was covered in moss. So my right foot went out from under me, my left foot was still in the canoe which got kicked to the side, and I got dunked. I kept my head above water, and got one hand on the gunwale to keep the canoe from drifting away, and doggypaddled ten feet to shore feeling like a complete idiot. It's not even 9am and already I've had two stupid mistakes. I sat down, ate that granola bar, and told myself that at least these were harmless reminders to take my time.

I then made my way across Ensign, to Ashigan, to Gibson, to Cattyman, to Jordan, and then to Ima. I was trying to make it here as quickly as I could as I had a group of friends making a Snowbank/Thomas/Kekekabic/Knife/Snowbank loop, and while they entered a day before me they were planning on a night on Ima the day I put in. I wanted to be able to say hi to them somewhere en route. I averaged a little over 2mph with the double portaging, and got to a campsite by the Ima/Hatchet portage shortly after noon.

And then promptly thought ... what do I do now?

I'm no extrovert - I hate crowded parties with people I don't know, I like staying home, when I'm home with the family I'm perfectly fine not having any conversation all evening ... but once I was at the campsite, it was a different kind of solitude. Not only was I alone, but I was ALONE and couldn't talk to someone even if I wanted to. So I puttered around, read a book, made some dinner, went to sleep.

Day 2:
This was the day my friends were planning on getting to Thomas, so I hung around camp all morning keeping an eye on the canoes headed towards Hatchet. By 11am I figured they'd probably made better time the day before and were past me anyway. I fried up some eggs and sausage, packed some lunch, and went to the Spider Lake PMA.

I found the entry to Reflection in that little bay on the north, and ... well, I could definitely tell that this was a PMA, as getting the canoe up and over into that wasn't like any other portage. I got into Reflection, and promptly got turned around and started heading southwards into a bog instead of east up a creek. Did you know that a compass can be an amazing tool? It'll tell you when you're screwing up and going the wrong way! The More You Know *star with rainbow behind it*.

But I slogged my way through to the small trickle of waterfall leading up to Sedative. The videos on bwcawild were invaluable here as I was able to recognize where I should go - and I also wished I was in a kayak instead of a Prism because maneuvering that through those s-curves of reeds wasn't the easiest either.

BUT I slogged my way up to Sedative, leaving the canoe behind, and thought ... well, I sure wish I had someone to share this with. It was _weird_, feeling so out of sorts about being alone. I made my way back to camp by midafternoon, did camp chores, made dinner, and thought again how different this is on a solo vs with someone else, even if you don't talk 99% of the time.

Day 3:
Here's where things just got so out of sorts. I woke up early that Saturday, and ... had no idea what to do. I read a book, I fished a little, I played some cards, I paddled around a little, and by 9-10 am I decided to break camp and make my way back. My original plan was to get from Ima back to Disappointment-ish on this second-to-last day, but as I was going I had a feeling in the back of my mind that I was going to leave altogether.

So I packed up, checked to make sure I left no trash, picked up some remaining trash from whoever was there before me, and went Ima to Jordan to Cattyman to Adventure to Jitterbug to Ahsub to Disappointment and thought "Well, this is my last chance to find a campsite ... or, I could just go all the way out, and if someone asks me I can lie and say they were all full so I had no choice but to paddle back to the entry point." And once I turned west on the bottom half of Disappointment, paddling into headwinds, I got to the portage and thought ... no, I'm done. I'm leaving.

It felt weird. I loved it there but I didn't want to be there alone. And after that last hour of fighting the wind I was exhausted, and thought "Well, one double portage to Snowbank is better than two double portages through Parent."

People who are familiar with Snowbank will see my mistake there. And I even KNEW that it's a !@*%(! lake on a windy day, but ... well, one final stupid mistake. I got over into Snowbank and began paddling into the chop.

An hour later I wasn't even halfway to the landing, and I was tired, and I was mad -- mad at the weather, mad at myself for "giving up", mad at the waves, and ESPECIALLY mad at the wake from motorboats. And while I was stewing, and paddling, I saw a boat further ahead start turning towards me which got me even more frustrated about the impending wake I'd have to deal with.

Turns out it was two guys from the US Forest Service (or some other uniformed agency) checking to see if I needed anything, to which I said "Nah, I'm good, thanks guys!" and then they slowly waited until I was clear and took off to check on another paddler. Of course, that's when I realized I could have said "hey buddy, can I get a tow to the entry point?" and went back to being mad at myself. :)

Got back to the entry point, cartopped the canoe, went back to Ely to drop that off, four more hours back home to the Twin Cities, wondering the whole way back why I left a day early.

Epilogue:
Stupid mistakes, check. First solo, check. Weird feeling of isolation and loneliness and ambivalence, check. And of course, instantly wanting to go back and do it again, check.

So this year I've got a trip with my wife and kid tentatively planned for May (Hegman, pictographs, they've not seen them so that's something to check off) and with them in September, and planning another solo in August. Maybe the same route, maybe the same campsite, but this next time I'm sure to be better aware of how absolutely different it is. Prior to the trip I thought that I've lived by myself so much, I've liked to be alone so much, so this would just be more of the same and would be perfect... but even when you live by yourself, you still see people at work, in their cars on the street, at the grocery store, whatever. You're not ALONE like you are when you're solo camping.

Next time, fewer stupid mistakes. :)
 
Minnesotian
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01/13/2020 08:52AM  

Good report. Sounds similar to my first solo. I did the Frost River in 4 days and left a day early too. I think that is a common thing to do on solos.

And finding something to do while solo is always a challenge too. I bring a camera, fishing gear, and a book. Also bring some audio books for when I need to hear another human voice.

Have a good trip this summer.
 
01/13/2020 10:29AM  
Thanks for reporting back, noodle. We appreciate knowing how it went.

"And then promptly thought ... what do I do now?"
"So I puttered around, read a book, made some dinner, went to sleep."

Yep, that's what you do. Or anything else you want to do.

A lot of people like to keep busy, so read, write, study maps, take pictures, fish, paddle, explore, mess with equipment . . . whatever. I've become better at "don't just do something, sit there."

The second one will be smoother.
 
01/13/2020 11:17AM  
Sounds very familiar and very well described. From learning about slippery slopes to wondering what will I do next. And coming out a day early seems more probable than not. And always the desire to return and do it again.
I think there is the adaptation to a new cycle of activity and inactivity and going solo seems to emphasize this. Maybe plan on staying longer to get through the adjustment?
And another thanks for your follow-up.
 
HappyHuskies
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01/13/2020 03:50PM  
Thank you for the trip report and congratulations on completing your first solo.
Solo's are definitely different than tripping with other people. You end up spending a lot of time in your head. Hard to describe if you haven't done it before and I suspect that we all experience solos a little differently.

While I still enjoy tripping with others I look forward to my solo trips too. Glad to hear that you and your family are going to get out next year and that you're also planning another solo!

 
01/13/2020 11:43PM  
Thanks for the report. I've only done 2 solos and both ended early. I got a smile or two out of your report as I went through some of that stuff myself. The good news is you did your first solo don't let coming out early get you down. You learned a lot on it I can tell. Like Boonie said I had to learn to just relax and enjoy the view alone. Embrace the boredom so to speak. Your report reminds me I need to do one on my last solo.
 
01/14/2020 04:02PM  
Lol, I left a day early on my first solo as well! Don’t sweat it, it gets easier to stay occupied each time. Here’s how I look at it...if you find yourself on the drive home already thinking about your next trip, then the trip you just completed was a good one. It’ll be a profoundly sad day when you leave the BW and don’t have that immediate desire to go back. Funny nugget...I’ve noticed that when I’m solo and I run into someone on a portage I chat more then Donald Trump tweets. It’s like I’m starving for some human interaction besides my ongoing inner monologue.

Glad to hear your mistakes were little ones and you are actively planning your summer trips. Paddle on!

Tony
 
01/15/2020 11:32AM  
Noodle - Thanks for that report! Even though I have done over 40 trips with others, I have yet to do a solo... but am intrigued by the idea. Your report and comments by others, gave me some perspective on what to expect mentally.
 
jillpine
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01/15/2020 01:30PM  
Thanks for the post. Solos are a different animal. You did great! It was really fun to read your insightful trip notes. Thanks for sharing the thoughts.

I was sort of sad when I embarked in 2019 on the "solo" paddling phase of my life because it meant I couldn't find a paddling partner. But I pushed through the self-pity and jitters and did it. I bought the canoe, made the first trip (also left a day early - seems to be the norm - ha!), felt kind of weird out there, even like I "shouldn't be doing this". Then, when I got home, I promptly scheduled two more solos before paddling season ended last year.

Looking ahead to Paddling Season 2020, this season's self-pity revolves around the fact that my paddling time is being consumed by others who want to join the planned trips, including both sons, last year's newbie, and an old college buddy. I think I'm going to suggest a singular large group paddle and the rest will be mine, ALL MINE! ALONE!

Jut kidding. Sort of. OK, not joking at all. Dead serious. Solos are a different animal. A "stone-cold groove" as Blatz says.

Hope you get another one in 2020!

 
01/15/2020 10:04PM  
I'm really looking forward to it. I've got a group of friends who are organizing trips, and over ten of them (including kids) are expressing interest so they're breaking it into 9 going in August and 5-6 in July, and my enthusiasm for those group trips has really waned. Three or four people at once seems to be my preferred maximum.

Or one! Or just me! When I was thinking about being part of a 9-person group I shuddered and instead thought "well, or maybe, hear me out, or maybe I could just do another solo this summer... well, is there any reason why I don't do a 3-4 night paddle every month from May to September? You know, that's be the perfect excuse to finally buy some canoes, 'with all these trips, we can't afford NOT to drop 3k on canoes!'"

Cannot wait. Is it May yet?
 
GraniteCliffs
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01/16/2020 10:50PM  
It took me a number of solos before I hit my rhythm. My first one was, I think, fifty years ago last year or this coming summer. I was jumpy, lonely and my enjoyment was, well, limited.
After doing several more solos I began to feel a hand in glove feeling. It just felt right. I think the more you go alone the more confident and comfortable you become. It is your trip to do whatever and wherever and whenever you want to. My time. I will be going again this year and really look forward to it. Don't get me wrong, I also love my annual small group trips but for different reasons.
I have an impossible time if I don't move each and every day. I paddle and portage all day long. There is nothing more enjoyable to me than being on a Quetico lake by myself slowly following a shoreline right next to the shore for miles at a time. Sometimes off into the back bays that are rarely visited. Listening, looking and sensing what is there. White pines, the bottom of the lake and reflections of the sky on the water. It can be magical.
I am very much an extrovert so being alone can be a challenge but over time I have learned to love it.
It sounds like you are well on your way to embracing solo tripping. I hope you, too, find your rhythm.
 
01/17/2020 12:54PM  
That was a really great report! You captured it just about perfectly. I did my first solo last year and had several of the what now moments, also had a slip or two, and I think I came out a day early. I think it took me about an hour to start thinking about doing it again, and how I could make it better.

Congrats on the trip and good luck with the next.

Brandon
 
01/17/2020 02:35PM  
GraniteCliffs: "It took me a number of solos before I hit my rhythm. My first one was, I think, fifty years ago last year or this coming summer. I was jumpy, lonely and my enjoyment was, well, limited.
After doing several more solos I began to feel a hand in glove feeling. It just felt right. I think the more you go alone the more confident and comfortable you become.
"


Same experience here. I have written in early solo journeys "I will never do this again" only to end up doing 9 of them. It gets way easier after say #4. I have found that I enjoy solos much more if I bring my dog. I had brought her twice on solos then did a long one by myself. I did not enjoy it near as much so she came with the following year and it was all good.

These days my favorite trip is a hybrid solo/group trip. A few days solo with dog, meet up with a group for some time then finish it solo. Best of both worlds for me. But I also love a group solo because that freedom to do what you want when you want to is still there but there's always company waiting at the sites.

I really enjoyed your very "real" approach to the write up. Can't wait to read more of your adventures.
 
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