Hello all- I am planning my first solo BWCAW trip for the first week of September. I grew up going to the BWCA every summer and even guided a few base-camp trips last year, but have never done a solo. Nor have I ever been to the Arrowhead area. I'm thinking of doing the Mountain Pine-Loop (Route 70-2) over six days. Anyone ever soloed in this area? Or are there solo trips and tips that anyone would recommend?

My biggest recommendation is stay occupied, Paddle around by your campground, go ashore and walk into the woods, bring a book, tryout new camp skills, write down stuff, find interesting up close things to photograph, fish if that's your thing. Explore a seldom traveled pot hole lake. The world is your clam man

There's a Solo Tripping forum you may want to check out.

I can't tell you much about the Arrowhead and where you are going except that I've been to Alder and Pine, and most of the lakes seem to be long narrow west-to-east oriented lakes between tall hills that can become wind tunnels.

I've done a lot of solo trips and like Blatz indicated, it's your trip to do whatever you want. People have different preferences and styles - base camp, travel a little, travel a lot, fish or don't fish, build fires and cook gourmet meals or eat freezer bag meals, etc.

Main differences are that you carry everything and do everything. Be aware and careful. It's quieter. Have fun and enjoy the new experience.

Be aware of the wind on those east side lakes. Long narrow lakes with bluffs can get whipping. Especially for a solo boat.

pswith5: "Be aware of the wind on those east side lakes. Long narrow lakes with bluffs can get whipping. Especially for a solo boat. "

I've soloed many times, to include that area. The east-west orientation of the lakes can be a mixed blessing if the wind is blowing and depending on what direction it is blowing.

When I solo, I bring a book or two, and a puzzle book. I try to find a spot out of the sun and a bit breezy to minimize bugs. I also bring a small short-wave radio to keep up with the world. I try to fish during the day.

I highly recommend bringing a tarp. If you are rain-bound, the tarp will keep you out of your tent. I have a solo tent that I can barely sit up in... there is no way I could spend a day in it. A tarp allows me to go outside to cook, eat, read, even nap.

Especially when I solo I like to keep my campsite footprint small. In this, everything not in my tent is under the tarp. This minimizes the chance of me losing stuff.

Though don't be over-cautious, don't take chances, either. It is my experience that most accidents don't occur when we're doing something foolish (though that certainly increases the odds), but rather when we're doing something we've done hundreds of times before. A good example is getting into the canoe. We've all done it thousands of times, but it's a completely different maneuver getting in a solo boat than a tandem. Rocks get slippery after it rains, tree roots seem higher when we're tired, making them a tripping hazard.

I could go on and on. Good luck.

Mike

Its funny that you mention this loop. I have the itch to do my first solo next summer and this is the area that I thought of first because it is an area that I am super familiar with and love the beauty. The long lakes can be a concern if a strong wind, but if you leave your schedule flexible that is manageable (early morning or later evening or stay put for a day in bad winds). Hugging the shore works in many situations as well.

Have fun. I will await your trip report as I hope to do this next summer.