As a very avid BWCA goer, I was planning my first solo trip to the BWCA this next weekend. Granted, I know weather can change, but as of now, the forecast is 30-40 degrees, but with rain. Many times I have camped through whole weeks of rain in the BWCA and been fine since it was summer.

As an Eagle Scout and avid outdoor enthusiast, I have already planned for cold water (hypothermia), rain (again hypothermia threat), and left a detailed plan with my wife. My question is more out of my chance to enjoy this trip.

With the weather like this, I know how spotty fishing can be. With the weather like this, if wet, fires do not become as fun. I am looking for solitude time and was planning on using this trip to fulfill that.

So the question is: would you go or not go? Thanks again. God bless all.

superpcandhv: "My question is more out of my chance to enjoy this trip. "

That's the key point right there... with those conditions, would I enjoy the trip? Easy answer for me... no. I'd stay home. I'll take warmer weather, longer days and better fishing for my first solo.

Why not just go, but don't go in too deep, leaving yourself the option of cutting your trip short if you're not enjoying it?

I have trouble enough with the long nights this time of year. I know I’d be bored sitting alone in the rain with little to do.

Depends on how much you want the solitude. Chance it could be spotty showers over the weekend. One tip that I do is bring a cheap menards tarp and hang it right on the edge and maybe even a little overhanging the fire grate. That way you can enjoy the fire still. I think I would risk it if it is only an entry lake or 1-2 portages in. Set up two tarps so that I could move around at camp. Nice tarp near tent and cheap tarp overhanging fire grate/log/chair. Get comfortable, get a good supply of wood, and watch for clear skies and then go fish when I can.

Never wait for tomorrow for what you can do today.

yogi59weedr: "Never wait for tomorrow for what you can do today."

Amen brother!

I was going to go this weekend but the forecast is a steady 24 hours of rain.

I never back out of trips, ever, but this time (solo trip) I decided I'm just not going to sit in a camp when it's a cold rain for damn near the whole weekend. So I'm staying home. And... I'm going the following weekend.

Paddling at this time of year comes with extra challenges, especially for a solo. The question you have to answer is will you enjoy overcoming these extra challenges or do you want an easier summer type trip? For me it varies depending on my mood. I have sometimes pushed forward through awful weather and I have sometimes cancelled. If you go, do bring extra lighting because there really is a lot of darkness. In October I’ll like to bring my big old Coleman tank of a lantern. It’s heavy, but puts out tons of light and has a wonderful hiss. Also on one October trip with lots of rain and wind I did just what X2jmorris said with two tarps. It was great having one over my tent so I could take off rain gear outside, and one over my fire. Not everyone is comfortable having a tarp cover a fire but I do it all the time with my silnylon tarp - I just make sure it’s near the edge and the tarp is up high enough.

The cold rainy weather is what would make me want to go. Sitting by a fire under a tarp sounds appealing to me for some reason. We have had temps in the 90's nearly every day for the past 5 months (TX) and it's wearing on me. Next week we will finally see highs only in the 80's so there is hope. Just last night I was looking for flights for next weekend to get up there for some fall camping. How about base camping on an entry lake so you have the chance to pack up and leave at any time? Personally I was thinking of Sawbill or Kawishiwi.

The weather isn't going to stop me this next week. I leave from Nebraska tomorrow for a 900 mile drive to the Gunflint Trail. Last year is rained on me almost every day this time of year but ended up being a wonderful trip. I did plenty of reading at night in my tent and fished in the rain during the day. It was a good sense of accomplishment.

superpcandhv: "As a very avid BWCA goer....

So the question is: would you go or not go? Thanks again. God bless all. "

Go

AmarilloJim: "

yogi59weedr: "Never wait for tomorrow for what you can do today."

Amen brother!"

Double Amen.

jillpine: "

superpcandhv: "As a very avid BWCA goer....


So the question is: would you go or not go? Thanks again. God bless all. "

Go"

Yes, GO!

I bailed on a trip I planned for the 2nd week in Sep because rain was forecast the entire week. Thought to re-schedule for the 3rd week. Same thing. I guess I'm a fair weather kind of guy. Sat thru 4 days of rain in Sep 2 years ago and decided it was not fun. This had a large influence on my decision. As I get older, these types of "challenges" become more work and less fun than I recall from my younger days.

Intermittent rain is one thing but all-day rain, day after day, is another. Making or breaking camp in a hard rain + cooler temps is no picnic either.
Reading bides the time but you aren't going there to read or nap for the majority of your outing.
~don't go~
A different kind of experience could prove to be more enjoyable during inclement weather patterns. Grand Marais or Duluth, for example. Or, a cabin or room at one of the comfy lodges like Hungry Jack or Clearwater.

Its Saturday morning 7:30 AM. I'm drinking coffee at home and looking at the radar. It's lit up all over northern MN and a hard rain outside here in Duluth.
I'm really glad I'm not in a tent in the BWCA this morning.

It's not the rain so much but the amount, duration, and frequency of the rain we've been getting. and I'm lucky enough that I can just drive a few hours to get there. So next weekend I'll be in my tent.
Tom

tumblehome: "Its Saturday morning 7:30 AM. I'm drinking coffee at home and looking at the radar. It's lit up all over northern MN and a hard rain outside here in Duluth.
I'm really glad I'm not in a tent in the BWCA this morning.


It's not the rain so much but the amount, duration, and frequency of the rain we've been getting. and I'm lucky enough that I can just drive a few hours to get there. So next weekend I'll be in my tent.
Tom"

That is the main part. It just never stops. I think next weekend is supposed to be rain as well.

Well? So far it’s 9 votes GO, 5 votes DONT GO, and 1 sort of wimpy neutral (that was me, by the way). So what’s the plan?

My son is somewhere on Kelso right now. I wish I was there, too.

Look, it's really pretty simple. Fire in the belly - go. You can adjust it PRN (as needed).
No fire in the belly, don't go. Don't sweat it. Do what's in the belly.

But I will add this because I can't help myself. I was there a couple weeks ago on a quick "one last solo" for the season. It was either driving rain or steady mist, 23F - 50F over a three-day period (someone posted about 27 in ely; it was 23 on Slim), rain and mist and wind almost the entire time. I wanted to be there four days, I lasted three because I couldn't afford flexibility in the exit (couldn't be windbound because of the job commitments). And since that experience, thoughts about the trip sustain me when I'm stressed out back home. When I'm stressed at work or in this world that I currently reside, I am back there - - in the driving rain, windy paddling conditions, and cold weather, centering myself and getting a stiff dose of "this is real; the rest? hmmm, most of it isn't, outside of my beloved family". So, I go for those reasons, rain or shine, solo or tandem, crowded or literally no one around for miles (except for the mess at Agassa). So, that is why I would "go". What YOU do depends on your belly. :)

Thank you all!!! As of right now its still game on; but time and radar will tell!

Glad to hear you're still going. Went once (Algonquin) in early November. The weather was brutal, fishing basically impossible with constant 40 degree rain and heavy winds. However- we did see several groups of moose close up, including a big bull. We also had a great, close-up wolf sighting. It was worth it for the wildlife alone. Funny thing- we never saw anyone else from the time we left the parking lot til we came back. Apparently no one else was as crazy as us.

Paddled in on Friday, the 4th, and came out yesterday. Wind and more wind. Rain and a little cold I was ready for and had plenty of. But the wind came up Friday afternoon so intense I could not have a fire and blew strong until late Saturday evening. I headed out Sunday before the winds picked up again, but it was close to not safe due to winds early in the afternoon. I had about 6 hours of sunshine the whole trip and never saw the moon or stars. I also am a believer in wind chill factor more than before.
Take a good weather radio. The weather was changing pretty fast and forecasts would change, but wind seemed to stay in the forecast so I headed out a day early taking advantage of the lull Sunday morning.

Ten years ago we went in and the weather was windy with on and off drizzle. We were confined to camp mostly, with some walk up to a lake to shore fish for brookies. The last full day of the trip was decent weather wise so we portage do into a brookie lake and had the best sucess ever! Monster brookies were slamming our shad raps. So, I say, go,you never know how much fun you might encounter! Marc

Sure is a beauty forecast for the next couple days!

We're are going up the 24th and either try paddling in to a entry lake or camp close to the bw and try to get a paddle or two in.

I was out Friday through Sunday. Lots of wind, lots of rain, some nice fishing, beautiful fall colors, and a bit of sunshine. It was never a question to not go. I probably needed to bring another three pair of gloves in addition to the three I had.

egknuti: "I was out Friday through Sunday. Lots of wind, lots of rain, some nice fishing, beautiful fall colors, and a bit of sunshine. It was never a question to not go. I probably needed to bring another three pair of gloves in addition to the three I had. "

You are the second person in a month that has expressed the need for more/better gloves in October.

Well, the Rockwood web cam looks like they had to plow the road, and it looks like there are 3"-4" of snow (likely wet & heavy). I wonder if he went on his trip. Big winds today too. Ely had 15-20 mph winds for quite awhile and snow, although it didn't look like it stuck on the ground. Grand Marais was in the upper 20 mph range.

Tomster

Ended up going up early for a shortned trip!

Jackfish: "

superpcandhv: "My question is more out of my chance to enjoy this trip. "

That's the key point right there... with those conditions, would I enjoy the trip? Easy answer for me... no. I'd stay home. I'll take warmer weather, longer days and better fishing for my first solo."

I really appreciate Jackfish's point: would you enjoy the trip in those conditions? That's what makes yours a very personal decision. I love this weather, and would go when it's cold and rainy. Others wouldn't. Give that some deep thought.

Mike