Okay, I did my first ever solo trip and loved it. Got down to 25° at night, but was prepared. Can't wait for the next trip.

Two questions:
#1 Does anyone think next summer will be closer to normal or will it be packed again?

#2 I borrowed a Cabelas dry pack and it worked wonderfully. Can you give me your opinions on which packs are preferred?

For 10 - 14 day, two person trips, I use three packs.

1. Blue barrel (60L) with North Water harness for food.
2. Sealine dry pack (115 L) for clothing, sleeping bags and other stuff that I want to make sure stays dry.
3. Granite Gear traditional canoe pack for camping equipment.

These will hold lots of gear. Maybe it encourages me to bring too much stuff.

Always nice to have a good trip. As far as next summer is concerned, you should look at how the travel industry is recovering and expect a general return to "normal" if that picks up in full. Also check for reduced entry point openings as spring approaches. If that is showing a high demand, then a repeat of this year is indicated. You can head off personal problems by getting an early reservation which will allow you to get three nice portages away from the entry point on day one and you should be fine.

I just use a CCS Explorer with a plastic liner.

If anyone is able to predict what the future holds in regards to covid and its repercussions they'd be doing awfully well for themselves right now.

I think bwcadan is on the right track, look toward the travel industry and border closings to give you a clue as to what next season will be like. Thats about the best predictor i can think of. If the Canadian border remains closed and overall out of state travel remains slow then you can probably expect things to be crazy again next season. However, its all just a guess and no one will know for sure until next summer.

I use Kondos bags and double line contents with garbage bags.

I have 3 Packs:

1. Blue barrel with a CCS pack to put it in.

2. Granite Gear food pack that I now use for utility gear.

3. Granite gear canoe pack with dry bags for clothes and all in a large plastic bag for water resisting the rest.

4. I will rent bags as needed for more people or gear.

Who knows about the usage next summer? Will anything be closer to "normal"? What is "normal" now? Get your permit(s) early and be prepared to work for any "solitude" is the only advice that will work for every occasion.

I use two packs for my solo trips, both CCS. I have most gear in my Pioneer pack, and food and most cooking gear in the Rucksack. Both are lined with heavy plastic liners. The Pioneer is the middle size of the three Dan makes in this style, and if I were to buy again, I would get the smaller one.

1) my opinion is it will be packed again, same as this year.
2) if your Cabellas pack works then use that. I prefer Duluth Packs for my tripping needs.

First, glad you did your trip, were prepared, and loved it.

Next, packs - a lot of options and a lot of personal preferences. Various advantages and disadvantages. I have used Kondos, Granite Gear, CCS, SealLine, Sea-to-Summit, and Exped. I use a small waterproof Exped Torrent to carry with the canoe and one of the others for everything else depending on duration of trip and amount of gear. Whether the pack is waterproof or lined with a waterproof liner, clothes and sleeping bag go in a dry sack.

Next year - Who knows? I wish I did . . .

The Sealine Pro 120L is superior to the Cabelas pack ( I have both). If you are buying a Sealine be sure to get the Pro model as it includes padded frame back, load lifters, sternum strap, hip belt, better straps, padded shoulder straps and is fully adjustable including torso length. The standard models are bare bare bones, and at least for me,are very uncomfortable. Canoe packs from CCS, Kondos, and Granite gear are all good, just stay away from the original style envelope packs, also very uncomfortable with no hip belt, etc. and difficult to pack well.

Another take on predictions for next summer: I just got off the phone with the folks at Northstar Canoes. They said that if you wanted to order a canoe made right now, you most likely wouldn't get it until next July! That is unprecedented. It used to be a month long wait or even less.

They said that in spite of the good business they hate that they have to disappoint their customers with these late dates. They are currently producing 4-5 boats a day as it is.

The demand for outdoor recreation equipment is at an all time high and is showing no signs of letting up, so I believe that translates to a busy summer next year.

All that being said, I did back-to-back 8 day trips out of Sawbill at peak times (July/August) and I honestly have to say that while it was a bit busier near the entry points, I really didn't feel like it was overwhelmingly crowded.

I'll go back next summer no matter what.

Thanks for the input on bag preferences I like the idea of a waterproof bag so will research those. As far as how busy next year I will reserve early and deal with whatever happens. It is amazing how immediate I am looking at the next trip. I would prefer a companion or two but if they back out again it will be another solo. Nothing wrong with that.

R00kie: "I like the idea of a waterproof bag so will research those. "

Maybe you know this already, but in case you don't, every pack can be a waterproof bag. The mentions above about a canoe pack with a plastic bag liner is not only effective, but reliable.

I have two CCS Pioneer packs and line them with 45 gallon clear contractor trash bags. The packs are tough and durable and the contractor bags are quite strong. Often times, they get used on multiple trips.

Fill your pack, twist the bag closed, fold it over and close the pack. Everything inside stays dry, but if you want extra protection for a down sleeping bag (for example), put that in a separate stuff sack. It's a tried and true method.

R00kie: "Okay, I did my first ever solo trip and loved it. Got down to 25° at night, but was prepared. Can't wait for the next trip.

Two questions:
#1 Does anyone think next summer will be closer to normal or will it be packed again?

#2 I borrowed a Cabelas dry pack and it worked wonderfully. Can you give me your opinions on which packs are preferred?"

R00kie - where did you enter / exit and when did you come off the water? hoping to get an unofficial ice report for potential paddle next week

I use a Duluth pack for food & an old MARPAT rucksack for clothes / camping equipment. I like the MOLLE webbing on the outside for attaching small pouches for things I like quick access to. Sometimes gets caught coming in / out of the canoe at portages but nothing ever falls off or out, & it's the perfect width to load in sideways & has rubber handles on both sides to quickly grab & yank out.

Entered at kawishiwi #37 during the cold snap at the end of September. So can't give you an up to date report. Sorry.

My son-in-law has been a pulmonologist for 15 years. He tells me our current situation will likely extend well into next year even with a viable vaccine. So who knows about next summer. Maybe try to go during the shoulder seasons. For myself I am talking to Canadian friends about a trip there next year but keeping in mind it may not happen. At 73 time is running out for me so I am hoping for the best next year.

If I have someone going with me, I’ve started always taking that big cabelas Bdub pack/dry pack on steroids. It doesn’t get rave reviews, but I like it.