Well, I finally did it. I did my first BWCA solo trip a few weeks back and it was awesome. A couple of notes:

1. I have been paddling since I was about 10 years old - never a solo canoe. Even for an experienced paddler, there is a learning curve with a solo canoe, especially in wind. And pack placement made a difference

2. At 58, I should have done it ten years ago - I was a bit sore

3. It got dark at 7:00. I usually go to sleep around midnight. After an hour of campfire, that is a long time to read before bed.

4. Glad I brought backpacking food instead of cooking (just boiled water). Although cooking over a campfire is one of the pleasures of a BWCA trip, this option was lighter and quicker.

That is awesome. I never thought about that night time thing, it would indeed be odd for me to have no one to talk to for all those hours! Hope you brought a good book!

Welcome to the solo club! I, too, have found cooking solo to be nowhere near as fun as cooking for a small group.

What was your route?

Most excellent!

If you're lying awake for many hours, I find the solution is another 10 miles during the day. Knocks that awake stuff right out. :-)

OneMatch: "Welcome to the solo club! I, too, have found cooking solo to be nowhere near as fun as cooking for a small group.

What was your route? "

I started at Missing Link and then headed down to Frost. Not too far. Got some relaxation time and did some fishing.

When I did my solo trip in October I anticipated early night time hours. I brought wood processing tools (saw and splitting tool) for a good long fire. I never bring wood processing tools in summer. If I have a fire it's just breaking small stuff with my hand and feet.

Glad you had a great trip. I also wish I had started solo tripping earlier in life. Those early nights are tough in the fall, but a good book and LED headlamp make time fly for me. But at least you finally did it! Here's to many more!

Great Scott... Scott! Glad to hear. It’s a great option going alone. My forty day trip started August 20th in 2012. It was very noticeable as September moved along how quickly the sunsets got earlier and earlier. You chose a good route for your first solo. Lots of options.

Blatz: "When I did my solo trip in October I anticipated early night time hours. I brought wood processing tools (saw and splitting tool) for a good long fire. I never bring wood processing tools in summer. If I have a fire it's just breaking small stuff with my hand and feet."

I had enough wood each night for about an hour of a nice campfire. After the fire went out, I did some star gazing. not sure if this is in any way true, but it sure seems like the stars are brighter in the fall.

Welcome to the solo club! You have many more years left to enjoy solo tripping.
Don`t forget there is a solo forum on this site.
The early darkness is okay with a group but a bit harder when you are alone. That is why my solo is usually done it June despite the bugs......

Glad to hear you enjoyed yourself! I find solos to be utterly freeing; no concerns at all about route, others' expectations/routines, etc. Now, I also enjoy traveling with others, but the older I get, the fewer options for that I have as tripping buddies from years gone by are no longer interested in paddling for a variety of reasons.

Regarding the food, totally agree on the boil water only approach. That said, on a short Polly trip this past July, the walleye fishing was really good, and I did not want to eat boiled fish.

Frenchy19: "Glad to hear you enjoyed yourself! I find solos to be utterly freeing; no concerns at all about route, others' expectations/routines, etc. Now, I also enjoy traveling with others, but the older I get, the fewer options for that I have as tripping buddies from years gone by are no longer interested in paddling for a variety of reasons.


Regarding the food, totally agree on the boil water only approach. That said, on a short Polly trip this past July, the walleye fishing was really good, and I did not want to eat boiled fish. "

The people in Door County Wisconsin would be disappointed to hear you don't like a good ol' fashioned fish boil;-)