I just had a decent window of time open up for this fall and I’m currently planning out what will be my first solo trip. I was just curious what others did for the first time out solo?

Any specific recommendations on things to consider that someone might not think of when switching from group trips to solo?

shouldertripper, I don't know your experience, trip goals or expectations but I can tell you about my first solo trip.

"Group Solo" is my preferred stripping style. I travel and camp with a group of friends but we each carry our own food and equipment. The only common equipment shared may be a tandem canoe. We occasionally share food or equipment but it is not planned or required. This tripping style made my transition to solo relatively easy.

I suggest that you identify the food and equipment that will best meet your trip expectations and goals and then determine how to efficiently transport and use it. I would focus on equipment and tasks that you may normally share with others such as navigation, portaging, food preparation and camp chores. Plan and rehearse if necessary.

The issue I had with my first solo trip was not being able to share the experience with others. I found that staying busy with travel and camp chores made my solo trip more enjoyable.

John

Welcome to bwca.com!

For starters you should poke around in this forum.

TuscaroraBorealis: "Welcome to bwca.com!


For starters you should poke around in this forum. "

Thank you!

And apologies for posting in the wrong area, I missEd the solo tripping forum so that is very helpful!

shouldertripper: "

TuscaroraBorealis: "Welcome to bwca.com!



For starters you should poke around in this forum. "

Thank you!


And apologies for posting in the wrong area, I missEd the solo tripping forum so that is very helpful! "

No apologies necessary. You probably will get more new traction/answers here but, that forum probably has some old info that you might not have thought of.

The usual stuff just becomes more important (wear life jacket, stay found, etc.).
Read "Lost in the Wild" by Cary Griffith, and don't do what they did (!).
I did a solo trip years ago (well, with my dog), and the one thing I would do different is have a clear return time [I said I'd be home Saturday OR Sunday]. In hindsight, had something gone south, that fuzzy time frame could have been problematic. So, leave your itinerary, with a very clear, 'if I'm not back/have called by _ _ _ , notify the authorities.' And: have fun! :)

Echoing TB's recommendation re the solo tripping threads. A little time reading and questions you may not have considered will have comments.
My main points are safety and recognizing you will do it all alone from camp setup and chores to what to do when not doing camp chores. I most enjoy the group solo where everyone travels on their own permit and get together from time to time to share a campsite, meal and company. I do not fish but enjoy meeting up with folks who do for a fish meal and will provide the starch, veggie and deserts, a potluck if you will. Mostly it is just me and my attitude and we get along very well.

My first solo was in through Nym to Batch and eventually a loop through Sturgeon and out through Pickerel Narrows to retrace my route back to Nym. I did a lot of solo backpacking when I was younger and I just used the same principle to travel as light as possible without cutting out safety items for backup.

I didn't carry all the technology that I do today such as the Inreach that I have but I had a gps to go with my map and compass. I had a pretty good idea of how I'd camp and where and what my physical limits were. YMMV.

As others have suggested, consult the trip reports and the solo thread that most of us subscribed to --- someone's always coming up with a better way to do things!

As mentioned, an inReach may give you some peace of mind or provide the same for your loved ones at home.

When we're moving my inReach pings the Garmin network every 20 minutes with my location and lays down a track on a map of a personal website provided by Garmin. It's part of the subscription. Even if you're in an unfortunate situation where you may need to set off the SOS but are unable to, you can be found easily enough by your last location.

I don't travel solo so my interest in doing this is only to keep a record of my travels. Plus, some tripping friends back home like to keep tabs on where we're going so they bookmark the personalized Garmin hosted URL.

My first trip to the BW was a solo last year. I spent 6 days on Perent Lake. The lake is beautiful, but I did get kind of antsy base-camping for that length of time by myself. That might be something to keep in mind when deciding what kind of trip you want to do. Other than that, I would echo what other people said about carrying an InReach or similar emergency communicator. Don't be scared of going into the wilderness by yourself, but definitely take all appropriate precautions to stay safe, and know and abide by your limitations.

Did 5 or so solos, definitely not as much fun for me as being with good tripping partners. First time was because a guy bailed on me last minute and I decided to go for it. I would recommend doing a loop over sitting in one spot for whatever amount of time you are going for. Personally, I don't think you need some emergency thingee to save you, tho it's called a wilderness, there are always people around. I always enjoyed leaving the phone in the truck, just don't lose your canoe and paddles and you'll be fine. Go for it.

Like Tomcat, I don't know your experience, trip plan, priorities. Solos are very individualistic. I don't think my first solo (2nd trip) in 2006 would offer you good advice other than don't be overambitious. I did my 1st solo because I was tired of waiting for someone else to go. But I've done about 15 since with the longest 2 1/2 weeks. I don't fish and have been more interested in exploring. Being alone was/is not a problem for me since I've done lots of things solo way before that. I don't have a need to be busy all the time. Given that I've traveled and solo you carry everything and do everything, I've simplified a lot of things over the years and as trips became longer.

Food/food prep/kitchen is one of those. Many people have they don't eat as much when solo, which I attribute to the lack of social context. I've done some trips under fire bans and no longer find a campfire necessary in order to "have camped". I have occasionally found DIY first aid to be awkward and try to avoid it. I don't carry an axe/hatchet. I have for quite a few years carried an emergency communicator; you can rent them from most outfitters, I believe. I have gone days on trips without seeing anyone (depending on where/when). I take a spare paddle, actually I take a double blade and single blade for different uses, and the one not in use is strapped to the thwarts. You may want to consider it.

There is less margin for error, but solos offer more freedom and a different experience of the world - a more uninterrupted awareness.

Ask any specific questions that arise. And enjoy your trip!

Biggest thing I can think of is you will not need as much food as you think you will.

One expends significantly more energy to travel the same distance solo, compared to tandem, both on and off the water. And most activities take more time solo - not necessarily paddling per se, but getting in and out of the boat, setting up the camp, preparing food etc. It's important not to plan too aggressive a schedule. Single-carrying portages is usually easier tandem than solo.
Another thing to be prepared for is lack of social interaction. A good book and a camera could be useful in this regard.
I agree that bringing a spare paddle is even more important on solo trips. Paddles brake like every other thing and are hard to mend. A blade that is duct-taped to a shaft will definitely make for a memorable trip. Basically, my preparation for solo and group trips is the same as I try to plan for the same contingencies.

Lots of great advice so far in this thread and I'm sure you'll get more. Definitely dig through the old threads in the solo forum linked above as it is full of tons of great information.

Be careful.... solo tripping can be very addicting. My first solo was just to see if I could do it and handle it. But I fell in love with it and have done 6 or 7 now.

I definitely brought too much stuff, especially food on my first solo.

On most of my solos I have traveled a lot further than I had planned on doing, especially on day 1. And on 2 of them I traveled way less than I had planned on doing. I love the flexibility of adjusting on the fly and doing what you want, when you want, without worrying about what anyone else wants to do.

Welcome, ShoulderTripper! Glad you could join us. Lots of good advice has already been shared. You'll find plenty on this board and in the solo section too. If you have more info to share about what you hope for your trip, you'll get feedback that is more specific to your needs.

I'll add that I enjoy solo tripping. It's a great opportunity to do whatever you want. My solo trips, not unlike my group trips, have been a mix of base camping and tripping. My first solo BWCA trip was a week-long and went well mostly because I have done solo camping for many, many years whether it be for hunting, fishing, or backpacking to see new areas. A few things that I keep in mind:
1) I get to do everything on solo trips so things can take longer than when I'm with other people. Since there is less daylight in September, I try and plan accordingly.
2) I keep things simple when I'm alone. Food, gear, fishing, photography, etc. Just keeping it simple helps me.
3) Safety, as has been mentioned, is more important. I stick a little closer to shore, take it a little slower on portages, and just try and be more aware. I do carry a Garmin In-Reach and like staying in touch with my wife and daughters. I also think it is important to practice basic first aid all by yourself.
4) It has been very helpful for me to bring a book and a journal. There is invariably unoccupied time and reading and writing are fail-safe ways I enjoy passing the time. I've also recorded myself talking about stuff...sheesh, Pretty funny stuff!
5) Enjoy it. It's the best wellness activity I do.

1. Everything seems to take me longer when solo, except cooking. Plan on portaging slower, paddling slower, packing up slower……
2. By mid-September the days are noticeably shorter. Make sure you have your headlamp handy when relaxing after dinner.
3. Take a good book. I also bring a radio with earbuds and listen if I’m in my sleeping bag too early to sleep but too cold to just sit around. Podcasts would work too. A campfire might help but I rarely build fires even when it’s ok to do so.

ducks:
I definitely brought too much stuff

I came here to say this ^^. My first 3 trips were solo before I had friends who had any interest in coming along. I brought way too much crap, and then for my own safety, I felt the need to bring a back up to everything "just in case". Not smart, not at all necessary. Don't do it

The biggest differences for me between solo and w/ a group is how much more work there is to do and how that changes your day to day. I'm more of the fish all day kinda guy, so I prefer to base camp. I rarely collect enough firewood to have a fire while soloing. I've also learned I not only eat a lot more, but I also like to keep food a lot more basic to avoid dishes too- freeze dried meals, ramen, bars, belvita, etc. When with a group we make a fire nightly and will cook these fried fish meals with rice, mashed potatoes, this that.. not worth it solo imo.

Agree with the above about safety. I'm much better about wearing a life jacket, getting back to the campsite before dark, etc. With a lot of down time I like a hammock, a book, and a *gasp* portable bluetooth speaker. Unless the fishing is lights out, more often that not I return home a day early too. No shame in that, still enjoy my time, but I get pretty bored/lonely pretty quick out there. That said, I think doing a solo trip out there is SO good for the soul. The world would be a better place if everyone experienced something like that every once in a while.

I started solo tripping in my early twenties after enjoying many trip with others. I am an introvert by nature and enjoy spending a lot of time alone in the woods. One thing I wasn't prepared for was actually being alone and getting lonely; It was quite a shock to me. I ended up leaving sooner than I had anticipated. I love doing solo trips and still get lonely sometimes, but now I know how to deal with it. I started off base camping and I found that it contributed to that. I'd recommend doing some sort of loop that could be extended or aborted based on how you're feeling. Doing a solo is also physically more challenging so don't over do it. I'm still solo tripping some 30 years later, so if your first solo isn't what you expected, do it again and learn from each trip.

I have not soloed, been thinking about it. But if I did I think I would plan a hybrid type trip which combined a bit of basecamping with travel days. I love spending time in camp just relaxing and decompressing, taking in the views getting up some good firewood etc. For me photography is a big part of a trip so I can wander back behind the campsite for hours finding interesting things to shoot. I can linger over a good cup of coffee for an hour or more in the morning.

I also like to cook and eat good. At home I cook all the time, often for myself and really enjoy the process and the results. Many solo campers say they eat less and do it really simple, I think I would do that very differently. Cooking a gourmet meal would be fun and eating it on the rocks at sunset would be equally rewarding.

But I think several days of this in a row would get old and you would find yourself not knowing what to do with yourself. So then a travel day.

I also like to fish and have fished alone a lot. Still rewarding to me to catch a few nice fish and to enjoy the surroundings if fishing is slow. A small fresh caught fish dinner would be a nice treat.

Bottom line is that I would leave your options open and see what works best for you. If you plan it as a hybrid trip with options to extend or cut short the trip you will have the ultimate in flexibility with your plans and go totally with how you are feeling about the experience. Solos work for many folks that love them. Don't work for some. I know that if I went I would not want to travel everyday but neither would I want to stay somewhere for several days on end.

Suggestions from someone who has only soloed in their imagination:)

egknuti: "I started solo tripping in my early twenties after enjoying many trip with others. I am an introvert by nature and enjoy spending a lot of time alone in the woods. One thing I wasn't prepared for was actually being alone and getting lonely; It was quite a shock to me. I ended up leaving sooner than I had anticipated. I love doing solo trips and still get lonely sometimes, but now I know how to deal with it. I started off base camping and I found that it contributed to that. I'd recommend doing some sort of loop that could be extended or aborted based on how you're feeling. Doing a solo is also physically more challenging so don't over do it. I'm still solo tripping some 30 years later, so if your first solo isn't what you expected, do it again and learn from each trip. "

This is me to a t, and describes my solo tips well. I take possibly a half dozen short solos in the BW every year and have taken a number of solo backpacking trips in the west as well. I go into solo trips with a goal, but it's amazing how much the headspace on a solo trip can contribute or detract from that. I definitely do better moving than sitting around camp solo.

On another note, I often forget to eat on solo trips which probably doesn't help. That's another issue entirely!

Group Solos helped shakedown how much gear I needed to take. I did find myself over packing for just one person. I ended up treating my first trip like a backpacking trip that included a canoe. I now take more gear to be comfortable, understanding I have a canoe.
I also used a previous route for my first solo. It helped me know what to expect. Leave your plan with someone.
I reminded myself constantly to slow down and be deliberate with my actions. The slower pace helped me avoid injuries and see more wilderness.
Wear gloves and glasses (safety) when working.
Keep busy.

Been following thread. My first solo trip was also my first time in a solo canoe, and first time in Atikokan and a northern Quetico entry - Beaverhouse. Five nights. Moved first 4 days, stayed last 2 nights at a great site on BH, and read a book on the shore. Cold cereal and Nido for breakfasts; cheese, summer sausage, dried fruit, and crackers for lunch; dehydrated and grocery store instants for dinners. Other than first launch at entry point and a few minutes of instability, it was a fantastic trip. I was 61 then. Go for it.

shouldertripper: "I just had a decent window of time open up for this fall and I’m currently planning out what will be my first solo trip. I was just curious what others did for the first time out solo?

Any specific recommendations on things to consider that someone might not think of when switching from group trips to solo? "

I went on my first solo last year after thinking I would like to do one since my first bwca trip 20 years or so ago.
Followed a route we did before but took much more time, 10 days. I didn’t concern myself with being anywhere at or by a certain time, I ended up triple portaging, which really was not a big deal. I planned to just double portage but halfway through the portage to put in at ep #16 I decided to take a vote. I am not a pack mule won by a unanimous vote. I am 67 and with fragile ankles from long ago I just decided why not. Being alone for that long was not a problem, I’m going on 5 years a widower and although I don’t always like it I’ve gotten used to being by myself. Really didn’t do anything out of the ordinary, enjoyed camp chores, fished some, enough for some fresh fish frys, planned to spend two nights per campsite, then move on, that worked well for me. There is much to enjoy so just take your time and enjoy it. On my way out I rounded a sharp corner in the aptly named moose river and no less than 20 yards ahead of me was a cow moose in the middle of the river. I doubt if that would have happened if I was with a group. I did have a camera in my life jacket pocket and was able to take a few pics before she got out and ran off. Doing whatever you want when you want with no pressure was always a nice thing. And as I read on one of these threads once, enjoy your naps. I’m planning another solo for this September so the hooks been set, hopefully my health holds up long enough that I can continue these for awhile. Enjoy!!

Jim525: "

shouldertripper: "I just had a decent window of time open up for this fall and I’m currently planning out what will be my first solo trip. I was just curious what others did for the first time out solo?


Any specific recommendations on things to consider that someone might not think of when switching from group trips to solo? "

I went on my first solo last year after thinking I would like to do one since my first bwca trip 20 years or so ago.
Followed a route we did before but took much more time, 10 days. I didn’t concern myself with being anywhere at or by a certain time, I ended up triple portaging, which really was not a big deal. I planned to just double portage but halfway through the portage to put in at ep #16 I decided to take a vote. I am not a pack mule won by a unanimous vote. I am 67 and with fragile ankles from long ago I just decided why not. Being alone for that long was not a problem, I’m going on 5 years a widower and although I don’t always like it I’ve gotten used to being by myself. Really didn’t do anything out of the ordinary, enjoyed camp chores, fished some, enough for some fresh fish frys, planned to spend two nights per campsite, then move on, that worked well for me. There is much to enjoy so just take your time and enjoy it. On my way out I rounded a sharp corner in the aptly named moose river and no less than 20 yards ahead of me was a cow moose in the middle of the river. I doubt if that would have happened if I was with a group. I did have a camera in my life jacket pocket and was able to take a few pics before she got out and ran off. Doing whatever you want when you want with no pressure was always a nice thing. And as I read on one of these threads once, enjoy your naps. I’m planning another solo for this September so the hooks been set, hopefully my ghealth holds up long enough that I can continue these for awhile. Enjoy!!
"

Well said, Jim. I appreciate your comments and perspective, especially about the vote you held about not being a pack mule! I hope your health holds up for many years for future tripping!

Jim525 "I didn’t concern myself with being anywhere at or by a certain time, I ended up triple portaging, which really was not a big deal. I planned to just double portage but halfway through the portage to put in at ep #16 I decided to take a vote. I am not a pack mule won by a unanimous vote. I am 67 and with fragile ankles from long ago I just decided why not."

I'm 72 and I always triple portage. Lighter loads means safer walking, and the distance doesn't bother me. I just take my time, enjoy a pleasant walk back smelling the forest, and set up camp when I see a good spot that beckons me.

Like others, I don't like more than a day layover. Moving along is fun, and setting up camp in a new place keeps me interested and busy. It's actually kind of cozy.

Dave

I started soloing in my late 20's and do at least a couple a year. I usually invite folks, but sometimes I want to challenge myself a bit and don't want to subject someone else to it who isn't as much an enthusiast or fisherman. As others have said, there's only yourself to rely on so planning and safety is paramount.

I did a trip report on my first solo which you can read below. I also like to move most days to keep things exciting and cover more of the wilderness. I find that the successes are more meaningful, I learn more about efficiency and effectiveness, and the solitude does a lot of good for me. I hope you have a safe and awesome trip!
(Here's the link)

Our group has been unraveling for the past few years and this year is “solo by necessity “. One of the OGs and I did a group solo once which was enjoyable. I don’t anticipate any particular drama this year with the possible exception of boredom. I’m bringing a book and camera in addition to the fishing accoutrements. I will also post my first ever trip report…

Congrats on planning your first solo - I'm sure you'll have a great time!

Other comments here have been pretty spot on. You're the unanimous vote while on the trip, so it can be quite liberating if you are typically the 'group leader'. Stuff takes longer to do & there is no-one to do the work except you, so make it easy on yourself! I found moving twice per week was comfortable for me, though sometimes I'd move more or stay longer. I elect to portage more times vs overloading, a twisted ankle or busted shin isn't worth saving a bit of time. I'd suggest no clean-up cooking, unless you enjoy doing dishes in the woods (though by Sept bugs won't be as burdensome while completing the chore). Have a good idea of how you will portage (which packs/gear carried per trip) & then expect it to change once in practice haha & in this vein don't be afraid to adjust your route on the fly, especially if you can communicate the change to your folks back home for safety purposes). I use a zoleo device for comms/tracking/sos/weather, though it requires a second device & subscription to use (I found it had a less costly subscription compared to other options & that is why I chose it, as well as not cramming more than one tool into one device in case of device failure). As camp set-up & tear-down takes longer solo, expect to not always set a 'full camp' (i.e. my tarp only went up if I was expecting rain during the day). As others mentioned, Sept starts getting dark earlier, so I'd plan shorter travel days to ensure you can get to camp with ample light & pull out your headlamp early so you don't risk stumbling in the dark. Hanging a food pack can be a frustrating experience, especially solo, so a bearproof food pack may be useful. I'd suggest bringing a map + compass & a GPS, relying on the latter to set you straight if you get turned around. Don't forget your first aid kit & a cold weather ditch kit may be wise to bring in Sept (water temps should still be decent though there may be chilly air temps in Sept). Bring a good book or few & a camera + keep a journal.

Best of luck!