and that is, "do you want company on your August BW trip?"

I really want to do my solo. But tripping with these folks would be fun, too. Maybe I should add them together: solo first, then join up? I was only going to solo for two nights anyway, but another two with other people would be nice...

Then again, my whole trip might have to be scrapped due to buying a house, so...

Just trying to sort out my thoughts here.

I think you'll hear a lot of opinions. I'm mostly sorry for you that you might not get to go.

Well, yes, it would suck not to go...but finally getting a house would be worth it, too. Our condo was for sale or in the process of getting ready to sell for almost two years. Still....I want both. ;-)

Well, its a matter of priorities.

1. House first --if it interferes with a vacation, so what. Having a home is much more important than spending a few days in the wilderness!

2. Go to the BW at a different time if possible. Decide whether or not to do the group thing or not at that time if it is still an option :)

nojobro; "Maybe I should add them together: solo first, then join up?"

Excellent way to check out solo tripping!

butthead

From what I've read on these threads, a solo in the BWCA means you'll be seeing folks everywhere: on the portages, on the water, and at the campsites where you were hoping to camp. So, go as solo as you can, which means don't go with other folks, and since yours is a two-day trip, you won't be going deep, which means you'll be hip deep in folks anyway. My advice is the blow by the BWCA. Head north a couple hundred miles. Then you'll be truly solo and free to camp wherever you want. The campsites up there are the campsites you make. The lakes and rivers will be exclusively yours and if you get in a pinch, just launch a flare at a passing float plane. It'll help to have an SUV and not one of those pretty mall SUVs that don't have a scratch. Go with an ornery, scratched SUV with belly armor. Get up to speed on off-road driving techniques, which means go slow or slower. Those logging cuts aren't maintained and don't fear the "drive at your own risk" signs. They have to post those and sure, there is risk for the hasty, but even north of the BWCA, there are still people, even if they're overhead.

quote butthead: "nojobro; "Maybe I should add them together: solo first, then join up?"


Excellent way to check out solo tripping!


butthead"

+1, Best of both worlds. I'm putting off building so I can keep tripping for now.

I think as long as you get at least 2 nights by yourself it will be a good introduction to soloing. Meeting the other folks would be a nice thing to look forward to. A nice change up.

You just might talk their ears off though. :)

quote TomT: "I think as long as you get at least 2 nights by yourself it will be a good introduction to soloing. Meeting the other folks would be a nice thing to look forward to. A nice change up.


You just might talk their ears off though. :)


"

Agreed, it's a great combo.

But - you've got your heart set on the solo, so be sure that adding the other people doesn't somehow cancel out your two days alone - unless of course you want it to (because whether you solo or not is all up to you).

I envy your dilemma.

I think making your trip a twofer as you suggest would work well. 2 nights solo and 2 or more with a couple of other people to top off the experience. Sounds next to perfect.

I also agree that your dilemmas are Win/Win/Win dilemmas: going alone -great; going with some friends - great; buying the house - great. You might win a trifecta here.

quote missmolly: "From what I've read on these threads, a solo in the BWCA means you'll be seeing folks everywhere: on the portages, on the water, and at the campsites where you were hoping to camp. So, go as solo as you can, which means don't go with other folks, and since yours is a two-day trip, you won't be going deep, which means you'll be hip deep in folks anyway. My advice is the blow by the BWCA. Head north a couple hundred miles. Then you'll be truly solo and free to camp wherever you want. The campsites up there are the campsites you make. The lakes and rivers will be exclusively yours and if you get in a pinch, just launch a flare at a passing float plane. It'll help to have an SUV and not one of those pretty mall SUVs that don't have a scratch. Go with an ornery, scratched SUV with belly armor. Get up to speed on off-road driving techniques, which means go slow or slower. Those logging cuts aren't maintained and don't fear the "drive at your own risk" signs. They have to post those and sure, there is risk for the hasty, but even north of the BWCA, there are still people, even if they're overhead. "

Gotta like the way this gal thinks. But going this far might make it worth it to spend a couple more days. :) I don't feel into it until usually day three. So if after two days you don't feel like you really got anything out of it, I'd say try it again, only longer like 5 days minimum. My solo's have been 8 -14 days usually.

I'm going to go against the common consensus: do the solo.

I would have welcomed company after a few days, when I did my solo. It would be especially cool to meet up with another person, who had been soloing. You could sit by the fire in the evenings and share your experiences.

quote nctry: "

quote missmolly: "From what I've read on these threads, a solo in the BWCA means you'll be seeing folks everywhere: on the portages, on the water, and at the campsites where you were hoping to camp. So, go as solo as you can, which means don't go with other folks, and since yours is a two-day trip, you won't be going deep, which means you'll be hip deep in folks anyway. My advice is the blow by the BWCA. Head north a couple hundred miles. Then you'll be truly solo and free to camp wherever you want. The campsites up there are the campsites you make. The lakes and rivers will be exclusively yours and if you get in a pinch, just launch a flare at a passing float plane. It'll help to have an SUV and not one of those pretty mall SUVs that don't have a scratch. Go with an ornery, scratched SUV with belly armor. Get up to speed on off-road driving techniques, which means go slow or slower. Those logging cuts aren't maintained and don't fear the "drive at your own risk" signs. They have to post those and sure, there is risk for the hasty, but even north of the BWCA, there are still people, even if they're overhead. "

Gotta like the way this gal thinks. But going this far might make it worth it to spend a couple more days. :) I don't feel into it until usually day three. So if after two days you don't feel like you really got anything out of it, I'd say try it again, only longer like 5 days minimum. My solo's have been 8 -14 days usually. "

You might like the way I think, but I think my outlook is a teeny minority at this website. I agree that the longer solos are best.