BWCA June 2011 solo trip Boundary Waters Group Forum: Solo Tripping

Chat Rooms (0 Chatting) | Search | Login/Join

* BWCA is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Boundary Waters Quetico Forum

Group Forum: Solo Tripping

June 2011 solo trip

View Photo Contest Slideshow

Author

Text

buffalodick

01/04/2012 06:31PM

I did a 50 mile solo trip this past June in my 38 special. I was on some big water up in the area of Knife Lake and beyond. It was a lotta work for an old guy of 64 years. Some real long and tough portages but I made it and am glad I did it. I would like to go again but I might like to solo with at least one other person as it is quite boring when going it alone.
Dick

"Go Green-Wear REAL FUR"

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

BeaV

01/05/2012 07:22AM

Dick, congratulations on completing your trip. Did you go as far as Ottertrack like you were originally thinking? Did you drop down to Kek for your return loop and if so, what route did you take from the north to get to Kek?

Thanks, BeaV

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

buffalodick

01/06/2012 06:00AM

BeaV,
I did go to Ottertrack and then looped to the south through a series of smaller lakes and then back up to the south arm of Knife Lake. From there I took the 200 rod portage from Knife to Vera then the portage into Ensign and finally back to Moose. I discovered that the old piece of advice is true; if you want solitude just make a long portage of two and the crowd thins out dramatically. Knife was practically deserted as well as much of the other route I took after reaching Knife Lake. I saw only one occupied campsite on Knife when I was there.
Dick

"Go Green-Wear REAL FUR"

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

dprochef

01/06/2012 06:37AM

Sounds like a good trip, are you planning on doing a trip report. Would love to read. Seen your 38 Special in your Bio pic, NICE RIDE. How did it handle/portage.

Hope to see a trip report and some pics. Congrats.

Courage is being scared to death... but saddling up anyway....John Wayne

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

buffalodick

01/06/2012 07:09PM

dprochef,
I will try to do a trip report in the near future.
I did not take many pictures but I can include a few.
I got within about 10 feet of a drumming spruce grouse and watched it for over a half hour. I don't think the thing ever saw a human before because it just let me stand there and watch. I moved toward it once to get a little closer and it just stayed and danced for me. The bird drummed all night until just before daylight and this was about twenty feet from my hammock; cool.
The boat handled nicely with a load and was good on the portage. I have Chosen Valley portage pads installed and that is nice on the shoulders.
Dick

"Go Green-Wear REAL FUR"

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

buffalodick

01/06/2012 07:19PM

BeaV,
Where was your profile picture taken. Was that by chance Knife Lake?
Dick

"Go Green-Wear REAL FUR"

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

yellowcanoe

01/06/2012 08:20PM

Where is your next solo or near solo going to be? Did you get inspired to plan the next trip?

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

buffalodick

01/07/2012 10:27AM

yellowcanoe,
I definitely want to go again, but I have not yet decided where I would like to go. I think I would like to go to an area less traveled and remote.
My pool of interested people is dwindling as they age but I have not lost the desire or ability. I stay in shape, walk 4 miles a day 365 days a year and do other exercises to maintain my conditioning for this type of thing. As it usually goes this time of year, I am pumped for another go at it.
Dick

"Go Green-Wear REAL FUR"

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

BeaV

01/09/2012 02:03PM

quote buffalodick: "BeaV,
Where was your profile picture taken. Was that by chance Knife Lake?
Dick"

My Profile picture was taken further east over on Gneisse Lake.

BeaV

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

BeaV

01/09/2012 02:03PM

quote buffalodick: "BeaV,
Where was your profile picture taken. Was that by chance Knife Lake?
Dick"

My Profile picture was taken further east over on Gneisse Lake.

BeaV

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

mooseplums

01/09/2012 04:38PM

Congrats on your solo...the next one will be even better. I have done 2 so far, and I am planning a 10 day Quetico solo for next fall.

"I am haunted by waters"~Norman Maclean "A River Runs Through It"

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

MagicPaddler

01/09/2012 04:52PM

I did a 13 day trip with 10 of that solo last year. Will probably do some trips next summer in a solo boat. You could read my trip report to see the kind of trip I like to go on. I would not mind another person to travel with if tripping styles match up. Looking forward to reading your trip report. My trip report

The question of the day is Freedom or Socialism?? MagicPaddler

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

kanoes

01/09/2012 06:45PM

keep dreaming bigger dick....and 64 is not old! (at least i hope not, im 53) :)

i did queticos hunter island loop last september, solo. i pushed myself hard and learned a lot.

i didnt do my first loop trip until 2006. now i find that i cant travel enough.

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

buffalodick

01/11/2012 08:59PM

MagicPaddler,
I read your trip report; very interesting. Thanks for the link! I am going to get to writing mine as soon as my workload lightens a bit.
Dick

"Go Green-Wear REAL FUR"

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

buffalodick

01/11/2012 09:02PM

kanoes,
Congrats on your Hunter's Island loop. I want to read your trip report, I just haven't had the time lately but I am looking forward to doing just that. I bet that trip was awesome!
I have known about that route for a long time and always wanted to do that loop myself but need to get a couple more solos under my belt before attempting that one.
Dick

"Go Green-Wear REAL FUR"

Print Top Bottom Previous Next

BearBrown