BWCA Too little Stuff ? Boundary Waters Group Forum: Solo Tripping
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MichiganDave
member (5)member
  
01/12/2012 02:40PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Hello from a newbie to the group.

I read that many of us lament that we pack too much stuff. This is a fear of mine because a week outback without some key piece of somethin' would make life miserable.

But, as a reality check, has anyone ever had a solo trip where they didn't pack enough??

Michigan Dave
 
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01/12/2012 03:31PM  
Nope!

BTW: Welcome to bwca.com
 
01/12/2012 04:42PM  
not me.
 
01/12/2012 05:00PM  
Nope, and I still bring back food, but...not nearly as much as I used to ;).
 
PortageKeeper
distinguished member(2527)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/12/2012 05:20PM  
Once I realized that I didn't pack enough Grizzly green... had to ration for three days :)
Another time I ran out of food... probably because I fed so much to the birds.
 
01/12/2012 05:42PM  
Nope not me either. Last year I thought that I had food down to having only one extra days worth, but still brought more than that in food home. Guess the only thing that we did run out of was coffee and hot chocolate on the last day.

Had to slow down on the cigars or I would have ran out of them!

Welcome to the board.
 
PineKnot
distinguished member(2021)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/12/2012 05:53PM  
Yes. My son and I went looped via Basswood Falls, Crooked, Argo, Brent, McIntyre, Basswood. 9-day trip that had steady rain/drizzle for 4.5 days, generally mid-50s to low 60s. After 3 days, everything was wet. We each only brought 2 pairs of socks. Cold feet for almost 2 days really sucked. I always bring 3 pairs now, one pair stays in the sleeping bag.

And have run out of vodka and cigars once....that sucked big-time too.
 
01/12/2012 06:20PM  
I ran out of deodorant once, didn't bother anybody though!

butthead
 
JoeWilderness
distinguished member(1188)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/12/2012 07:13PM  
quote MichiganDave: "Hello from a newbie to the group.

I read that many of us lament that we pack too much stuff. This is a fear of mine because a week outback without some key piece of somethin' would make life miserable.

But, as a reality check, has anyone ever had a solo trip where they didn't pack enough??

Michigan Dave"




Nope. Also, a week without something would just make it more of an adventure. If you have food and clothes, water abounds. Right?

Welcome to the board neighbor.
 
01/12/2012 07:26PM  
nope,

Do you have food? Way to make a fire? Water source? Minimal shelter?


You got it covered.
 
01/12/2012 09:14PM  
Worse thing I have ever forgotten was my rain jacket. Somehow I brought the pants though. On a early fall trip and on a rainy travel day i had to use a little imagination, Pocket knife, and a little loss of self respect. I cut the crotch open, stuck my head through with my arms down the pant legs and just kept on paddling throughout the day in the rain.

Didn't work great but kept me dry enough that I stayed warm until we made camp.

I always double /triple check this item now before we leave home.
 
01/13/2012 07:08AM  
I make sure I've got everything I need. And alot of stuff for just-in-case...
 
removedmember1
Guest Paddler
  
01/14/2012 06:02AM  
I went on an August trip and decided against taking bottom insulation for the hammock. I survived but it was a little chilly.
 
01/14/2012 10:13AM  
Just right. I have over the years whittled things down, and changed out a few things, and have figured out exactly what I need.
 
SevenofNine
distinguished member(2472)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/16/2012 02:18PM  
A couple times when I didn't bring enough readily edible (no cook) food. When it comes to gear I tend to bring too much. However, after looking at peoples repair kits I have realized I could improve upon my own.
 
wetcanoedog
distinguished member(4442)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
01/17/2012 12:00AM  
not really..on my first trip in the 80's i came back with just a pack of soup and coco in the way of food.someone said that was good planing but a wind bound day could have ment a couple small meals.the stuff that's "too much" is the fun stuff,books,cameras so on.the extra gear you really need is small,like a knife or Bic lighter or light in weight like sox's or a shirt and never ends up adding much space or weight.
 
01/18/2012 07:39AM  
I typically take a bit more clothing than I actually use, but for a margin of safety. Same for food. I eat more when its cool and I plan based on that, then is hot... I also pad the food a bit. I always bring some home. I figure that if I cut back that would be the time its cold and I wind up wind bound.
 
01/18/2012 02:49PM  
once the coffee is gone the trip is over.
 
01/22/2012 09:22AM  
I ran out of coffee a couple of years ago and that sucked. Since then I've discovered Maxwell House singles and make sure to bring extras. They are like tea bags so are virtually weightless.

I'm still looking for ways to go lighter. But a few luxuries like a chair and binoculars make it more enjoyable so there is a trade off.

 
01/23/2012 11:22AM  
I haven't brought too little on purpose but once we forgot water bottles. This was on the Apostle Islands. We had a 5-gallon water carrier, but other than that only had open cups. We wanted to hike across the island and back, and would have needed water to do that...so we didn't and went back a day early. That and the off-shore boaters being so noisy really ruined the trip. We had to hike-in to our site a bit and we thought it would be secluded, but didn't know there would be boats anchored off-shore. It was party central out there.
 
01/25/2012 09:37PM  
I carry less food each trip but still come out with too much. I carry less fishing tackle each trip but still take too much.
Cigars are the only item that always seem to end up in short supply.
 
OBX2Kayak
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01/26/2012 07:26PM  
Nope. And I continue to cut stuff each trip. My base pack weight (all gear except food and water) is under ten pounds and I still bring stuff that never gets used.
 
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