I am also looking to go out of Sawbill; limited to 3 days and I want to cover some miles. I single portage and am an endurance kind of guy so full days and lots of work, lots of portaging are fun for me. I haven't soloed in the BW, but have taken my girls (2 of them, starting at 3yo) by myself. Lots of canoe and backcountry experience.

Initial, I thought of the Temperance R Loop, then add on Town Cam and Brule. Or go Cherokee to Long Island down through the cones and Brule to Temperance, but that far on Brule could have some serious challenges I would rather avoid though the rest of the route looks like fun. Another thought was up Alton to the Louse River-Polly-Phoebe River Loop. How about the Frost River? This is all new area and I would really like to scout it out and later bring the family.

Thoughts? <12 hrs of light per day, is a limiting factor the first week of Oct I know. Your help is appreciated.

you sound too full of yourself, ultra man. i am sure you can do this loop, no problem. you could probably do an amazing loop, but that is not the point here. this is not a race and soloing, especially in october on a first solo is not the time to prove yourself. there really are not many people out here at this time. a mistake would be a serious bummer. october in the bwca is a time of real wilderness. don't expect to see people. help might be a long ways off. if at all.

just wanted to temper that enthusiasm a bit. safety should always be our number one concern, especially when solo. after your second solo trip, go for it.

your first canoe solo trip is more of a psychological matter. do it and you will understand.

for what it is worth, my son, 26, now has a marathon time of 2:39:48. (houston, texas, January 15, 2012)((no lyingryan here)). he is also a top nordic ski racer, he told me several years back, after placing in the top 50 of the wisconsin birkie, that canoeing with me was the toughest trip of his life. that was several years ago. i had at that time been diagnosed with parkinson's disease for 12 years. the little shit still can't keep up with me.

experience matters.

a little humility is a good thing for a solo canoeist.

Curious, how much backcountry experience do you have for fall weather?

What's your gear list look like?

What's your age? I am guessing 20's?

If you have enough experience to take on a 12 hour a day trek in October, I can help you (not sure why you would want to but that really does not matter).

If your experience is limited to taking your girls weekend camping in the BWCA during the summer, I'll only say one thing: Little mistakes in summer months may be life threatening in October. Going for 12 hour days can easily deplete your sugar stores or you may get dehydrated and suddenly become accident prone.

I tipped one time in October (ran rapids..so we were prepared to tip). 10 yards from shore and didn't think I'd make it for about 10 seconds. I was doing triathlons and my buddy was training for Ironman WI at the time.

Anyway's, if you list the above, I'll help you out. Good luck, October is the best month in my humble opinion.

I guess my question came out wrong? Just merely trying to give a little background on what I am looking for on a route and if there are any suggestions. I respect anyone’s style on how they get out there; I just have little interest in a leisurely trip right now. Life’s demands on time allow for a few short trips per year, this one I can roll on my own. I have been on solos plenty; backpacking, winter travel, climbing and canoeing.

Jwart-You should be proud of your son, that’s impressive. It’s more impressive your fight with Parkinson’s. My aunt had it and I know it’s tough. Keep getting out there!

George-Your questions; I have 4 season experience in the B-Dub, early 40’s. My kit is solid thought my ride isn't a speed boat (Yellowstone) unless I pull for a rental. I get calculated risk and self-rescue and greatly appreciate the feedback. I probably want to travel no more than 10 hours a day.

Ideas for a loop will be appreciated.

no problem, sorry i sounded so pompous.

i understand the desire to cover lots of ground. in october dawn till dusk solo paddling is fairly routine for me. probably because i never really plan things too carefully, i eyeball the map and think, that should be ten hours, hopefully.

i'll be going up to the bw in a couple weeks. river levels are a concern, as is the fire outlook. october is a good time to hit all those lakes you avoid in the summer because of the crowds. can't give much advice on your intended route, it has been a good twenty years since i've been on some of those lakes.

if you want to read about a brutal day of canoing, read my one trip report on angleworm lake. as a matter of fact that is a really nice area for solo trips.

The temperance loop is a nice one. My brother and i a couple years ago did this loop from baker. Lots of scenic lakes, only a few more difficult than average portages. From sawbill, one could do this loop in two days if they really pushed it but its probably better to do it in three days. My brother and I did it mostly in two days and spent our third day hanging at camp and fishing, then paddling from smoke out through baker. And we did it with rain/wind the first day and high winds the second day. You will encounter plenty of beaver dams along this route so plan your travel time for that.

Jwart-yes, I had read that report a few months ago, sounds like and adventure. I wish time would allow for me to be more so like that. You have some balls and skills.

I think I have settled on my original plan, but run it counter clockwise-Sawbill, up Temperance to Brule, Cones, Davis, Long, Cherokee and home. I hope to put in the afternoon on Thursday and take out Sunday b/f noon. If Brule looks poor and running this direction should help, I'll flex up to Long through Cherokee and do some exploring on smaller lakes. Possibly keep going north toward Snipe?

The pack is packed (I need to put it on a scale) but it is light. Possibly less than 30 without water. Looks like the coming weekend will be a bit chilly.

Here is your route.....with a little side trip into Frost. Davis/Frost loop

Cowdoc-Another great report and one I had read recently. The only one of this route I could find. It was here that I thought of the counter-clockwise to cruse with the wind on Brule if necessary.

Depending on time, you gave me the idea of doing a namesake trip to Finn. I'll need to be way ahead of schedule and its likely a pie in the sky that will be for another day. I may be able to explore Finn creek from the west off Long, we will see. A side trip to Frost certainly looks like it would be worth the effort.

Thanks for the input and the great report. Nice pics to go along with it.

I have a report from a trip out of sawbill. Starting out heading north then west down louse river. Head south at Malberg and back to Sawbill via the Lday Chain. That is about three full days of travel.

From what I've read, Finn Creek is not navigable and this would be more true at the moment with low water levels. I should say....it may be slightly navigable from the Finn Lake side...but travel through to Long Island didnt seem possible.

Old thread on Finn Creek

jfinn-
I didn't think your tone was pompous or too full of yourself. If you are an endurance athlete or traveler I think you could do any of those routes in 3 days quite easily- providing the weather is fine. On fair days it is easy to paddle for 10 hours or more and not feel taxed. But if the wind is up and howling - it's another story as you know. I've doen 20 mile days and felt fine, and others 9 was all I could manage and completely spent after paddling into strong headwinds all day.
Get on the water early - between 7 and 8 and off by 3:30 or 4.
Paddle big water like Brule early in the am to avoid wind. You know this already.
I just paddled the full length of Brule east to west on a dead clam day - it took 2 hrs. I was amazed at my progress.
The Temperance River route takes longer than you'd think just due to the beaver dam pull overs. The portages at Town, Cam and the cones are very rocky so best to take care and slow down in those areas.