BWCA too long or too short solitude time? Boundary Waters Group Forum: Solo Tripping
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   Group Forum: Solo Tripping
      too long or too short solitude time?     

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Rambler_Dog
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02/24/2013 09:37AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I get two weeks of vacations in a year. One week is planned by the wife. The other week is spent on home improvement/ car repair/ fishing/hunting and canoe trip ( it is sad ). I have not been to bwca for some years now. I want to a do a solo trip to avoid the group trip complication ( I actually cancelled my last trip because I couldn't handle planning for the group any more). My previous trip has always been 4 days trips. But reading some of the posting in this form, it seems as solo tripper prefer longer trip. I am trying to decide on treating myself to either a week long trip or a 4 day trip. The time would be either memorial week or fishing opener. I love to hear your feedback.
 
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dentondoc
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02/24/2013 10:51AM  
My shortest trip thus far has been 10 days, but then it is a 2 day drive each way for me to reach the north woods. My normal (on water) trip duration is more like 2 weeks. My profession has allowed me the luxury of ample time off to do such things and still have time for family vacation. Now retired ... I also have a lot more flexibility for scheduling trips.

But here's the deal. I physically reach canoe country on the 1st day. I don't mentally reach canoe country until the 3rd day. That's when my mental state gets into "nature's rhythm." Then about a day before I start toward my exit point, I start to "layer up" like an onion again. So for me, anything shorter than about a week would never get me to the point of getting "nature's high." However, I do think you get there a little quicker when you solo rather than go with a group.

dd
 
02/24/2013 10:52AM  

As far as planning group trips and/or having time restrictions for vacation time, I feel your pain!

I don't know that there's any predetermined trip length for a "Quetico-Superior" solo canoe trip, or a group trip for that matter, but longer is usually better, IMHO.

It seems it takes a day or two until a person can "reset" the brain and get into the rhythm of a canoe trip. At least that's how it is for me. Having a week or more just seems more fulfilling and allows you more time to travel deep into "Quetico-Superior Country". This is especially true if you're planning a trip in Quetico Provincial Park.

In Quetico, it takes a day or two in-order to venture across the larger lakes that dominate most of the Entry Points, and then travel deep into the Park. That said, four days doesn't seem sufficient for a Quetico canoe trip.

In the BWCAW, not so much. With less drive time, you can get to the BWCAW more quickly, depending on where you live. Also, because there are more Entry Point options, and smaller lakes to begin your trip in the BWCAW, you can usually get deeper into the wilderness with less time. Although you'll most likely be "sharing" the wilderness with more people in the BWCAW. But, I'm sure you're aware of most of this.

If you're just planning to go a few lakes in and base camp, four days seems like less of an issue, especially in the BWCAW. But, if you're like me and enjoy putting some miles under your belt, then a week or more is preferred.

I especially enjoy Kevin Callan's "Wilderness Quest" video, which he released last year. In the video, Kevin makes a point about having at least a week or more to immerse yourself in Quetico Provincial Park to fully appreciate the experience and your surroundings. I couldn't agree more.

But, if all you have is four days for a canoe trip, four days in "Quetico-Superior Country" is still better than four days at work. :-)

Hans Solo
 
bwcasolo
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02/24/2013 11:22AM  
if you choose an early trip, say mid may, or a later trip, say late sept., regardless of your length of stay, you can have an ultimate solitude trip, regarding where you enter(less popular) entry points. just do it man and have the trip of your life!
life is too short!
 
yellowcanoe
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02/24/2013 11:37AM  
Soloing is not a popularity competition. So consider what is best for you. May could be miserable snowy and wet..or glorious..do you shine in lousy weather?

How far is the drive (as mentioned? I think you need a trip to drive ratio of over 3 to 1 to make the outing meaningful.

I do lots of two week solos but also a fair number of 3-5 night ones. I can start right from home but usually its a three hour drive for those short solos. Usually in May I am more conservative in how long I am out. I don't suffer from being in a city ratrace so the tempo of a trip is the same as at home.

It does take me a day to get my organization down pat..re portaging. Its amazing..every year I go through the same messy process.
 
02/24/2013 11:47AM  
If it's your first solo you could do a 4 nighter. I used to do 7 nights but went up to 9 the last few times. My only advice is to not basecamp and to be careful where you step. Oh, and never take a risk no matter what it is you are doing. Always opt for the safer way to do things. And go as light as comfortably possible.

There, that about covers it. Best of luck and write up a trip report with pics ok?



 
sunnybear09
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02/24/2013 12:16PM  
Considering what a thrill it will be to enjoy the BW on your own, a 4 day trip is almost over before it begins! The first day is taken up by getting to your launch, loading up, getting to the BW limit and getting a feel for being alone. The last day is all about the disappointment of having to leave, and reversing the getting in process. Try to get atleast 6 days to trip. A day in, a day out, and 4 solid days to get your wilderness mellow on. I never try to go less than 8 days if I can help it, but I live 1400 miles from the BW so I have to justify the drive by staying longer (heh, heh!). And if you like to fish you need time to find them, find them active, and fish different spots. Sounds like you have every reason to treat yourself anyway. And the wife will probably enjoy having you gone, once the resentment wears off!
 
02/24/2013 12:33PM  
quote yellowcanoe:

It does take me a day to get my organization down pat..re portaging. Its amazing..every year I go through the same messy process."


Wow, and here I thought I was the only one that went through this! :-)

Hans Solo
 
02/24/2013 12:53PM  
Rambler_Dog: Plan for a week long trip and stay that long if you wish, you can always head home early. Or come out after a few days and enjoy camping at different places on the way home.

butthead
 
02/24/2013 08:44PM  
I go for the longer trip for the reasons mentioned - I have a long drive; it takes a while to get back into the rhythm of paddling, portaging, and camping; plus on a short trip a couple of days of real bad weather and you really haven't had much of a trip. I like 8-10 days in the woods.

Solo planning is a lot easier and...so is solo tripping :). Unless you're one of those guys like me who argues with himself.

Plan for the whole week, Rambler Dog, and keep ramblin' on. As noted, you can always come out earlier if you want.
 
02/27/2013 10:42AM  
I think 4-5 nights is a minimum. 3 would do in a pinch.
the top end just comes down to how much time you have or how long you feel comfortable by yourself. Or, how much food you can carry with you.
 
karlwithak
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02/27/2013 06:51PM  
quote butthead: "Rambler_Dog: Plan for a week long trip and stay that long if you wish, you can always head home early. Or come out after a few days and enjoy camping at different places on the way home.


butthead"


Butthead hit it right on the head, (no pun intended) if at all possible, take at least a week....you won't come out early.
 
03/03/2013 03:16PM  
Just be careful... Soloing is addicting... I've done some shorter ones, but generally like the 10 day trips the best. My last one was forty days... I've concluded that might be a little long. But I enjoyed it all the way to day 40. That being said... Doing a group solo has filled the bill a few times too. Everyone brings their own stuff and if someone backs out or needs to do whatever there's a lot of flexibility.
 
03/04/2013 09:44AM  
quote HansSolo: "
quote yellowcanoe:


It does take me a day to get my organization down pat..re portaging. Its amazing..every year I go through the same messy process."



Wow, and here I thought I was the only one that went through this! :-)


Hans Solo"


nope, me also. i've come to accept that on the first day everything will be a disorganized mess, no matter how carefully i packed at the entry point.

at the first nights camp, as you are repacking, things fall magically in place. i blame most of this on my excitement to get the h away from my car and all of the people at the entry point.
 
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