I am planning a Solo trip this fall and just wondering what the average speed of travel is for people. How many miles do you do in a day (paddling & Portaging) and in what time frame.

I am looking at about 7-10 miles a day and spending not more than 4-6 hours traveling a day.

I know group travel can be much slower than solo but just curious on travel speed. I do plan on single portaging.

Does this sound realistic to those that try to cover miles during their trip?

See detailed reply in trip planning forum. I should add that I'm not usually trying to cover miles, but for the miles I cover, that's about average.

I have added my trip route details to the same question posted in the Trip Planning Forum. go there to see detailed route info.

thanks,

I looked at it - sounds like a good plan. You can't control the weather - you just have to work around it.

What is your entry date?

I've found that sometimes in Sept. the prevailing winds don't prevail if there's a lot of tropical storm activity. Then you sometimes get winds out of the east/southeast.

A you taking a weather radio?

I really recommend getting a small weather radio - it was great to have on my first solo last fall. I got one of these and it worked great & is super small!

http://www.ambientweather.com/amws090.html

I tend to travel faster when solo, my canoe is more efficient when its just me. GPS says I cruise between 3-4 mph.

I also tend to travel farther each day when solo, I do this for a couple reasons...

1) My campsite requirements are not as important as when traveling with a group. I hammock camp so 2 trees works for me. I rarely build a fire on solo trips.

2) I also would rather spend my day on the water, rather than sitting in camp. I usually just pull off on an island to relax & eat lunch then travel on... do the same thing at supper & then just pull in some place sting my hammock & go to bed... only meal ate in camp is breakfast.

I am a slow poke I guess! I can paddle 3 mph avg for some time, like an hour or so. But to keep that pace is not realistic FOR ME, it may be for you younger folk, I think a more realistic pace is 2 mph. When you stop to think that you may see a moose, take some pictures, take a break to stretch your legs, have a lunch break, see a pictograph, stop to read the map, look for a portage, I think a more realistic Average is 2 mph.

SunCatcher

I like the thought of a weather radio. I know there have been past forum post on the subject, any recommendations.

I am planning on going late August possibly first part of September. Business gets crazy at the hotel after that until late October. I figure if i go when it is just a little warmer I might be able to shave a little weight by a slightly lighter clothing choice.

I have and use a small,inexpensive Midland weather radio which operates on batteries. It's about the size and weight (~5 oz) of a deck of cards and pulls in the nearest NOAA station. It's only a weather radio though, not AM/FM, or anything else, but that's all I wanted. I've had reception everywhere I've been except in the Alder Lake region - maybe due to the topography...?

BtW, on average it's warmer in early Sept, but the highs and lows can still be highly variable. Here is a link to averages and records. It's best to adjust to the weather the night before you enter rather than when you pack to leave home ;). Even then, you're going to be in for 12 days and it's hard to tell about the weather at the end of your trip when you enter. Don't discount the wind chill factor either. And take enough in case of a dump on a cold, windy day.