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06/04/2013 07:23PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
So what is it that attracts you to the solo experience in the BW...?

Yeah, the planning is simpler, but the execution can be a little more work. I can change the plan without discussion, dally without feeling like I'm holding up someone else, or keep going without pushing someone else too hard. I don't have to push on if I'm too tired. I can eat when I want, travel when I want, sleep when I want, and sit and do nothing when I want. I can live according to my clock. I can think and experience the world without interruption.

Life is simplified and I am freed from the distractions, the interruptions, the responsibilities of my day-to-day life. There comes a time when I slip out of the past and future and enter the here and now. I simply experience the natural world.

There are a couple of videos I watch frequently. They are only about 4 minutes apiece, but they sum up the experience. The scenery, the pacing, the music, the lack of narration evoke the feeling I'm seeking. There's a stillness, a primordial beauty and grandeur that evokes awe reverence and serenity.

BW Part 1

BW Part 2

BW

So, what do you seek from the BW solo experience?

BTW, turn on your audio, then open to full-screen (they're in HD).
 
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06/04/2013 07:58PM  
It looks as though you hit it right on the head. That pretty much sums up why I like to solo.

Edit: Great videos. I want to go back in the late fall. It's beautiful.
 
06/04/2013 08:27PM  
For me, the experience also involves the passing of time while I drive 2,000 miles in each direction. Since the driving adds a week and is half the trip, it is not insignificant.
I can choose which audio books or courses to which I want to listen. I often make little side trips to see museums or little towns off the beaten track and do not have to consult with others in order to do so.
I can eat when and where I am hungry. I can stop and take a nap in the shade at a rest stop without driving someone else crazy. I can drive the route I have chosen or change course on a whim. I can determine at what time I want to quit driving and spend the night.
Being retired, a tight schedule in not a requirement for me but would be in the case of my friends and relatives.
It is just so much easier to plan a 2-week solo trip (I am not going to drive a 4,000 mile round trip and stay only 4 days) that it is just the path of least resistance. I once planned the same trip for 4 people and that was just aggravating.
Group interactions will either comfort or aggravate. You sometimes can't predict which. Solo always works.
If I lived outside of Ely, I would try different group combinations. Two-thousand miles distant, I am more cautious.
 
OBX2Kayak
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06/04/2013 08:59PM  
Wish I could find the words to explain it. It's just sublime.
 
06/04/2013 09:11PM  
sometimes i just need to get away from the old lady for a while. ;-)
 
06/04/2013 09:41PM  
Sierra1- It's beautiful in the fall...if you get indian summer. Sometimes you get cold, wet, and windy though.

Jeriatric- I can relate to that since I travel 1,250 miles to get there and I enjoy that part of my trip too. I also take 2 weeks - it's just too far to cram it all in one week and then just have a short trip anyway. And there's too much chance of only having bad weather while in the BW.

OBX2Kayak- sublime is a pretty good word to sum it up succinctly.

kanoes- There's always that, too - plus she seems more than happy to get a break from me :).
 
06/05/2013 01:54AM  
Its all that and more. And also less. I don't go solo to necessarily get away from others, but yet it is just because of others that I go solo.

Reflecting on a solo, I think it is more about not being distracted or interrupted during thought and reflection. A chance to really iron your soul out and reflect on something...or nothing. And the wilderness is the only place man can nurture his spirit. There is something deeply rooted in our soul that only wilderness can awaken.

In essence it is freedom personified.

And it is about the challenge of self reliance. Having the confidence and knowledge to overcome any challenge. Alone. And essentially hoping such challenge presents itself so that your fortitude is truly tested.

And within every solo canoeist is a warrior spirit. A soul that yearns for the challenge. Sometimes it is a spark, and in some it is a bright flame. But it's always there.
 
06/05/2013 09:02AM  
quote Exo: "Its all that and more. And also less. I don't go solo to necessarily get away from others, but yet it is just because of others that I go solo.


Reflecting on a solo, I think it is more about not being distracted or interrupted during thought and reflection. A chance to really iron your soul out and reflect on something...or nothing. And the wilderness is the only place man can nurture his spirit. There is something deeply rooted in our soul that only wilderness can awaken.


"


Yes, that's a lot of what it is for me, too.
 
ZaraSp00k
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06/05/2013 11:10AM  
what everybody else said

plus, when I go solo and meet other paddlers, they seem much more eager to talk or even invite me to their camp or lend a hand on the portage.

It's pretty cool to be out in the wilderness for a couple days without seeing someone, and then you bump into someone and they carry one of your packs across a portage, or offer you something to eat or drink, or just talk

that rarely happens when I'm in a group
 
06/05/2013 11:22AM  
quote ZaraSp00k: "what everybody else said


plus, when I go solo and meet other paddlers, they seem much more eager to talk or even invite me to their camp or lend a hand on the portage.


It's pretty cool to be out in the wilderness for a couple days without seeing someone, and then you bump into someone and they carry one of your packs across a portage, or offer you something to eat or drink, or just talk


that rarely happens when I'm in a group"




You nailed a great point... You have a better chance of interacting with others when solo. It's such a laid back way of approaching the whole experience. I don't get a lot of help on the portages, but I'm not looking for that. But I like to help others and it's fun to mingle with like minded people a little. Man, I wish this belly of mine would heal up so I could get back out there. All this talk is getting me primed to go.
 
06/05/2013 12:21PM  

Not much I can add to what you've detailed in your post boonie. That pretty much sums it up.

Hans Solo
 
06/05/2013 06:04PM  
Zara- I've never been in a big enough group (just tandem) that people didn't seem to want to interact, but I have noticed that when I meet bigger groups, most of them don't really interact with me - there's usually one or two who might, but not all of them. I hadn't ever really thought about that until you mentioned it.
 
06/05/2013 06:07PM  
quote HansSolo: "
Not much I can add to what you've detailed in your post boonie. That pretty much sums it up.

Hans Solo"


Come on Hans - you've done a lot of them and we all know this "laconic" isn't your normal style ;)
 
06/05/2013 08:03PM  

quote boonie: "
quote HansSolo: "
Not much I can add to what you've detailed in your post boonie. That pretty much sums it up.

Hans Solo"


Come on Hans - you've done a lot of them and we all know this "laconic" isn't your normal style ;)"


:-)

Boonie, you definitely brought a smile to my face when I read your reply above. A man of few words I'm not.

But seriously, you've covered most everything that's great about solo tripping so well, anything I could say at this point would be redundant.

Nicely done Sir!

If there's something that occurs to me later, that you or the others have omitted, I'll make sure to reply back. Still, you've practically left me speechless, which is hard to do. :-)

Hans Solo
 
06/05/2013 09:14PM  
You guys nailed it real well. I think I spoiled something for myself when I started to really like going solo around 2001. I did two solos before that but was making mistakes and still had the heebee jeebees of being alone.

The last two years I've been solo and just love it so much I almost don't want to take the chance on being aggravated by a group anymore. I only get one trip per year now so would most likely change my mind on this once I retire from work and go more frequently.

But now, everything that Boonie mentions is what I truly enjoy. It gets me through the tough days at work to think about my upcoming trip. Right now going solo is a huge part of who I am as a person although a lot of people I know don't realize that at all.

 
06/05/2013 11:14PM  

quote TomT:

Right now going solo is a huge part of who I am as a person although a lot of people I know don't realize that at all.

"


Wow, great addition Tom! I wish I'd thought of that. Then I would have had something to add and boonie wouldn't have thought I was copping out on his initial post. LOL

Actually, I think it's one of those subconscious things I take for granted. Then again, maybe not. My passion for solo tripping is what I tried to incorporate into my screen name and my bwca.com identity. :-)

Hans Solo
 
06/06/2013 06:39AM  
Thanks for the compliment Hans. I've been meaning to ask you about your solo in 1986. I met someone on my way out who was solo in a very short canoe. Said he was going for 3 weeks then going down the Mississippi to Savanah Il. I recollect he looked very similar to you. This was a trip off the gunflint that year. Could it have been you?

 
Mort
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06/06/2013 08:15AM  
I think solo tripping provides an opportunity for us to unashamedly claim and feed the introverted side of ourselves (which I believe we all have). Our fast moving, competitive, and thrill seeking culture does not honor this introverted aspect and our need to nurture it, so we need to be intentional about taking the initiative to find ways to promote it in our lives, ...i.e. self-care.
I believe it also helps to "scratch the itch" of our spirituality that some people may not find easy to claim and honor in other more conventional ways.
 
06/06/2013 09:23AM  
quote Mort: "I think solo tripping provides an opportunity for us to unashamedly claim and feed the introverted side of ourselves (which I believe we all have). Our fast moving, competitive, and thrill seeking culture does not honor this introverted aspect and our need to nurture it, so we need to be intentional about taking the initiative to find ways to promote it in our lives, ...i.e. self-care.
I believe it also helps to "scratch the itch" of our spirituality that some people may not find easy to claim and honor in other more conventional ways. "


Well put.
 
06/06/2013 10:45AM  

quote TomT: "Thanks for the compliment Hans. I've been meaning to ask you about your solo in 1986. I met someone on my way out who was solo in a very short canoe. Said he was going for 3 weeks then going down the Mississippi to Savanah Il. I recollect he looked very similar to you. This was a trip off the Gunflint that year. Could it have been you? "


It wasn't me Tom, although my September 1986 solo trip was off of the Gunflint Trail. (I put-in on Poplar Lake for that trip.)

At that time, and on that trip, I was paddling a Sawyer DY Special, (16' 8"), and traveling with my English Setter. If we had crossed paths, the pictures below is how I would have appeared at that time.

Hans Solo

 
06/06/2013 10:00PM  
TomT- I can relate. Some of my early solo trips weren't so smooth, but I'm more comfortable with the way I do them now.

Mort- a very good insight. I often get the impression that many people in the general population can't understand why anyone would want to be alone, especially for an extended period of time. Even on the general forums here, it sometimes seems there are those who almost think we soloists are anti-social.
 
06/06/2013 10:09PM  
Here's another thought I had about how a BW solo is different from my day-to-day life - I get to own time instead of it owning me.
 
06/06/2013 11:07PM  
quote boonie: Mort- a very good insight. I often get the impression that many people in the general population can't understand why anyone would want to be alone, especially for an extended period of time. Even on the general forums here, it sometimes seems there are those who almost think we soloists are anti-social. "


I also don't think the general population knows how many of us are out there. I get the feeling that my extended family thinks I'm the only one who goes on solo trips. I'm just a wack job in their eyes. A black sheep maybe, but not a wack job. :)

 
06/06/2013 11:15PM  

OK, now that this thread has taken a more philosophical turn, a few thoughts come to mind.

For me, solo tripping was just a natural progression in my life. I was raised as an only child, well almost. My only sibling, my sister who is 15-years my senior, moved out when I was fairly young. My parents both worked full time, so I had a lot of ME time at an early age.

Because of my family structure, I became rather independent. I had to figure out, or do a lot of things by myself. I had plenty of friends, but even then, there were times where I'd rather be on my own, doing my own thing.

After I married, my mother-in-law, (who comes from a large Italian family), would remark; "Wasn't it lonely growing up alone!" Lonely!? Alone!? There's a difference between being alone, and being lonely. To this day, that's a concept I don't think she could ever understand, no matter how I tried to explain it to her.

Most people also don't understand why I don't partake in all the "normal" activities other Wisconsinites engage in, (i.e., golfing, water skiing, snowmobiling, going to Florida in the winter, or even deer hunting.)

My neighbors can't grasp why I have a garage filled with canoes, kayaks and bicycles either. So I'm accustomed to others not fully understanding what I'm all about, or my motivations.

I guess I'm just weird! :-)

Hans Solo
 
06/07/2013 06:52AM  
Go solo or share the trip, in my mind it is more about how well I work with the other(s). I stopped going to the BWCA because I could not find anyone I could trip with. Got back into it as a solo adventure and I have only shared one trip since. Introducing my son when he was 12 and my nephew last year and my first trip with Hal were some of the best. Last fall's solo and a Kawnipi loop were awesome solos.

Attachment, the way we connect with others, is core to my work as a clinical social worker. I often use the story about how one eye can see things the other can't, but the real value is depth perception when they work together; and the curse of craziness when they don't. The same is true for two "I's".

I think one of the bonding opportunities of the BWCA is learning to share the tandem canoe and get it to go where you want. I suspect the alternate experience is why many of us go solo.
 
Mort
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06/07/2013 07:42AM  
quote HansSolo: "
OK, now that this thread has taken a more philosophical turn, a few thoughts come to mind.

For me, solo tripping was just a natural progression in my life. I was raised as an only child, well almost. My only sibling, my sister who is 15-years my senior, moved out when I was fairly young. My parents both worked full time, so I had a lot of ME time at an early age.

Because of my family structure, I became rather independent. I had to figure out, or do a lot of things by myself. I had plenty of friends, but even then, there were times where I'd rather be on my own, doing my own thing.

After I married, my mother-in-law, (who comes from a large Italian family), would remark; "Wasn't it lonely growing up alone!" Lonely!? Alone!? There's a difference between being alone, and being lonely. To this day, that's a concept I don't think she could ever understand, no matter how I tried to explain it to her.

Most people also don't understand why I don't partake in all the "normal" activities other Wisconsinites engage in, (i.e., golfing, water skiing, snowmobiling, going to Florida in the winter, or even deer hunting.)

My neighbors can't grasp why I have a garage filled with canoes, kayaks and bicycles either. So I'm accustomed to others not fully understanding what I'm all about, or my motivations.

I guess I'm just weird! :-)

Hans Solo"


As Kelly Clarkson sings: "Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone."
 
hobbydog
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06/07/2013 02:46PM  
quote OBX2Kayak: "Wish I could find the words to explain it. It's just sublime."


This is the description of a core value. It is who you are and that is something you can't explain.

A good topic. Not much to add. As stated, I am an introvert in an extrovert world. Although I would say not all or even most soloists are introverts. I am also a risk taker and soloing gives that side of me an outlet.

I do have some guilt in doing it as I know my wife and family, while supportive, have to live with it. My wife does understand more than anyone that these trips are what nourish my soul....not just the trip itself but the future personal goals I set for myself.

Solo tripping has also put physical well being into focus as I get older and it has helped me get in shape and stay in shape.



 
06/07/2013 03:12PM  

quote hobbydog: "Solo tripping has also put physical well being into focus as I get older and it has helped me get in shape and stay in shape."


Absolutely hobbydog!

Hans Solo
 
06/07/2013 09:10PM  
I guess I'm just weird! :-)


Hans-

When I was young, I had friends I played games with, did things with, played team sports, etc, but I was also interested in things they weren't. So I spent a lot of time in the woods and on the water alone. I was always a little different from others; they always seemed a little weird. This was confirmed in middle age when I had the opportunity to take one of those tests that divides people up into four groups that fall into a bell curve distribution where 96% are arrayed in the center with 2% on each end. So it was confirmed that 96% of people were weird, 2% were weird as hell, and 2% were normal like me. Which one of those weirdo groups do you fall into...? :)
 
missmolly
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06/07/2013 10:46PM  
There's also the reliability factor. Team trips require reliable folks and those folks are rare.

I bought a new house and it's so hard to get workmen to to fulfill their promises.

I no longer want to hear anyone say, "It'll be done," 'cause that's followed by excuses as to why it wasn't done.

So, I'm thinking I'm going to learn some building skills to be free of "It'll be done."

Soloing frees us of "I'll be there."
 
OBX2Kayak
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06/07/2013 11:58PM  
quote missmolly: "There's also the reliability factor. Team trips require reliable folks and those folks are rare.


I bought a new house and it's so hard to get workmen to to fulfill their promises.


I no longer want to hear anyone say, "It'll be done," 'cause that's followed by excuses as to why it wasn't done.


So, I'm thinking I'm going to learn some building skills to be free of "It'll be done."


Soloing frees us of "I'll be there.""

LOL! After thirty years as a consulting actuary, I bought a home improvement firm (e.g. building contractor). After ten years I got totally fed up with all the babysitting for workers and having to make excuses to customers for them not doing their work on time.

Sorry you had a bad experience with your contractors but, I'm not surprised.
 
armydaddy
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06/08/2013 05:29PM  
Hey boonie, great post! You did a fantastic job putting into words why you/we solo...

In addition to what you listed, a big reason why I solo is because a lot of people DO NOT! Just the face people make when I explain to them my solo trips make me happy happy happy. Nothing better than putting in a hard days work of paddling and portaging, all without the inevitable WHINE from others. I hope to be healthy enough to solo for years and years to come....and the looks I get from others will never grow old! ;)
 
06/08/2013 08:19PM  
quote missmolly: "There's also the reliability factor. Team trips require reliable folks and those folks are rare.

Soloing frees us of "I'll be there.""


Reliable, available, compatible - and even when those are met, the bottom line is "no two bladders have the schedule". :). But it's easier to enjoy the wait in the BW than it is at the gas station ;).
 
06/08/2013 08:23PM  
amydaddy- I do have to admit a certain smug satisfaction when I tell people I'm going deep and going solo.

However, I'm a lot older and people don't go with me because they're tired of waiting for me and listening to my moaning, groaning, and whining ;). Nobody complains about it when I'm solo.

I hope you have many healthy years left to solo, but don't pass up any opportunities.
 
06/08/2013 08:44PM  
I'm surprised there hasn't been more mention of doing it for the challenge, but when I stop to think about it - I accept the challenges to reap the other rewards; I don't do it for the challenge. That's not to say there's no satisfaction in meeting those challenges, just that they aren't my primary reason.

Mostly I've been doing things alone most of my life because others weren't interested or weren't available. I was either do them alone or don't do them and I really wanted to do them. Maybe it's that many people's primary motivation for doing things is the social activity rather than the specific thing they're doing. I'm the other way.
 
missmolly
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06/08/2013 09:41PM  
quote OBX2Kayak: "
quote missmolly: "There's also the reliability factor. Team trips require reliable folks and those folks are rare.



I bought a new house and it's so hard to get workmen to to fulfill their promises.



I no longer want to hear anyone say, "It'll be done," 'cause that's followed by excuses as to why it wasn't done.



So, I'm thinking I'm going to learn some building skills to be free of "It'll be done."



Soloing frees us of "I'll be there.""

LOL! After thirty years as a consulting actuary, I bought a home improvement firm (e.g. building contractor). After ten years I got totally fed up with all the babysitting for workers and having to make excuses to customers for them not doing their work on time.

Sorry you had a bad experience with your contractors but, I'm not surprised."


That actually comforts me.
 
06/09/2013 01:16AM  
When all is said and done I think one of the real reasons I solo is to prove to myself that I can do it and do it well enough to do it again and again. Call it challenging myself or whatever, I do it to show myself I can. I've done plenty of group trips in the past but solos put the impetuous on me to do everything alone. I like that. And I like the looks I get from those who think I'm crazy to do anything as foolish as traveling solo in the BWCA.
 
06/09/2013 01:45AM  

quote boonie: "I'm surprised there hasn't been more mention of doing it for the challenge"


I haven't mentioned it being a challenge boonie, because I never really considered it to be a challenge.

Personally, putting up with a group of people for a week or more on a wilderness canoe trip is far more challenging IMO! :-)

Hans Solo
 
06/09/2013 07:08AM  
quote HansSolo: "
quote boonie: "I'm surprised there hasn't been more mention of doing it for the challenge"


Personally, putting up with a group of people for a week of more on a wilderness canoe trip is far more challenging IMO! :-)

Hans Solo"


Rings true for me too.
 
ZaraSp00k
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06/09/2013 02:31PM  
quote HansSolo: "
quote boonie: "I'm surprised there hasn't been more mention of doing it for the challenge"


I haven't mentioned it being a challenge boonie, because I never really considered it to be a challenge.

Personally, putting up with a group of people for a week or more on a wilderness canoe trip is far more challenging IMO! :-)

Hans Solo"

+1

part of the reason people paddle in the wilderness is to get away from it all, hard to get away from it all when you bring it with you
 
06/10/2013 02:51PM  
I'm working myself up to my first solo now, and am attracted to it for many of the reasons stated here.

I like having time to myself, I need time alone to recharge and reset my mind to deal with people. It's not at all that I am anti-social or dislike people, I just really enjoy my own company sometimes!
I am the only one that almost always understands where I am coming from, and doesn't mind all of my random bitching and moaning. :)

Generally, my wife doesn't understand my need to get outdoors, or take long camping trips. Most of my friends are the same. The couple that get it don't often have the time, resources or proximity, so it's almost becoming a matter of necessity that I take a solo!

It's gotten way worse in the last year. I had a 15+ year gap between trips north and the rekindled sickness is way stronger because of the amount of time in between. Getting back was WAY better than looking at old pics. :)

 
06/10/2013 03:10PM  
bfurlow-

I also find myself endlessly amusing and entertaining ;).

Seriously though, I've always done quite a few things alone so I'm comfortable with that.

I mostly do my BW trips solo out of necessity, although I do like the solo trips. It's just mostly impossible to find anyone whose available long enough and at the right time to make it worthwhile.

Yeah, I know - so many lakes, so little time (somebody's signature line) :).
 
06/10/2013 04:08PM  
quote boonie: "bfurlow-


I also find myself endlessly amusing and entertaining ;).


Seriously though, I've always done quite a few things alone so I'm comfortable with that."


Same here - started with weird looks going to catch a movie or dinner alone and expanded to long cross-country trips and camping adventures.
While I love the shared experience and memories that comes from tripping with others, there is a different satisfaction in knowing I had a singular experience.
 
06/10/2013 06:38PM  
Plus you can share it here, bfurlow, and others can enjoy it vicariously.

There are often movies I want to see that my wife doesn't, so...I go alone. No problem.

Oddly enough, I've found that most members of my family have little interest in hearing about my solo trips. Some will enjoy a few pictures, but people here are much more interested in hearing about it.
 
OBX2Kayak
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06/10/2013 06:45PM  
Long ago I learned that people just are not interested in hearing about my trips so I do not even try anymore. I keep the pleasure to myself.
 
06/10/2013 06:47PM  

quote boonie: "I also find myself endlessly amusing and entertaining ;)."


Why does boonie's quote above remind me of an Ian Hunter album title? :-)

"You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic"

Hans Solo

 
06/10/2013 08:26PM  
quote HansSolo: "
quote boonie: "I also find myself endlessly amusing and entertaining ;)."


Why does boonie's quote above remind me of an Ian Hunter album title? :-)

"You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic"

Hans Solo


"


:) Maybe that's why I rarely feel lonely when I'm alone.

The key to enjoying your first solo: develop multiple personalities.
 
06/10/2013 08:37PM  
quote OBX2Kayak: "Long ago I learned that people just are not interested in hearing about my trips so I do not even try anymore. I keep the pleasure to myself."


Yeah, I usually make a DVD slide show with any video I took of my trip but only play it for myself and my wife. She is polite and will watch it but others... forget about it. I remember about 5 years ago putting in my trip DVD when my parents were over and my Mom just started some other random conversation during it not even bothering to watch. Oh well...

Hey, my wife made me very happy yesterday at her Dad's house. My trips came up and she explained that "He just needs to take those trips and I understand that. It's something he needs to do"

I love my wife. :)

 
06/11/2013 07:03AM  
Yeah, most of my family were polite about the first one, but interest has tailed off dramatically since then...:). I think it's just more of the same that they really don't have any connection to.

Mom always looks at all the pictures and listens (I know she does because she even asks questions!) But you know how Moms are...

The people that seem most interested are the people here and I'm not sure how many on the site are interested in solo trip reports...?

 
06/11/2013 06:54PM  
quote boonie:
The people that seem most interested are the people here and I'm not sure how many on the site are interested in solo trip reports...?


"


I'm usually fascinated the most by solo trips. I know I take more detailed notes in a journal when solo vs. with a group and that leads to a better report I think.

 
OBX2Kayak
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06/11/2013 08:38PM  
quote TomT: "
quote OBX2Kayak: "Long ago I learned that people just are not interested in hearing about my trips so I do not even try anymore. I keep the pleasure to myself."




Hey, my wife made me very happy yesterday at her Dad's house. My trips came up and she explained that "He just needs to take those trips and I understand that. It's something he needs to do"


I love my wife. :)"


TomT -- You are a very lucky man!
 
Minnesotian
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06/11/2013 11:06PM  

I also have encountered the same thing where people are just not intrested in my trips. I have gotten used to it and purely enjoy them for myself now, at least I try.
Maybe I will type up my first trip report after my next solo, depending on how much I want to brag. :)
 
06/12/2013 12:10PM  
Why I like the solo experience, Freedom to do what I want When I want, not being restricted to somebody else's time frame for vacation time, I can flex my vacation as needed, I don't like whiner's when I'm on a trip and yes it's happened and it makes the trip way less fun, I'm not a big traveler but like to explore where ever I end up, a plan and time doesn't really matter when I'm out, I think more safety when I'm alone, fishing is a must but not a 24/7 thing and taking lots of pictures to get maybe the perfect picture like this. This picture was 1 minute into my trip.
 
06/12/2013 09:12PM  
quote Minnesotian: "
I also have encountered the same thing where people are just not intrested in my trips. I have gotten used to it and purely enjoy them for myself now, at least I try.
Maybe I will type up my first trip report after my next solo, depending on how much I want to brag. :)"


Please do type up your trip report - you'll find a ready audience here. I wonder how many people have started thinking about doing a solo trip because of reading about them...? It seems like more and more people thinking about doing solo trips.
 
06/12/2013 09:15PM  
housty9- It sounds like you have a lot of the same motivations as most of us. You've done how many solos now? Two? And you're planning an even longer one next time, right?
 
06/13/2013 08:01AM  
quote boonie: "housty9- It sounds like you have a lot of the same motivations as most of us. You've done how many solos now? Two? And you're planning an even longer one next time, right?"
Yes 2, looking at 9 nights next spring and taking the wife this fall for 4 or 5 nights, I'm going to travel further on my next solo I had a bit of a bum knee this spring so I didn't want to over work it.
 
06/13/2013 08:30AM  
quote housty9: "
quote boonie: "housty9- It sounds like you have a lot of the same motivations as most of us. You've done how many solos now? Two? And you're planning an even longer one next time, right?"
Yes 2, looking at 9 nights next spring and taking the wife this fall for 4 or 5 nights, I'm going to travel further on my next solo I had a bit of a bum knee this spring so I didn't want to over work it. "


I like the 7-10 days trips - then you can travel some, but still be relaxed about it. Where are planning to go? Or am I the only one that starts thinking about it a year or more ahead...?
 
06/13/2013 12:22PM  
I'm thinking maybe the Mudro area, but that gets kinda busy, other wise I'm heading to the east side somewhere, I don't think it's as busy over there, this fall the wife and me are going to try that area for the first time.
 
DaBurgh
member (25)member
  
06/20/2013 10:45AM  
5 days and only seeing people on day 1, PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOing back in the fall. Thanks Boonie!
 
06/20/2013 11:12AM  

quote DaBurgh: "5 days and only seeing people on day 1, PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOing back in the fall. Thanks Boonie!"


Only seeing people on Day #1? Where was your route and when? Sounds like a Quetico trip or a very early BWCAW trip.

Hans Solo
 
GraniteCliffs
distinguished member(1981)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/20/2013 07:28PM  
For me a Quetico solo represents a new challenge. I have been canoeing for five decades now, often times 3-4 trips a year. I have always traveled with family, friends and neighbors. I love each of the trips and love the people I travel with.
I did a BW solo 40 years ago and another three night solo last year. This year I have a one week solo Quetico trip planned for the first week of September. I am more excited about that solo than the other two Quetico trips I have planned this year.
It is simply a new challenge. It is a new opportunity. It is me alone in the Quetico. It a new way to see an old and favorite place. Just me and the Q.
Awesome.
 
06/20/2013 09:19PM  
GraniteCliffs - I too am going solo the first week of Sept. Maybe our paths will cross.

 
06/20/2013 10:23PM  
quote DaBurgh: "5 days and only seeing people on day 1, PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOing back in the fall. Thanks Boonie!"


Glad you enjoyed it and I'm sure you will enjoy the fall trip too - what's the plan?
 
06/20/2013 10:24PM  
Granite Cliffs- I'll bet you will really enjoy your solo trip.
 
06/28/2013 11:01PM  

Something occurred to me today, and I don't think any of us solo trippers have mentioned this before. That is, one downside of solo tripping is that it's hard to get any action photos of ourselves while on a solo trip. I suppose I could try and take some timed shots of myself, but that just seems a little vain. :-)

Friends have suggested trying a "Go Pro Hero" with a boom, but even that seems a little weird. I could maybe see that if I was running some killer rapids, but a video of me paddling across a lake would be pretty dull.

Which brings up another point TomT mentioned about friends and relatives not being interested in his solo trip pictures or videos. I tend to think that others aren't interested in our pictures because there's rarely any people in the pics.

I don't know about everyone else, but pictures taken by my friends and relatives are chucked full of other friends and relatives. You know, "Here's Grampa Fred in his front yard." or "Here's the gang from the office tail-gating at Miller Park" or "Here's me and Rachael at Summerfest before the Pit Bull Concert." I guess to many people, a picture of Bill & Ted $hit-faced at a Brewer's game is more exciting than my solo canoe beached on chunk of the Canadian Shield. :-)

As much as we all love the "Canoe-Country", our pics and videos are special to us because they're memories of something special in our life. Unfortunately, they don't always translate well to others. Even the best photo equipment or the most beautiful pictures, can't reproduce the sights, sounds, smells or the sensations we've experienced while on our solo trips.

The exception is on this site where most of us are excited to see the trip pics from other members, because we can relate. It brings back memories of a lake or river we may have traveled, a campsite we once made our home for a night, or it's a preview of an area we're planning to travel in a few weeks or a few months.

Hans Solo
 
yellowcanoe
distinguished member(4984)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
06/28/2013 11:58PM  
Yeah. It's tough to get amiable shots of oneself while on a solo.. I suppose with a tripod and a camera with self timer you could pull it off. But I am not one to solo with a tripod.

I tried last week to just point the thing at me. I too am tired of taking shots of the bow of my canoe... duhhhllll. But I looked so grumpy. I tried to smile..

maybe it was cause it was about 40 with a wind of 20 and it was raining. That's my story and I am sticking to it.

If you all have pointers on how to take pix of yourself enjoying camp or paddling without extra equipment I am ready.
 
06/29/2013 12:16AM  
You could consider a tripod like this it will wrap around a thwart, a tree branch or stand on a rock, weighs next to nothing and packs away easy.

 
06/29/2013 05:55AM  
I use a similar tripod called a "Gorilla pod". It works great for shooting yourself with a fish.

What I do is screw the point and shoot camera to the tripod and then wrap it around the middle of my portage yoke. It can then be laid across the gunnels in front of me and fits fairly stable as the canoe narrows. So when I'm ready to shoot I just grab the end of the yoke and then set the 10 second timer on the camera. I put the yoke back in place and hold up the fish.

One thing I have learned is to set the zoom close to 50mm. The default on my camera sets at 35mm and this will cause distortion which makes your fish appear smaller than it is. Not exactly the look I'm going for! :)

This bass is 19 inches but you can see the distortion with the lens at 35mm.


I've also shot video of myself paddling using this technique. It's not bad and I've used that footage to break up a slideshow with music behind it on the DVD's I make of the trip. Hans, I think your point is excellent about why others aren't interested in our "nature shots". It's just human nature and a little bit of the voyeur in us to want to see other people.

 
06/29/2013 03:58PM  
"Gorilla Pod", for the life of me I could not remember the animal name of that tripod and I just searched likely animal pods.

I confess to carrying close to a full size tripod with a removable head. It would be one of the luxury items in (well on) my pack. Great for the low light slow exposure shot. I don't often use it on myself, though it might come in handy to make a last wishes video after being mauled by a renegade cougar.
 
06/30/2013 09:32PM  
quote HansSolo: "

Which brings up another point TomT mentioned about friends and relatives not being interested in his solo trip pictures or videos. I tend to think that others aren't interested in our pictures because there's rarely any people in the pics.

I guess to many people, a picture of Bill & Ted $hit-faced at a Brewer's game is more exciting than my solo canoe beached on chunk of the Canadian Shield. :-)

As much as we all love the "Canoe-Country", our pics and videos are special to us because they're memories of something special in our life. Unfortunately, they don't always translate well to others. Even the best photo equipment or the most beautiful pictures, can't reproduce the sights, sounds, smells or the sensations we've experienced while on our solo trips.

Hans Solo"


You're probably largely right about that. Publishers (like BWJ) usually prefer pictures with people in them.

I'd much rather see a picture of your solo canoe beached on a chunk of the Canadian Shield than Bill & Ted $hit-faced, but at least 98% of the rest of the population is weird. I like scenic landscape shots myself, but I may be in the minority.

I don't know if you've ever seen this video trip report , but it does the best job I know of translating the experience.
 
06/30/2013 09:40PM  
Yellowcanoe- If your arms are long enough...

 
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