Did you just jump right in and cover lots of water (maybe a large loop) or did you just start small and work your way up (camp on entry lakes or do a small loop)? Regardless of your choice do you think you should have done the opposite of what you did?

My first "solo" was an overnighter in a state park campground. Last year, about thirty years later, I did thirteen days in Quetico (with many solo trips in between).

I don't think there is any "right" way to get into soloing. You just have to do what is comfortable for you.

My first solo was backpacking the Superior Hiking Trail. I will never forget that first night alone in the woods. Damn squirrels.
My first canoe solo was the Frost River. I wanted small lakes and a feeling of being away from help for the challenge.
My upcoming solo is for two weeks. I'll be covering tiny lakes as well as huge lakes. I might try bushwacking and I might try covering a lot of water. Or I might just basecamp for two weeks. Doubtful though. My point is that I am aiming to have no plans, I just want to amble through the BWCA. "When one finally arrives at the point where schedules are forgotten, and becomes immersed in ancient rhythms, one begins to live." - Sigurd Olson

basecamped on perent lake, swore off solos afterwards. the swear off didnt work.

Route where I knew I would see someone during the week I was out. A series of small lakes and a couple of big ones.

There is no right way. I picked an area I already had traveled part of.

My first solo was 49 days. If I had it do again, I would do a shorter trip of 4 days or so to test the equipment.

I suppose I had backpacked solo, and spent time at my remote-ish cabin solo with a four night canoe solo in a UP wilderness area before my BW trip, which was 8 nights in.

It should come down to prior experience and comfort in the woods. But, it's not hard.

My very first solo was intended to be a two-weeker. I chose a route that was a large loop, ..but also one that I could make a revised, shorter loop out of if conditions warranted. I succeeded in doing the longer route, but found that 9 days was enough to satisfy me.
For my upcoming second solo trip, I chose to do a long in and back, ..but with a shorter loop attached to the middle of the route -- a type of hybrid trip that would offer even more options to change up as I felt I wanted/needed.

quote kanoes: "basecamped on perent lake, swore off solos afterwards. the swear off didnt work."

What was so bad about it? I've soloed on Perent without issues. Granted it can be a bit boring since there
s one way in and one out but it's still not that bad of a lake....

I have two different answers to your question. I did a lot of solo camping and backpacking where I started out small - overnight, weekend - and gradually became used to being alone at night and farther away.

After my first trip to the BW (not solo) I did an couple of solo canoeing/camping trips to the ADK's while trying to organize a trip with my brother and sister. When we could never get that organized, I just decided to go to the BW myself.

I decided to do the loop through LISN north through Steep, Finger, etc. Although I had been gone a week on the ADK trips, I had never really traveled that far. It turned out to be too far for my first solo due to weather and illness and no way to shorten it up much. I had planned solid days of travel every day and that didn't happen.

In retrospect, it wasn't the best plan...but lessons were learned.

First true solo was into Burnt for 3 nights. Had spent many nights alone in the BW on my own permit only to join my comrades a day or several later. I hated it at first-- couldnt wait to see them,, but now I love going solo.

Solo'd from Lake One to Insula in my Minnesota II on day one. Got freaked out, and paddled out on day 2. Was a great learning experience.

Big loop. EP 16-->Boulder Bay-->Lady Boot-->Finger Lake-->EP 16(unintentional long last day; story is even longer);)

I love the concept of base camping but there is too much to see and do out there so I feel loops are ideal. Don't regret a thing, can't get enough of it!

quote Sierra1: "

quote kanoes: "basecamped on perent lake, swore off solos afterwards. the swear off didnt work."

What was so bad about it?"

bored
to
death

September 1986: I was all in for my first BWCAW solo canoe trip! Part of my motivation for a solo trip was to travel without restrictions, or to take time off if I so desired. I had done several weekend or multi-day solo trips on locals rivers in Wisconsin, but this was my first "Wilderness" solo trip, which was originally intended to be a week long adventure.

I put in on Poplar Lake and entered through Lizz Lake. I then traveled down through Vista Lake, were I took a day off. I originally thought part of the allure of a solo trip was to travel when I wanted, but also to kick back, relax and have time to reflect. Unfortunately, I got restless after one day off, and then decided I preferred traveling to relaxing.

The route included a 480 portage rod portage, which required a double portage, as did all the portages on this trip. The 480 rod portage took me from Ram Lake and continued out to Forest Route #152. I continued down the Forest Route before re-entering at the South Brule River. (This was actually part of a trip route described in an earlier release of Bob Beymer's BWCAW Guide, Volume 2: The Eastern Region.)

I continued to Swan Lake and made camp for the night. Much like the other lakes on this trip, I had Swam Lake all to myself. (There's something to be said for traveling the BWCAW in the Fall.)

The next day I traveled past the ruins of the Alger Smith Logging Camp, located on the 292 rod portage from Vernon Lake to Brule Bay. I continued to Brule Lake, past the 12' statue Robert Beymer refers to as "The Spirit of Brule Lake". Then, up to North Cone Lake, where I camped for the night. The next day, I traveled through Winchell Lake, Gaskin Lake, Caribou Lake and back out to Poplar Lake.

The route was originally intended to be a week long trip, but turned out to be a five day, four night excursion with one lay-over day. I can't explain why, but I just had the urge to travel. That travel urge has continued on solo canoe trips to this day.

On subsequent trips, I've tried to slow down my pace somewhat and "stop and smell the roses". Then again, one of the primary advantages of solo canoe tripping is traveling when and how I chose.

No problems and no regrets, other than the fact I took WAY too much food, clothes, and gear. Being my first BWCAW solo trip, I packed for every eventuality. This included too much dog food for my English Setter, who was my traveling companion.

Hans Solo

1st trip 5 nights 6 days, I base camped, one of the most fun trips I ever had, did lots of exploring and caught some nice fish, I'm used to fishing and hunting by myself so it was very easy being alone that long, I didn't start solos till I was 51.

Another one I'm reviving since I hadn't done a solo yet when this thread was started.

My first solo was a short loop 4days/3nights doing the Kawishiwi Triangle entering at EP32 South Kawishiwi River. I picked it because it gave me the option to be very flexible and stay in one spot to do daytrips or continue on and do a loop moving each day. I liked the small water of the river and Clear Lake because it was my first time soloing. The biggest thing I learned on that trip was that I LOVE to solo.

I started small. A few nights base base camping is how I started. Now I'm up to 15 days and a longer route. I probably could do a longer trip, but my wife might leave me.

I did my first solo in September. I did a loop of 7 days and 45 miles. I don't know if that is a big, medium, or small loop. I plan for my next solo is to travel a couple of days and then base camp. I have no problems with being out longer, my wife might!

My first solo was 2 nights solo, then I met my parents on the third day for 2 more nights with them!

First solo was a disaster in some ways. Went home and regrouped and the second was great. I think I was spoiled by how easy the Fisher maps made navigating the boundary waters. My first solos were in Manitoba using topo maps. You learn quick map skills when you need to. I like solo trips in the boundary waters too now because I feel much more relaxed. When traveling with groups there is so much to think and worry about.

My first solo was just a quick 2-3 night on Ensign. It was mid November so there was little light, there were no people there, and started icining up so I left. Pretty much all other solos are long loops.

1st was a solo to Perent Lake. I was so excited. Should have been an easy going deal. It wasn't.
I paddled a 16'6"/straight keel canoe for that twisty-turns route. Also, I took every conceivable wrong turn possible and visited lots of dead-end boggy areas. Hey, the water was flowing high that year and hard to determine the main current.
Still, I loved it all.

Good Grief, missmolly. 49 days! Must of been one heck of a solo adventure.

My first solo was hiking when I was in my twenties. My first solo canoe trip was two years ago. I went big as I wanted to make sure I wouldn't have an opportunity to bail out if I was scared at night.

Went for a 10 day loop, in at Moose down through Kek Thomas Fraser area and out the Number chain. It was physically exhausting but I did it. This year my solo trips ended up being shorter due to time off constraints.

My first solo was in June this year. I covered a lot of ground and found out that single portaging is incredibly hard by your self.

I got the idea mid summer since no one wanted to go and I did I would go alone. The only permit that seemed open was Hog Creek. I went in and camped two nights somewhere along the Perent River West of Perent Lake. Full moon, wolves howling, wild rice beds, serenity. I was hooked.

I started with 2 solo night hikes, and then a few solo overnighters just car camping or hiking. Then I found this group and planned a solo paddle.
I knew my gear well but wasn't sure of my solo paddle abilities. I did go to a new area on the first one, but I planned 5 days for a loop I thought might take 4. I ended up doing it in 3 and then just base camped a day at the end.
I think it worked well that way as I had room to test my abilities and different styles of camping. I found that I like travel days solo. Traveling light and fast and at my leisure: falling asleep exhausted every day. Base camping alone wasn't for me.

First solo was June this year. I did loop from ep 16 to ep 14. Eight day trip had good weather little rain can't wait to go again. The solitude and exploring was great.

My first was three nights, didn't cover a whole lot of ground. I wanted to make sure I was comfortable with it before I went for an extended trip.

My first solo was going to be the Frost River Loop in mid May a few years ago.

I put in at Sawbill and made it to Frost via Cherokee in a decently long day. A combination of being worn out, good fishing, and loving Frost Lake so much kept me there for three days and then I just went back to Sawbill the way I came rather than completing the loop.

quote Duckman: "My first solo was going to be the Frost River Loop in mid May a few years ago.


I put in at Sawbill and made it to Frost via Cherokee in a decently long day. A combination of being worn out, good fishing, and loving Frost Lake so much kept me there for three days and then I just went back to Sawbill the way I came rather than completing the loop.


"

I did the Frost river system tandem in 1986. Very wild area where we saw several moose in the river and some very large beaver dams. Do you plan on giving this route another shot? If so I suggest spending a night at Bologna Lake on the one site that is there. That's really getting out there in the middle of nowhere.

My first was when I was 24 and fairly green behind the ears. I did a weeklong loop off the Gunflint trail through Kek, Gaskin, and Vista. This was in 1984 and I remember being wet. Didn't bring a tarp and wore Converse canvas high tops that never dried out. I don't think I had an extra pair of shoes because there's pics of me barefoot around camp.

I also remember being very paranoid around people I would see on the trails. I had some issues back then and wasn't a very confident person. I tried to avoid people as much as possible.

Here's my theory on that. Going solo back then I was made to feel like I was an oddball and that there must be something wrong with me for wanting to do this. This is coming from family and friends. So I convinced myself that yes, there must be something wrong with me and imagined the groups I saw on the trail thought the same thing about me. And yes, I did get strange looks and questions about why I was alone. Weird times for me.

Nice to know there's other weirdos out there now. :)

I would never basecamp as I enjoy exploring too much. I love layovers when tired but that's as far as I go when tripping. Love being on the move seeing what's coming around the bend.

My first solo was my second overall trip. My first trip was in a group of 4 and I was 60. I turned 61 during my first solo which included a 4,000 mile round trip drive and 8 days in the BW. I was getting old and knew that I had to get those long distance solos done soon. The wife would likely object today (I'll be 70 in June).

That first solo was accompanied by rain and strong winds every day but one. I was skunked in my fishing efforts although I did lose a monster laker at the shore on Oyster. That fish would have been my first lake trout and would have been my biggest trout of any kind, to this very day. I have caught lakers since but nothing near in size. After that trip, I began taking a net.

Despite the skunking, that trip remains a fond memory because of the challenges I met.

At a rest stop when it was growing dark, where I was the only person present, I walked past a statue of a buffalo. In the restroom I couldn't get the statue out of my mind and looked closer when I emerged. It was in a different spot. This time I gave it a wide berth.

Also, I visited a dinosaur museum and a best friend from childhood on the return trip.

It was a great trip and so was my solo the following year when I caught lots of fish of several species.

my first BW solo was 30 years ago.i went down the LIS to Lady Boot Bay by way of Lac LaCroix and back.almost turned back because of the weather that Fall.
thinking about it my "real" first solo was in 1965 when i was working
at a Scout camp in Canada as a canoe tripper/life guard.i took my three days off one month and paddled out to a area north of the camp that is
now a permit only park.i use a wood and canvas Old Town Trapper and just took my sleeping bag,tarp and canned food.i heated the beans and such right in the cans and slept without a pad or ground cloth.

I went in at Ram and then went Kroft, Rum, Little Trout. Spent the first night on Little Trout. Next day I went from Little Trout to Misquah, Vista, Horseshoe, to Caribou, camped on Caribou. Then day 3 back out I left Caribou to Horseshoe, Vista, Jake, and out at Morgan walked the 4 or 5 miles to my car at Ram then came home. It was a great trip and my first solo.