BWCA First Solo Boundary Waters Group Forum: Solo Tripping
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jeepgirl
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07/15/2013 04:43PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I did it. I entered on Fall Lake last Thursday, and camped on the far island site on Pipestone Bay. It was wonderful. I am already planning my second solo. 3 Tylenol pm and ear plugs took care of the first night nerves. I had no trouble portaging the canyak. I loved being in the bwca solo. Major confidence booster too. The only thing negative is that the bugs were bad and I look like one big mosquito bite today.
 
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hobbydog
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07/15/2013 05:08PM  
Way to go. Confidence is a big part of anything we do. This is especially true in solo tripping. Beside gaining confidence did you learn any big lessons for next time?
 
Mort
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07/15/2013 05:12PM  
Good for you for getting out there and giving it a go! I find for myself that each trip teaches me something valuable and builds a foundation for the next experience.
 
jeepgirl
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07/15/2013 05:16PM  
Lessons learned?
Yes, don't pack your food too soon. I packed my turkey sticks on Sunday before I left on Tuesday, and they had mold on them by Thursday. Good thing I packed an extra day's food.

I thought it would be easy doing everything by myself and after I got to camp on Thursday, I would go exploring on the lake, maybe even portage over to Jackfish Bay. Yea right, after the 4 hours it took me to get to camp, I was pooped. So I set up camp and spent the afternoon reading. Totally ok. Next year, I will be in better shape. I am already working on that but being in shape gives you more energy.

Ask for help if needed. I am one tough girl but when I got back to Fall Lake I was wiped out. I did not want to ask the 2 men standing on the dock to put the canak on my Jeep but I was too tired to put it on the Jeep myself. They said yes and were very helpful. My first boss right out of college told me its a man's world and weak women ask for help not strong. Yup that stuck with me for many years and still haunts me some times!
I will do another solo. It will be something I do every year. It was way to much fun to give up.
 
07/15/2013 05:21PM  
Congrats!

 
07/15/2013 05:25PM  
congrats, way to go!
 
07/15/2013 05:33PM  
Well done. I'm glad you had a good time. Once you start going solo you trip flexibility expands and it isn't really important if someone goes with you or not.
 
07/15/2013 06:55PM  
That's great, congratulations!
 
eagle93
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07/15/2013 07:07PM  
Way to go! It gets better and better. Next year you will know what to expect and plan for it.
 
07/15/2013 08:12PM  
So sad about the bugs, but there is room for improvement. Perhaps this fall? It does get better no matter how good it was. Congrats.
 
OBX2Kayak
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07/15/2013 09:18PM  
Congrats! Glad you broke the ice.
 
07/15/2013 09:30PM  
Now you're hooked.
 
07/15/2013 10:02PM  
quote eagle93: "Way to go! It gets better and better. Next year you will know what to expect and plan for it."


+1

Sounds like it went fairly well for you though. Glad you enjoyed it.

If I took 3 Tylenol PM's I'd never wake up! :).
 
07/15/2013 10:19PM  
quote eagle93: "Way to go! It gets better and better. Next year you will know what to expect and plan for it."


Right on! Going solo is a great motivator for me to stay in shape and work out when I don't feel like it. Hope you write up a trip report. Did you keep a journal and take pics?

 
wetcanoedog
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07/16/2013 12:09AM  
great start! you did all the right things like not pushing yourself but stay and enjoy the camp and the view.i do a lot of that.
every trip get better as you try out new things.
my only tip is shore line the lakes when you can.lots of neat stuff you can't see from out in the lake,and safer too for a solo tripper.
i tell solo trippers over and over again that there is nothing out there thats going to bother you.the bear thing is way overrated by the park service to get people to keep a clean camp.
even being a army vet i was very nervous on my first couple trips but soon found out i may as well be camping in my back yard.i also did not go far as i was worried about getting back.on my first trip to the Q i had many layover days because i felt i was getting way-way out there.
anyway post photos keep going solo!
 
07/16/2013 08:40AM  
Wetcanoedog omitted the possibility of alien abduction when you are all alone out there. However, the likelihood of that occurring does seem to diminish as we get older.

Good trip.
 
07/16/2013 11:41AM  
Glad to here you had a good trip, mosquitoes' suck that's why I go early and late.
 
07/17/2013 12:52AM  

Congrats jeepgirl!

Glad to hear your first time at bat was more favorable than twston's first solo. :-)

Hans Solo
 
SevenofNine
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07/17/2013 01:12PM  
Congrats!

Nothing wrong with asking for help if you ask me. Keep on soloing.
 
07/17/2013 09:01PM  
When you said you had to ask for help it reminded me of last spring when Bumbabu (Bud) and I did a 14 hour push to get out. curtain falls to Mudro. Bud about had to carry me the last part.

Sounds like you enjoyed it and likely trying it again. Congratulations!
 
07/17/2013 09:26PM  
Ditto the asking for help. It is giving the other person a warm fuzzy; you know, knowing you did something good today.
 
07/28/2013 10:31AM  
Congrats! NO shame in asking for help when needed; not asking is the problem. I hope you enjoy many more trips to come.
 
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