Last year my wife and I were to spend a week in the BWCA, but life happened and we had to cancel our trip at the last minute. Well, I'm 43 years old and have been dreaming of going to the BWCA for probably a decade or more, so I am planning to go next June come h-e-double hockey sticks or high water. My wife can't make it next year, so I'm thinking hard about a solo trip. I don't imagine a soul can be more refreshed than after a solo trip to the BWCA.

My plans would be to do the same trip my wife and I had originally planned for last year...go in on the Gunflint side, entry point 47, and head to Horseshoe or Vista for a week. Then basecamp and do day trips from there before having to head back out. I would be using all of my own gear or borrowed gear except for the canoe itself, which I would rent from Rockwood Outfitters.

I mentioned my plans to a few friends who had been up to the BWCA in the past. Most of them are encouraging it, but a couple of guys think I'm crazy for doing my first trip up there solo. Just wondering what everyone here thinks and if anyone else did their first trip solo?

Do it. It's a great area for a solo base camp and day trips. Rockwood is also a Great place to leave from and they are good people, very helpful. You won't regret it!

I'd say go for it...I did. I was used to camping/hiking alone so that was no problem, but if you haven't paddled solo and/or don't have much paddling experience, I'd recommend working on that. Otherwise, the trip you have planned is very manageable for a solo.

I don't see a single reason not to do it.

Go, you'll have a great time.

Ever camped alone? If not, I would recommend trying a few nights out alone locally so that you can get used to your own company.

The toughest challenge on a first time solo trip is generally emotional rather then physical or environmental. Most of us are used to busy hustle bustle daily lives with lots of interaction with other people. All of a sudden your routine is changed and your reaction to the change may not be what you expected.

It is the "getting used to being alone" feeling. You have too much time to think, you may start feeling guilty about leaving all the work at home to the wife, you may start getting a bit homesick, you may start hearing all the creepy night time noises, etc.

You may find that you don't like base camping while soloing as much as you would while camping with others. Many solo trippers feel a great deal more satisfied if they keep moving every day or two and see new sights.

I'm not trying to discourage you from solo tripping. I enjoy soloing very much. I'm just trying to let you know that some people react differently to their first solo then they thought they would.

quote boonie: "I'd say go for it...I did. I was used to camping/hiking alone so that was no problem, but if you haven't paddled solo and/or don't have much paddling experience, I'd recommend working on that. Otherwise, the trip you have planned is very manageable for a solo."

I've done hunting and fishing trips alone in the past, so I'm not too worried about the boogie man mind games at night or getting lonely. My paddling experience is limited from a canoe, although I've kayaked a lot (kayak fishing is my summer hobby). What experience I have in a canoe is from a few river trips with my church men's group or a trip or two with friends. I've never paddled a solo canoe.

Thanks everyone. Think I'll go blow the dust off of my map and start the fun process of planning a trip.

There are some good posts about which solo to paddle you may want to consider reading. Like you, I have tandem and kayak experience and wanted to get into solo canoe. After talking with folks here, Hans Solos and others comments at Copia were especially helpful, and some test paddling I settled on the Magic. Your kayak experience should help, but solo canoeing requires adjusting your center of balance and has its own specialness. There is some good feedback about adjusting trim, handling differences, etc. below. I would echo the "don't reach behind" comments.
And by all means dust off those maps and plan away.

SOme great comments I would echo. My first visit to BWCA was not my first solo canoe trip. But it was solo, and it was my first time in BWCA.

Don't limit yourself to your pre-planned route. You have all winter to check the maps out and maybe plan an adventure for yourself.

I took 20 trips with family and friends before I took my first solo, one thing I always do on a solo is think before I do stuff to make sure it's safe and I won't regret it later.

quote bhouse46: " And by all means dust off those maps and plan away."

Planning is half the fun!

The first thing to do is beg, borrow or somehow get your hands on a solo canoe and practice before you go. If you can, bring enough weight to match your gear weight and place it the canoe to get a feel for how it rides and how to trim it. Practice this a couple of times to learn the different strokes you may use paddling solo.

One other thing to remember is that you do everything yourself so plan accordingly and take your time.

Just do it. You'll be glad you did.

I agree with everyone, "Go for it" If you feel comfortable, camping, fishing, or just being by yourself, you shouldn't have a problem. Then it really doesn't matter where you go. You have the skill, so you can plan your trip, and maybe leave a few options, so if weather, makes you stop, you can change your route, or even extend it. It will only be up to you to decide. That's one of the beauties of doing a solo trip. There isn't any polling, voting or convincing another person or group.
Above all, in all you do, be safe, think of safety at all times. Even with that, things can happen that shouldn't. Think about taking a SPOT or satelite phone, if nothing else, your wife will feel more comfortable.
There is a vast amount of experience from the members of this site, so don't feel uncomfortable about asking. As you said, and I have found, preperation and planning is a lot of fun, and sometimes it makes the trip, anticlimatic. Good Luck.

Greg

Do it. Say HELL once or twice.

Go for it, you'll like it or not. At least you will find out.
If you can make it the camp-out at Rebecca Lake will have many solo paddlers you can mine for info.

butthead

quote butthead: "Go for it, you'll like it or not. At least you will find out.
If you can make it the camp-out at Rebecca Lake will have many solo paddlers you can mine for info.


butthead"

That sounds like a lot of fun and thanks for the invite, but I won't be able to make it. Looks like it's going to be a good time though.