This years Quetico trip will be a first for me... in that I will be going with one of my normal tripping Partners (Mark) and we are taking our daughters ~ My daughter is the youngest and will be a month shy of 21 and Mark's 3 girls are also in the mid to late 20's. All four are rookies but athletic and stable of mind...

What do I need to know about women in canoe land....

Some random thoughts that are keeping me up at night

How much TP would they consume on a 8 day trip? We will be camping at sites for 2 days at a time (8 day trip) and I'm concerned with TP gardens and was considering asking them to place a paper bag in a spot, use it every time and we will burn it before we go. Of course if it's brown it goes in the ground. Is this unrealistic?

Do I treat them like one of the guys? Where is the limit?

Anything else I should know or be thinking about.... feel free to post or email me....

I have introduced my wife to the bw so I can add a bit but nothing big to worry about.
The biggest thing that makes it hard is that women are as different as guys, and that is a big factor, some women take to tripping very natrally some will not leave the holliday inn and most are in beween. I would suggest a solar shower or a propane heated shower for one, and give them as clear a picture of the trip as possible so they know what to expect and can give more valuble input.
I am from southern mn and I am reminded even on summer trips how much cooler it can be "up there" than at home, take a good look at the forcast for both High and low temps and have them pack accordingly, I usually end up with warmer clothes than I would wear in the summer at home.
If you have a daughter that wants to go you are already most of the way there, have a good time!

I've tripped with my friends wife and her sister once. Both were outsdoorswomen and knew what to do. I guess education before the trip is the key.

Also, dont treat them like guys, us guys are big dumb apes.

bring chocolate

I always tripped with my daughter and treated her like one of us, wasnt much she couldnt do after the age of 14 that we couldnt. Not sure what I would do with 4 women out there. That's scary. Good luck!

1 roll a week. TP roll that is. Nothing else needs to be different though courtesy during baths is nice. Gals do like washing their hair.

Once a guy forgot I was there. He took his bath and paraded through camp au naturel. I started laughing. He was sporting two tiny acorns. The water was cold.

Now as to another bathroom issue. With gals of that age Auntie Flo visits every month. Its bound to happen that this unwelcome relative will pay a visit. Some sort of take it with you disposal system for the necessaries is going to be needed. Feminine products don't burn well nor decompose well in the latrine.

-Bring lots of hand sanitizer, they might want to have city clean hands at all times.

-lightweight gloves, some don't like to hold a slimy fish. Plus it's nice when gathering wood so the hands don't get all cut up.

-Non-deet bug spray? Some don't like deet on their skin or clothes.

-Plenty of suntan lotion? I've never used the stuff before but they might not bring enough for themselves.

-Full brimmed hat? They might forget how convenient a good hat is.

-A correct length paddle?

Good luck and if you need an extra, let me know :P

I trip with my wife. She loved the Sea to Summit shower that I brought. It worked great and saved the trip really. I used it too and felt like a brand new man. Some type of fresh wipes for private areas too. Yellowcanoe is pot on with the aunt flo comment too. Be prepared to pack out those things.

Mike

They might just be better trippers than you are...treat them like one of the guys

I think the paper bag/TP idea is unnecessary and even gross. Education is key. I guided a group of 16 year old girls for 5 days this summer, and they were great...there were no issues.....Don't worry

I would use more TP than one in a week, I think. Maybe two? Though if in quetico with no toilets I'd be more likely to air dry when going #1. Hey, you asked. (depends on how bad the bugs are)

For aunt flo, they could start learning how to use a Diva cup. If it works well for them, this would be the easiest way to go. They need to start now trying it out. There can be a learning curve.

Treat them like human beings.

Agree on reminding how great wide brimmed hats are. Many women don't normally wear hats, but I find one indispensable in the BW.

Chilly, how are you not taken? Good post. :)

Darn, nojobro beat me to the treat them like human beings line. I have the unusual history of having collaborated mostly with women even though I am in a male dominated field. I once wondered about that and my wife said that it is because I treat women like people. Not like men but like people.

So ask them how much they TP they want to bring. My wife, who is a great wilderness tripper and who has done some amazingly rugged field work in Alaska, brings a fair bit of the stuff. She does also like having wipes along. She just really hates the possibility of running out. It doesn't weigh much and if you vacuum seal it then it takes up very little space.

Everyone should take a good amount of Purell. Clean hands keep you from getting sick. But it really doesn't take much to last a week or two.

Sunscreen, hats, paddles of the right size, food choices, gloves if they want them, .... all just things to talk about when going over a gear list. Again treat them like people.

I think you'll have a great trip.

quote plainspaddler: "I trip with my wife. She loved the Sea to Summit shower that I brought. It worked great and saved the trip really. I used it too and felt like a brand new man. Some type of fresh wipes for private areas too. Yellowcanoe is pot on with the aunt flo comment too. Be prepared to pack out those things.


Mike"

I always used a zip lock bag to pack sanitary garbage out. A stuff sack was used to house the ziplock as a courtesy to my fellow trippers. I use about a roll a week with a pack of wipes as a back up but different brands of TP last longer so your mileage may vary especially if one or more of the girls is menstruating. Hand sanitizer is a must on my list as well.

I would bring wipes. Such as the Burt's bees type.

Burts

And the TP rolls would be double or triple versions.

If I were you I would handle the garbage.

Hat. Human beings. Wipes. Zip lock baggies.

Good to go!

Where I go (Crown Land), about half the people I encounter, which aren't many, are women. I share this because some women like to paddle just as much as some men. Hopefully your trip partners will number among those "some women."

quote yellowcanoe: "1 roll a week. TP roll that is. "

You're not packing for any of MY trips, Kim (LOL)! That's one item I always come back with extra. I've "Been there and done that" with "Alternatives," thank you!

Wet wipes. My wife always brought the "Baby wipes" and now I do even on trips without her.

Women/men/bears, heck we're ALL different. There's a wide range of body sizes, stamina, and psyche. There are women who can paddle a lot further and portage a lot more than some men. But, be aware of what's comfortable for YOUR mate/daughter/etc. Many women have a smaller body size and I've found that #4 packs are too big for my wife. You end up stuffing too much crap in them and they are too heavy and bulky. #3 packs and cruiser packs seem to have worked better for my wife and friend's wives. Hope those 2 tips help. And don't let Yellowcanoe pack the TP for you (LOL)!

1 roll of TP per week (paper bag then burn is a great idea- plastic bag for flow stuff).

I love my Sea to Summit shower every night. Dr. Bronners soap for both hair and body.

The only real difference in most women vs men in the woods is- power. I am 5'3" at 140# and 50 years old- I can really haul anything for a portage- huge 75# plus packs- but can't get the canoe over my head without help.

My moccasins are so comfy at the campsite and keep my feet cozy when I tend to get cold quicker than my husband.

Finally- ask them what they think would make the trip more comfortable/fun. They will know their little quirks- getting cold easier, not liking to be grungy etc... Then have them help you think through what is reasonable to bring to make life nicer out there. Then they are a part of the fun of planning and packing

Ripple's fine suggestion about comfy camp shoes reminds me of what gets me through cool, wet days, which is a set of fuzzy, cushy longjohns that never leave the tent. Knowing they're always there comforts me. I can be wet and cool all day as long as I know I'll be warm and dry at night.

Have done 30+trips with HS students, we took 1 roll/day when there were girls.Groups were 6 students, 2 adults. It's light, why take the chance? Besides, someone would leave the bag open and it would rain. We used, as mentioned above, zip locks in an opaque bag for feminine products. This was discussed in detail before the trip.

I would rather trip with young ladies than young men, they only have to prove things to themselves, not the "guys." Tough, resilient, but appreciate small luxuries. Enjoy the trip, sharing the wilderness is rewarding.

quote missmolly: "Ripple's fine suggestion about comfy camp shoes reminds me of what gets me through cool, wet days, which is a set of fuzzy, cushy longjohns that never leave the tent. Knowing they're always there comforts me. I can be wet and cool all day as long as I know I'll be warm and dry at night."

I forgot that is one of my favorites too!! I do exactly the same thing- super fluffy fleece that never leaves the tent!

Took my son's 21-yr-old girlfriend to Q last summer for 9 days. Allison's first trip in canoe country. Had 45 degree cold, windy rain for 3 days straight. Needless to say she wasn't thrilled during that period. But she did really well overall.

So, what helped was extra warm clothes and slippers (as noted in earlier posts), good rain gear, and some hot soup mixes. She got bit by skeeters while doing her business in the woods and said after the trip that a little susie net would have been nice to have had.

I also have a small Mombasa screen house I hook under the tarp or next to the firepit. It holds 3 chairs for fire and star gazing without getting eaten up by the skeeters....she loved that netting...

We all got along great. She didn't want to be treated any differently than anyone else. Used about the same amount of tp as the rest of us. She appreciated the baby wipes....

From my experience and OP's brief description:
1) Solar shower (and a little foot mat to stand on)....hang it back in the woods for privacy.
2) A good bug net set up. They don't like to lather up with deet after their nice shower. Bugs can be a real mood killer for some. They need an escape.
3) Little cozy camp things like mentioned above. Perfect camp shoes, fuzzy feet somethings for in the tent, proper pillow and sleeping attire. These things need to be discussed during trip planning so they get packed light and proper.
4) Food. Girls are more particular about their food. Guys will eat anything usually. Make sure they are involved in the menu planning.
5) A friendly reminder about "A place for everything and everything in it's place". As mentioned above......dont wander out of tent in fuzzy long johns, keep YOUR personal items in YOUR ditty bag in one corner of tent, etc. If their personal comfy items get trashed on day 2.....mood killer.

Hmmm. I am woman. I solo and dont use 1. 2. I do use deet 3. cozy...not if I have to carry extra. 4. Not. 5. Great thought.

Quetico rules for TP are to burn it or pack it out. Burying is not effective as animals will often excavate and expose the TP.

quote yellowcanoe: "Hmmm. I am woman. I solo and dont use 1. 2. I do use deet 3. cozy...not if I have to carry extra. 4. Not. 5. Great thought."

Yes....you are a woman....but with much tripping experience as opposed to the girls in the OP. I gave ideas that worked for me when I took my wife and daughter and my son's girlfriend for the first time. ALL the things I mentioned made a difference in making their FIRST trip go good. My daughter has since spent 3 summers working in the BW and has many trips, including solos, under her belt. Her needs have changed.

Yes, girls use deet... but it's nice to give them a break from it after they get cleaned up and are lounging around camp.

I disagree about the food... they should see the menu. I prefaced the "cozy" items with "packed light and proper". Also, these girls are not soloing at this time.

I also HIGHLY recommend a pocket shower. I wouldn't even remotely consider taking a female on a wilderness trip without one. Especially for a trip that long and considering the "visitor" as previously mentioned. We have the Sea to Summit and it is really great and very small.

The first thing that popped into my mind is to make sure they know each other well. On a trip is not a good place to find out that one of them really can't tolerate another. It could make for a miserable trip for everyone.

Also, involve them in the planning, talk about your tripping style so they know what to expect, such as whether you expect everyone up before dawn and packed and on the water at sun up. Things you take for granted might be difficult for them. Maybe not being female but being younger. Make sure they know they're is no cell reception.

And lastly, invite them to join BWCA.com and read and post questions, here on the main site and the women's forum. They might have questions about things they'd rather not discuss with you.

That's my 2 cents.

quote giddyup: "That's my 2 cents. "

More like 2 grand. That's good advice!

Lots of good advice here. The only thing I would add is instead of brown paper bags, waxed bags keep in the moisture better, stay together better & burn better. I should add they are not waterproof by any means.

I haven't read all the posts, but...as far as menstruation goes, find out if any of the gals suffer cramps, bloating issues, etc. There is medicine that helps them with those symptoms. Each gal will know what she needs in that regard, but making sure ahead of time they bring some would be a good idea.

P.S. If you can get them to fart, that also helps ease some issues and a good laugh can be had by all.

Thanks for all the ideas.... some were already covered.

Equipment:

The 4 girls will stay in two tents - TAJ3 and Mountain Hardware Drifter 3 with Exped Syn7 mats and Exped large foam pillows. They each have a CCS Ruck or equivalent for their stuff.

Shower is an MSR Bladder 10 liter with a shower attachment. Will look into a "mat" for them to stand on.

I will have a CCS Lean3 Plus for bug issues... we go in JUN 1, so hopefully they will be low to moderate.

Group Dynamics:

It will be impossible for my daughter who is a Student at the U of Georgia to meet Mark's two daughter and one of the daughters partner.
My daughter has been briefed on this and is cool with it.

Menu: All the women are Vegan or semi-vegan, Mark and I are hard core carnivores. Dishes are being designed with or without meat option.

TP. I plan to have each women pack one roll and I will bring an additional 4 rolls and 2 travel rolls and have two trowels available.
Still prefer the burn option to keep IAW park regulations except for "brown paper" Still a work in progress I guess....

Female Hygiene: I will discuss with my daughter when she gets to Vegas next week for Xmas... not looking forward to it.

My question on treat them like the boys was more in line with my personality. With women I am the door opening type etc and was wondering if I should be guiding the canoe around so they don't get feet wet etc. I will expect them to share in the normal camp chores etc.

As far as the comfort equation... if you would have ever tripped with me you would feel like you were at the Hyatt of Quetico. All my gear is top of the line, packed for comfort vs light weight and the food is better than most people eat at home. I will insure that any additional comfort items listed are suggested.

Thanks again for the tips and keep them coming... I want to make this a special trip for all involved.

From what you wrote just now..the food issue is your biggest challenge! Not the gal thing. Kudos to you being willing to devise vegan menus..that is the toughest thing to do. I bet lots of nuts will be in the menu. I am not vegan but know a few people who are..and they say that eating out is a real problem sometimes.

Gee Uncle Phil on the Wabakimi Project made no exceptions but his expectation was that everyone contributed according to their abilities. Plenty of the trips have women on them.

I have taken my daughter and she was and is still the best trip partner. I had some of the same thoughts as you before her first trip.

1. The "Aunt Flo thing" : Don't worry about this. Your girls are in their 20's and by now they know how to handle this. Give them the rule book about leave no trace and trust that they will have a plan for this. don't make this an issue.

2. My girl doesn't see the BWCA as I do, I like to hard charge, bushwhack and get movin. She likes to move slow, soak it all in and spend time drawing and sketching. Make sure you have YOUR expectations in check and don't make this trip about you. Make it about all of you. There may not be a better thing than snuggling up with your little girl at a fire out in the big woods.

3. Food: Honestly the Vegan thing is no different than having a buddy who doesn't like sausage and eggs, while you like bagels. Food is not a gender issue. Don't make it one.

4. Hair: This is an issue! They have lots of it and keeping it clean and not feeling yucky is an issue. Make sure to give them whatever time they need to clean up, The ole spit shower will not be good enough for them.

maybe you could devise a primarily vegan menu and bring along some meat to supplement you and Mark. there are foods other than meat that can provide you protein.

do the girls all have the ability to Skype? maybe they could use that or some other technology to get to know each other over the winter.

I'm surprised by this need to wash hair. I have longish thick hair and have never washed it on a trip. I just put in a pony tail or braids and live with it. it takes a LOT of water to get all the shampoo and conditioner out, plus I generally trip the end of sept/oct and don't want to drag a blow dryer along :)

other bathing is a good idea!

hopefully you'll find the girls are much more capable than you realize. be open to suggestions and try not to over-schedule every moment of every day.

bring plenty of maps so the girls can review the area and know what the plan is. let them take turns navigating, especially if you're going to an area that you and Mark have already been and is familiar to you.

We're ovo-lacto vegetarians but eat vegan many meals. It's not that hard to do in the woods and lots of meals are easy to add some meat. We generally buy freeze dried or dehydrated ingredients and mix up our own meals with our own spices and then vacuum seal them. We figure a pint bowl is a good dinner portion and so we go for a cup of freeze dried ingredients per person and then with water that becomes a pint. Lower the amounts for dishes with pasta, rice, or quinoa. Here are some that will work well.

1) Chili. The vegan version is beans, corn, tomato powder, sundried tomatoes, lots of spices. Brown up some meat in a frying pan and mix it in the bowls that want it.

2) Pasta. Tomato powder and spice based sauce plus your choice of veggies, definitely some mushrooms, add some meat to a second pot of sauce. See a pattern.

3) I often do a very thick Chinese hot and sour soup with lots of tofu and mushrooms in a veggie broth. The traditional is chicken broth with shredded pork. I would just add the shredded pork to a second pot.

4) One of my wife's specialties is a Japanese rice bowl, various veggies, flavored with soy sauce, and wasabi. Probably a good one to throw some fish on top of.

5) Our vegan lunch is generally bread and hummus made from powdered hummus. Also get some middle eastern spices to make it better. The powdered hummus is pretty disapointing but with the right spices (Zatar) it can be quite good. If you go all out and mix it up with some warm water and drizzle some good olive oil on top, it can be downright delicious. But that works best on a day in camp than on the move. You can sit there getting jealous while eating your salami. We alternate hummus lunches with cheese but that won't work for full vegans.

To get extra protein into meals we often use quinoa instead of rice with our chili and Asian meals. Plus it is less fussy to cook quinoa than rice.

I think the various comments about showers and other things emphasize treating people as people. My wife has never shown the slightest interest in a sun shower and she knows they exist. She just likes a daily swim and even enjoys cold water. And she puts her hair in braids for the trip and maybe combs it every once in a while.

I definitely agree that you want to get all newcomers involved with the maps. We're both earth scientists and can't imagine not having our own maps. But some people are just resistant. We took 6 nephews one year and we just could not get them to read the maps. By the end, the 3-person canoe was pretty fast and they would get out ahead of us and then yell back (yeah, great, I know they shouldn't be yelling), "Where do we go?" My lovely wife would yell back, "to the portage." I don't think they thought she was being helpful. She's done a lot of navigation at sea and could not stand their lack of interest in the maps. Afterwards one of our nephews (and he was in college at the time) admitted that he never really knew the lake names or where we were. He had a great time but just had no idea where he was. Not good. So, it is not a male or female thing.

But at least he was an excellent sherpa. Also an excellent sherpa: our 4'10" tall niece just after she got out of the Israeli army where she was an infantry lieutenant. She is a serious pack mule.

Just as clarification, I have no doubt of the women's ability to perform, I spent 24 years in the Army and learned women can handle their own. They will paddle and be taught not to lilly dip and they will carry 2 packs on each portage (ruck and 30-35+ CCS Pioneer), they will filter water, they will set up tents, collect fire wood and do the dishes in a LNT manner.

We are staying 2 nights at our first location to walk everyone through the equipment, camp organization and cleanliness, field hygiene and maybe even have time for them to snags some Jigs on the rocks like Dad does :-)

MY ISSUE is where to stop being a gentleman and a father with a desire to take care of your kid and not ruin the experience of a wilderness trip... this is probably just something that has to be lived and in the moment?

quote john 800: "Also, dont treat them like guys, us guys are big dumb apes.

bring chocolate"

+1 LOL!

Sir Boji of the Desert,

It's my guess that they're going to surprise the heck out of you. I think pre-trip preparations along with the first couple of nights basecamping will get them up to speed quickly... as long as they have good attitudes. We all know how that can kill a trip quickly.

Your crew will only be as strong as the weakest portager/paddler so roll with it as it happens and have a great trip.

quote Jackfish: "Sir Boji of the Desert,

Your crew will only be as strong as the weakest portager/paddler so roll with it as it happens and have a great trip."

That would be me :-)

quote bojibob: "MY ISSUE is where to stop being a gentleman and a father with a desire to take care of your kid and not ruin the experience of a wilderness trip... this is probably just something that has to be lived and in the moment?"

You won't have time to do everything for them. Also, IMO, doing everything for them is exactly what would ruin the trip for them. So don't. :)

quote bojibob: MY ISSUE is where to stop being a gentleman and a father with a desire to take care of your kid and not ruin the experience of a wilderness trip... this is probably just something that has to be lived and in the moment?"

You will always be their father. Just be there for them and let them experience and learn for themselves. IMHO

An idea for the shower mat: Perhaps you have an old or used closed
cell foam pad, if not they are quite affordable. We cut it up into pieces that fit into the duluth packs. This works well as padding so you don't have any lumpy things sticking you in the back if things shift inside the pack. When at camp we use these mats at the entrance of the tent to kneel on as we enter the tent and take off muddy or wet shoes.

They also work great if you find yourself kneeling near the fire or when cooking.

Personally, I don't worry about the shower. We do find time to warm up water wash our hands & face and bathe (100' away from shore, of course) and it does feel nice on a warm day. I never bring deodorant.

My Advice? Make sure the ladies know how cut and gather firewood, light the fire, cook a great meal on it, clean it all up, portage, pitch the tent, clean fish, repack all the gear in the morning, ... LOL ... just kidding!

You and I spoke in the BWCA chat room about a year ago, Boji. I was planning my first trip with my 7 year old son and I was a little apprehensive. You gave me sound advice that day, and a great deal of encouragement to plan a wonderful trip for us and, in the end, we had a fantastic adventure! During our conversation you also mentioned how you'd love the opportunity to take your daughter on a trip. Well, it appears your opportunity is here!

The advice you gave me that day was to plan our trip according to my sons likes, dislikes, and abilities. To keep it simple and to give him responsibilities that he could manage.

I did all of that, and my son will be a die hard BWCA lover for the rest of his life, if not a lover of all wilderness! In fact, he's been so turned on to the outdoors because of our trip last summer that we're planning another adventure next spring that will include a few days hiking in the back country of the Badlands, and a few days climbing and trout fishing in the Black Elk Wilderness.

In short, I don't think you really need advice on tripping with your daughter and the other ladies, you know what you're doing out there. I think that just a little encouragement is all you need.

Plan a great trip keeping the girls strengths and abilities in mind and it'll be a fantastic experience for all of you!

-Jim

I owe my daughter a dad/daughter trip. I've been with my son several times and the whole family several times, but the timing has not worked out for my daughter...yet. I think you guys will have a great time. The young women are fortunate to have dads who can, and will do something like this. BTW, if you need a third hand, my 23 year old single son said he would be willing to help out.

This thread is pretty entertaining. In my 50 years to canoe tripping, only in the last 10 have we been willing to take men and or boys with us. All women trips were the norm.

As the grandkids get older we can't leave the boys home. They are more into fishing than the girls so they require lots of extra stuff (tackle, rods, reels, bait) and are slower moving because they always want to stop and fish.

It is all in the prospective and what you are accustom to having on a trip. Our teen grandkid co-ed trip last summer was the best - very little fishing and more miles. No one whined much because they didn't want to be the weak-link in the chain. Team work actually became the norm.

Moving slowly can be a fine thing.

quote crumpman: " BTW, if you need a third hand, my 23 year old single son said he would be willing to help out."

Hahaha! That made me laugh out loud!

You might consider the individual packages of wipes instead of a big package. I no there is some rationing scheme in the back of your head since there is so much discussion on TP. My wife likes them.
Tush Wipes

Throne - I first brought one of these when my dad came with about 10 years ago. He was in his 70s and it made it a lot easier on him. Since then, we have brought it on every trip. Makes a proper throne combined with some no see um netting. It does add a couple of pounds, but seems well worth it. We only use it at camp, and it reduces the number of cat holes we have to dig.

Luggable Loo

I cut the bottom out of the bucket (should be obvious why). A little rinse in the lake before we pack is all it ever needs. It fits inside the bottom of a GG Superior One, and we store our sleeping bags etc. in dry bags inside of it.

I've camped with the ladies on many many trips. The biggest thing I've noticed when males and females camp together is that women are not impressed with male habits such as farting, spitting, snorting, and peeing in camp.

Women take bathroom duties more privately and prefer not to make a commotion about walking back in the woods where a man often will announce his intentions and then tell everyone about how it went when he returns.

Be respectful towards a women's desire for privacy when they need it.
I would guess this might be advice that could be used in society in general as well as in the woods.

Tom

quote linkster: "Throne - I first brought one of these when my dad came with about 10 years ago. He was in his 70s and it made it a lot easier on him. Since then, we have brought it on every trip. Makes a proper throne combined with some no see um netting. It does add a couple of pounds, but seems well worth it. We only use it at camp, and it reduces the number of cat holes we have to dig.


Luggable Loo


I cut the bottom out of the bucket (should be obvious why). A little rinse in the lake before we pack is all it ever needs. It fits inside the bottom of a GG Superior One, and we store our sleeping bags etc. in dry bags inside of it."

Thanks for the link. While I would not need this on a Quetico trip, it will come in handy for a desert canoe trip. Its kind of expensive to rent a portable toilet. And I can also take it in my sea canoe for use on camping on Maine Islands.. very cool..

As a woman... and with lots of experience bringing my gal friends and relatives, I focus on avoiding misery. Especially if their first trip out.

Comfort - Big Agnes Pads are great. Hammocks are enjoyed. Crazy Creek Chairs a hit.

Avoid Portage Agony - Consider each person, I try to have various weights of packs. Ok to be challenged, have the experience, but avoid misery.

Warmth - Some women get cold quickly, plan accordingly. Especially really warm sleeping bags. Stay dry.

Organization - Organize the camp and make it easy for them to find what they need. CCS lean is great to have one place where larger items are stored. Also, we carabineer waterproof bags on the clothesline for frequently needed items; tp, jetboiler/fuel/matches, cups etc.

Cleanliness - Again wet wipes great. Wouldn't worry about shower, but yes clean hair important, foldable sink does the trick to carry water and wash hair.

Food/drink - what is their comfort food/drink? Are they coffee drinkers - tea drinkers? The jet boiler is great for quick warm comforting drinks.

Finally - I encourage them to bring something important to them (within reason); camera, small book, journal, binoculars ...

Oh and bring bunch of TP!

If I am the female on your trip, please disregard absolutely everything in this thread. Ha ha

No offense to any individual poster, but most of these posts made me laugh out loud.

One thing that might take some worry out of the trip if they are already taking them is continuous birth control pills for the trip. They can discuss with their doctor if they are not already using this method. Many people take one tablet of active pills for three months or longer and skip having a cycle for that time. They would need to be prepared with backup supplies, though, if they forget to take a pill for a day or two.

I agree the cup is also good option if they can get used to using it. Putting TP in a brown paper bag and burning daily in the fire pit is an approved method by the rangers and safer than burning anywhere else. Packing out is also an option.

We use a sun shower every few days. I'm miserable without washing my hair, too. The camp soap isn't too hard to rinse out. I've found getting half a bucket of water and plunging my head in a few times works well enough, then dump water well away from shore. No big deal if it's cold as long as the rest of me is dry.

Include them on the planning and ask them for advice on what to bring, they are smart young women, they will do fine, don't over think it :)

Portage99: "If I am the female on your trip, please disregard absolutely everything in this thread. Ha ha

No offense to any individual poster, but most of these posts made me laugh out loud. "

Very good . You raised a dead post.

yellowcanoe: "

Portage99: "If I am the female on your trip, please disregard absolutely everything in this thread. Ha ha

No offense to any individual poster, but most of these posts made me laugh out loud. "

Very good . You raised a dead post. "

I think someone deleted a comment? Because this was in the current listing of posts as I caught up on my reading. Anyway, moderators feel free to delete...my post or the whole thread. lol

Common for phishermen... haha to do this. They caught ya 99. Haha! I’m thinking there are a few women that chuckle at the posts. There are some great female paddlers out there that would give a lot of guys here a run for their money. A lot of gals out west here living outta vans and such. Very resourceful too.

Portage99: "

yellowcanoe: "Very good . You raised a dead post. "

I think someone deleted a comment? Because this was in the current listing of posts as I caught up on my reading. Anyway, moderators feel free to delete...my post or the whole thread. lol"

Sometimes trolls come and post comments with links to crap they are trying to sell on old posts. When they do the mods delete the post, but by then the old thread has already been resurrected. I’ve seen it a bunch in the past year.