Going to Sawbill in the morning to pick up a Prism rental and head out into the BW. Plan is to do the head up to little saganaga then towards Malberg and back to sawbill via the lady chain. I have solo backpack experience but this will be my first solo canoe trip. Thank you all forvthe tips and inspiration, hopefully I will have some good photos and stories to share. For my wifes sanity I will be bringing my Spot gps tracking device, I hope it doesn't have any issues like Majicpaddler's did.

awesome!!!!! have a great trip

Enjoy! You have a nice route planned.

Yep, I know the wife thing, I rented a sat phone (wife idea), on my first solo, but I was glad I did because my first night out in Quetico they were in the path of tornados in Nebraska. So it was good to make sure we were both ok and the kids also.
Have fun and hope you have good travels!

have fun

have a great time

Enjoy your trip. You will see some nice country - Little Sag is nice. Will look for a report when you return.

Have a safe and enjoyable trip griz81.

Hans Solo

Have a great time!

Have fun and be safe.

You will love it! Enjoy, be safe and share your story upon your return.

Well - I survived the trip, actually I ended up shortening it. Before I left on my trip I had turned in my resignation at work after a little over 15 years and accepted a new job with more responsibilities and all that goes with it. So I left the landing with a mixed mind set, on one hand I knew it was going to be my only chance for a decent break before I start my new job and on the other hand I had all the stress of what if and I should do this and that before I leave my current job.

Anyway I was thankfull when I picked up the Prism that I had brought my backpacking packs instead of my Guide Pack (CCS) this what was recommend by many of you. This was my first time paddling the prism, which was a learning experience. When I first left the landing I had a day pack behind me and my pack stuffed in the bow, that didn't work out very well. I carefully moved my day pack to the front which almost ended with everything in the drink! The prism was a treat to portage except on the 2 short portages that lead to Cherokee Lake, would have been nice to know that it was one long muddy portage.

This was a trip of firsts, on the first day I played hopscotch with 2 forest service rangers, which was the first time I have seen any forest service while on a trip. Then I had my permit checked, also a first.

So I left Sawbill at 10:45 and stopped for the night on Cherokee for my first evening, the one nasty portage was only real suprise that I had. I wasn't exactly the most comfortable in the prism, I am pretty used to my wide and super stable spirit 2, I also was not very used to the maneuvering aspect and was starting to wonder if my route was going to be a pain with some of the small water that I was considering. So that night with all the crap on my mind I decided to shorten my trip bit so I get home and spend a few days getting caught up with some much needed tasks that I know I wont have time for over the coming weeks. My plan now became head east and check out the Temperance Chain and work my way back.
Day 2 - I traveled from Cherokee to South Temperance Lake. The portages weren't to bad, some mud and hills but very enjoyable. I started to feel a little better in the Prism and had another first - a moose cow and calf sighting at the portage from North Temperance to South Temperance. I made camp at the sight across from the portage heading south out of south temperance and had nice leisurely day relaxing and thinking (some napping too) That day I had some guests visit me, a couple of very daring chipmunks (1 was actually quite the little hunter - I watched him viciously attack and eat a mouse) then there was a group of 8 martens that came into camp, right up the trail a very interesting encounter. Then as dusk came I had a very daring snowshoe hare that feed on the grass and weeds growing in camp.

Day 3 - I awoke to the sound of rain so I slept in a bit waiting for the weather to break. The night before I had reorganized my gear so I was ready to hit the water and the 240 rod right after coffee. It was an uneventful day, there was more wind and passing clouds. I kept paddling and portaging until I found myself at the 230 to Burnt lake and thought well what the heck lets do it. During this portage I slipped on some mud and felt a burning sensation up towards my calf mainly right above the back of my heal. The wind was blowing into the portage so I decided to do lunch and take some vitamin I for the pain. During my little lunch I looked at the map and felt that I should probably push forward and get out so I could ice my Achilles forvi feared it may not feel great the next morning if I stop for the afternoon. So into the wind I went, I pushed onward and made it to the Sawbill landing by about 3:45 not bad for a 8:30 start and 830 total rods (double portaged so actually I did 830x3=2490 rods)

Well it was successful, my spot messenger worked great. I got out and felt like I had proven to myself that my next trip could be portage heavy and it wouldn't be the end of the world. I enjoy the portages as much as I enjoy the paddling. Next trip I need to try to arrange when I am not stressed about jobs, home and other big changes. Next trip I need to let my mind relax!

Also I need to sell my tandem royalex and buy a kevlar, those things are amazing!

Thank you all for all of your support and well wishes!

My ankle is still tender but I think it will heal on its own, I hope.

Welcome home. Sounds like you packed a lot in a short time. Good luck on the new job.

Some nice firsts, some new understandings. A good trip. Hope the fall was nothing serious. I agree being able to cut the ties with the world is hard when there are pressing issues. That is something to look forward to in your own kevlar or ?

It sounds like it went pretty well everything considered - new job worries and stresses, new canoe, new experience. I am sure you'll be much more comfortable on the second one and more relaxed. Thanks for letting us know how it went.

Glad you made it back safe except your calf, that portage to Cherokee is a pain with the bogs, sunk 1 leg up to my knee in the muck, now you know what you need to change for your next trip.