BWCA Late May Solo Suggestions Boundary Waters Group Forum: Solo Tripping
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MattM
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01/12/2016 06:27PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I'm looking for some advice for my fourth solo trip. I am having trouble choosing an entry point that will allow me some solitude and possible fishing opportunities. I have found that fishing is not a priority for me on solo trips, but I love to wet a line once in a while.

I am hoping that I can use this trip to scout a new area to bring my family and friends to in the future.

I am leading two groups in June. One group will do a loop through Meeds (two nights on Omega and then two nights on Gaskin or Horseshoe) and out through Lizz. The second group is going through Skipper/Portage and looping back to exit at Lizz. I am very familiar with these areas and love them, but I need to do something different.

I have done trips through Ram, Bower Trout, and Morgan so these entry points would be out as well.

I have looked at entering through Baker and heading up to Wine Lake and spending a few days exploring that area. I have also looked at entering at Cross Bay, but that looks like a very busy area.

Ideally, I would like to spend one night at one site and then two nights at another, but I am not opposed to traveling each day.

I will be renting a Northwind Solo (absolutely loved this boat on my last solo) from Sawtooth in Tofte and planning on spending the night at the Mangy Moose in Grand Marais on Wednesday 5/25. I will be entering early in the morning on Thursday 5/26.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Off topic, but I am also planning an eight night Quetico solo in August heading out of Beaverhouse. This will be my first Quetico trip and I will probably be asking for advice on that one in the near future.

Thank you!

 
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01/12/2016 07:14PM  
I did a solo up through Wine and onto Trail over the week of Memorial Day last year. I went in on Sawbill. Once I got off Alton, I only saw one other group (on Wine) until I came out. It was pretty country and it's got me thinking about a Frost River route in the fall through some of the same country.

I caught fish everywhere I tried to catch fish, but there were some lakes I just paddled through.

 
01/13/2016 06:11AM  
How are things going Matt? Did you ever share how your Oct. solo went? Sorry, I can't remember as time is flying by.

I entered at Baker a couple of years ago with my then 9yo daughter.. Only made it as far a Jack but loved the small lakes and would like to venture further sometime. Lots of moose in the area.

Wine area.... Louse River and/or Frost River are definitely on my solo radar.

I've never done a May trip before and I'm hoping to make my solo this year in May. Rockwood's new owners added the Northwind Solo (woo hoo) to their fleet so I'm planning to enter at Ram or Morgan with a shuttle and exiting at Lizz. In August I'm hoping to get a Bower Trout permit for my daughter's trip.

You're taking the big step to the Q.... very exciting.
 
MattM
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01/13/2016 09:15AM  
Hey ducks!

Good to hear that the new owners of Rockwood have added the Northwind. I have never used Rockwood and should check them out. I might use them instead of Sawtooth depending on my final route. If you rent a bunkhouse through them do you get your own private room or are sharing a room with other people?

I have done two October solo trips now. Each one has been over MEA weekend. Last year I used your advice and headed up South Kawishiwi River and had a great time.

This year I decided to take a nice leisurely trip to horseshoe, cold temps were predicted and I thought it would be nice to see that area during a quiet time. It dropped down to 16, so it was a bit chilly. I did not see one person the entire time. I think that I was the only one parked at the poplar landing (maybe one other car). This was a great trip and I was able to check out every campsite in the area that I had not stayed on in the past.

I have done both Ram and Morgan to Lizz. They are both nice trips. I think that I enjoyed the Ram trip a bit more, maybe because this was first trip to the bwca. I stayed on the island site on Little Trout and had the lake to myself. I enjoyed this small lake. The portage to Misquah is fairly tough, but if you are packed light it is really not too terrible.

I'm not sure if my wife will give the OK for a full eight day trip to Quetico, but I will for sure be going for at least five days. I'm super excited to check it out.

 
MattM
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01/13/2016 10:27AM  
Thanks for the insight hooky.

Did you make it to Trail in one day? That looks like an impressive day!

How many nights was your trip and did you make a loop or do an out and back trip?
 
01/13/2016 06:59PM  
Matt,

You get your own room with a private bathroom/shower at Rockwood. There are 4 units with a deck that you can see the lake through the trees.

Ohhh yes, it was very cold MEA this year. It was a week after Mya had spent a week at Children's so we didn't even bother bringing the canoe up for our stay in Grand Marais. We tried shore fishing a couple of lakes along the Gunflint Trail and the girls didn't last long with that cold and the wind blowing in their faces from across the lake. We did a little hiking and of course had a great meal at the Trail Center. Always fun up there no matter what the conditions.

 
MattM
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01/13/2016 07:54PM  
Thanks for the information ducks. I'm so glad to hear that your daughter is doing well and that you were able to enjoy your yearly MEA family vacation.

I think the bunkhouse and rental from Rockwood will work perfectly for me.

I think I have decided to head in at Cross Bay and see if I can make it to Frost lake on day one. If not, I will certainly spend a night there. I am thinking about doing the Frost River route with my brother, so this would give me a chance to day trip some of the route and get a feel for the area.

Looks like a call to Rockwood is on the schedule tomorrow.

When are you planning on taking a trip in May? It would be nice to cross paths sometime.
 
01/13/2016 10:03PM  
quote MattM: "Thanks for the insight hooky.


Did you make it to Trail in one day? That looks like an impressive day!


How many nights was your trip and did you make a loop or do an out and back trip? "


I did Wine on Day 1 and it was relatively easy. You could make Trail in one long day, but that's not my idea of enjoyable anymore. There was someone who gave me advice in my "please help me" thread who said his group had done it.

I went in on a Sunday and came out on Friday morning. It was basically just a big lollipop loop.
 
01/14/2016 06:29AM  
quote MattM: "Thanks for the information ducks. I'm so glad to hear that your daughter is doing well and that you were able to enjoy your yearly MEA family vacation.


When are you planning on taking a trip in May? It would be nice to cross paths sometime."


Thanks....... kids are very rubbery and bounce back quickly :)

It all depends on my wife's work schedule. I'm really hoping for the weekend of the 21st but if it works out better for Memorial Weekend I'd do it then.

It would be very cool to cross paths especially seeing that our potential routes could take us both through Omega and around the same time.
 
03/20/2016 09:12AM  
Matt. It looks like my May solo will be the weekend before fishing opener. My wife has a stretch of 6 days in a row off from work. Now I have to see if I can get a couple of personal days off to make it a 4 day weekend. Planning on renting a Northwind Solo from Rockwood, then getting a shuttle to Morgan, and exiting at Lizz.
 
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