Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

1st Solo Trip
by rlanason

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe
Entry Date: 07/10/2011
Entry & Exit Point: Lizz and Swamp Lakes (EP 47)
Number of Days: 6
Group Size: 1
Trip Introduction:
My goal for this year was to do two trips knowing that I probably wouldn't be able to go on any next year. I initially wanted to set up my first trip for late May/early June as a hardcore fishing trip. Couldn't find anybody to go. Lot's of "that sounds like fun", "maybe next year" "tell me how it goes" type responses but nobody to commit. I even got to the point where I was asking so many people at work that I was asking myself, "what if they say yes...do I really want to spend a week with them...I really don't even know them that well." I was so desperate that I even found myself asking Air Bob (sorry Bob I couldn't resist)! The days and weeks kept ticking by and I eventually got to the point where I found a week that would work out in my schedule and decided to have a go at 'er by myself. This would be only my second trip to the BW, but I did have previous experience with backpacking and remote camping.
Day 1 of 6
Saturday, July 9, 2011

Today started at my home in central Wisconsin. Woke up at about 6:00 am and headed out. Made it up to Grand Marais by about 3:00 pm. I wanted to go to the Lake Superior Trading Post to pick up a Voyageur Map as a backup to what I had already brought along. It was windy, rainy and cold. The city was having some sort of festival and I had to park a long way from the store. Finally found a spot and made it to the store. Wall to wall people and it took a little time to wiggle my way back to the map section of the store. I had never been to the Trading Post before, it is a nice place to pick up any last minute items before heading up the Gunflint. I walked around town a little bit and checked out some of the tourist trap stores. I then headed over to St. John's for confession and Saturday mass (be prepared, you never know what might happen on a solo trip!). After church I headed up the Gunflint Trail to the parking lot on Poplar Lake and spent the night in my van.