Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: my first solo tips and advice
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GSP |
Bannock: "I love your easy, laid back solo plan. Man after my own heart. Bring a comfy chair and/or a hamock. Also a book. Stephen King has some good books, very relaxing. |
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boonie |
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lundojam |
Thanks! |
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WonderMonkey |
lundojam: "I've got my first solo planned May 18 Wood Lake. Just a long weekend. I plan to catch some walleyes and take some naps. Should be nice and easy, not really interested in a big physical challenge, just a weekend of fishing and relaxing. I've got extensive solo paddling and fishing experience; it's where I do some of my best work.:) Never camped solo though, so I'm having some of the usual anxiety that folks express before a solo and am wondering if anybody has any tips for either the mental side of it of for the camping side of it. I'm not freaking out or anything, but more information is almost always better. The solitude is something that will have to be gotten used to. It's not the normal solitude you do when out for a day solo trip, or even one night of it. It's more than that. Some will say it isn't a big deal but it is different for everyone. If you like music, take some along even though nature is right there doing its own sounds. Read a book, etc. Think about what to do in the camp when you are not fishing. Sure, naps, but what else? I suggest that once you arrive, go slower. When gathering and processing wood, do it leisurely. Cook your meals carefully. Clean up slowly. While doing these activities look around and see what you are interacting with. Need to be better at plant and tree identification? Take along a book for that. Same for birds if you are into that. |
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Pilgrimpaddler |
lundojam: "I have my first solo planned May 18 Wood Lake. Just a long weekend. I plan to catch some walleyes and take some naps. Should be nice and easy, not really interested in a big physical challenge, just a weekend of fishing and relaxing. I have extensive solo paddling and fishing experience; it's where I do some of my best work. :) Never camped solo though, so I'm having some of the usual anxiety that folks express before a solo and am wondering if anybody has any tips for either the mental side of it of for the camping side of it. I'm not freaking out or anything, but more information is almost always better. I did my first solo last June, and while I expected to have a few anxious moments I found that I really didn't have any issues, even though I had some wild weather and got turned around once on my way out. From my very limited experience, if you're confident in your skills and can stand your own company for an extended period of time, you should have clear sailing (or paddling). |
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QueticoMike |
You need to go on a longer trip to get the full effect of the solo trip, but this will be a good starter. You need to like yourself if you go on a solo trip or you will be battling demons in your head. Take a radio if you want if you get tired of yourself or you want some company or even a weather report. You get up when you want. You eat when you want. You eat what you want. You do what you want. You fish where you want. You fish what you want to fish for. You fish as long as you want. You go to bed when you want. Take naps when you want. You get the idea, no one to worry about but yourself. Take along a camera or cell phone with a self timer so you can get fish picture selfies. Get plenty of wood, gives you something to do at night. It will go fast and will seem to be over as soon as it starts. Have fun! |
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treehorn |
Lots of good advice here. Bring things to pass the time, because what I found was that the time did go slow, and the days were long. Even as you go about your chores and fish for a while and do whatever you like, I found I would feel like I accomplished plenty during a given day, and it would only be 3pm or something. That's including packing/moving camp, paddling to a different lake (not terribly far away, but still), fishing along the way, and setting camp up again, or a decent day trip. I was there during some of the longest days of the year, so it will be different for you in May as the sun sets at a normal time and you can hit the rack if you're tired. I had daylight until 10pm, so those evenings would drag on a bit. People have mentioned radios, I like that idea. I found I would pull out my phone and watch videos of my kids and stuff...mostly out of boredom, but also reflecting on what my family means to me, etc. I certainly do look back on the trip very fondly, but I was also a bit surprised at how bored I was. Not expecting that going in, I don't think I brought much for myself to do outside of fishing and a book that I ended up not liking and not reading much of. In the future I think I could do a better job of avoiding that. |
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Bannock |
I like to bring a classic book, like one I was suppose to read in high school. One I may not read if it was not the only book I had. Barnes and Nobel has a rack of classics. Many have found their way on my solo trips. |
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SaganagaJoe |
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bwcasolo |
SaganagaJoe: "I'm contemplating my first solo trip as well, depending on when/if my current job dries up. Mine, I think, would be a bit more aggressive - Saganaga to Ester and Hanson, through Cherry and Lake of the Clouds and then back to Ottertrack. But I know the area fairly well, having been through a lot of it on several other trips, so not having the "new territory" think to deal with would be helpful. I'm thinking around five days. i will be in that area in the next few weeks. coming up moose lake. |
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Blatz |
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merlyn |
A few things I learned: start slow and discover your limitations , you will be stronger and wiser as your trip goes on. Take a big steak for the first night . |
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sueb2b |
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boonie |
Lots of useful discussion about it on the solo tripping forum. Check it out. I've done a lot of them - about a dozen in the BW, some in the ADK's, some backpacking here (WV) and lots of solo hiking, hunting, fishing, camping. Relax, enjoy yourself! There's nobody else to worry about, just do what you want. Everybody has different ideas about BW trips and preferences, and this is never more true than when it comes to a solo! I like to keep it simple since I'm the only one doing the work, then I like to just relax and enjoy the peace. Some people like to stay busy, some people like to take a nap. Some people like to travel, some people like to base camp. It's normal to feel a little anxious about the solo camping thing, but my experience is it disappears pretty quickly once you get out there and get going. You should be fine with all your experience. Enjoy your solo! |
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LilyPond |
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mjmkjun |
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mpeebles |
Enjoy and safe travels!........Mike |
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Jaywalker |
Technology is shrinking our world at an astonishingly fast pace. It can create enormous opportunities, but also creates constant and often trivial demands. When you start to nap and that moment of isolation hits you - relish it. It is becoming phenomenally rare in this world. |
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nctry |
People always want solitude... then bring 8 others who of which are out to break up any solitude from happening. Haha. In the seventies I duck hunted Wood Lake every MEA weekend because my hunting buddies cousin who had access to the boats down there. Great Lake! I’d take a day trip north into Indiana and the other neighboring lakes. I also look at where I’m at and see if there is something I might want to explore. Rest, but stay busy... books are good. But enjoy where you are... just take in every moment you can. |
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TomT |
GSP: " I once read Night of the Grizzlies on the train trip to go backpacking in Glacier National Park. Wrong! :) |
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lundojam |
Keep the advice coming. |
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nctry |
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AG4 |
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Wables |
1. Make sure you can get along with yourself. 2. When you quit paddling, everyone quits paddling. 3. Play rock, paper, scissors for chores. You will always lose and chuckle every time. 4. Don’t get sick. A 24 hour bug in September with rain, highs in the low 50s and lows at 30 sucks. 5. You will fish less and relax more, but bring bobbers. 6. Bring a weather radio. Weather is a bigger factor when you are solo. 7. Books are good. 8. Leave an itinerary. I brought a Spot that didn’t send my first 2 OK messages. Probably my fault. My family was in panic mode. Wanted to send out a search party. 9. Cook yourself a couple nice dinners. I have fond memories of bacon wrapped venison back straps on LLC, post sickness spaghetti dinner on Oyster, and fish tacos on Nina Moose. Have bad memories of throwing up broccoli cheddar rice with foil chicken on Oyster. Along with the hash brown breakfast and gorp lunch earlier in the day. 10. Make sure you can get along with yourself. |