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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Solo Tripping :: Law of Diminishing Returns
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| Author | Message Text | ||
| PineKnot |
Lastly, it seems that the number of solo paddlers is on the rise, which has led to increased opportunities for "group" solos....As TomT alluded to, these group solos can really help those concerned with feelings of being lonely, bored, tired, etc, especially as solo trips get longer than a couple weeks.... |
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| jillpine |
What have you found that you gained from: - 14 days that you didn't gain from 10 days? - 21 days that you didn't gain from 14 days? - longer than 21 days? The longest I've wilderness camped was 10 days. I was sad when it was day 10. Actually, it was more like a quiet sob session as I loaded the canoe. |
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| minnmike |
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| TomT |
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| boonie |
Obviously you gain a lot of food weight, fuel, personal items. The need for careful planning. In exchange you gain time, options, alternative routes, flexibility. You lose more weight :). Do a longer route, do the same route more slowly, do some of both. What the other guys said. Personally I started with one week vacation, which was really 9 days - 5 days sandwiched between two long days driving there, then 2 (2 1/2) back. The 5 days was really 4 1/2 and sometimes a good chunk of that was bad weather. A couple were cut short by weather. I never really got in the flow on those trips. So having two weeks and three weekends made a big difference. That's when I started gradually do longer trips and really got the bug to do longer ones and started working towards doing those. |
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| MossBack |
MB |
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| luft |
Banksiana: "I think 10-12 nights is the sweet spot. More and the food mass is too much of a burden at the beginning of the trek. Less and it seems like that exit day is always in your view. Want the trip to be long enough that there are a few days where you have to count back to figure out what day it is and whether you have enough nights left to reach your exit." This is my preferred length as well. I am still never ready to leave the woods but can't justify carrying an extra pack full of food to extend the trip longer than 10-12 days. I've done many impromptu long weekend trips and while I still enjoy them immensely it seems like I've just arrived and now it's time to exit again. |
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| AmarilloJim |
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| egknuti |
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| Banksiana |
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| Nigal |
jillpine: "When applied to solo wilderness paddling, does this law exist? :) Kevin Calin always talks about the 4 day threshold for solo trips and you have to go longer than four days before you really see mental gains. I’ve done five days and will be doing 9 days next month so I’m looking forward to seeing the difference. |
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| jdddl8 |
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| boonie |
Where do you plan to enter and go? |
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| Nigal |
boonie: "Nigal, I think you'll enjoy the 9 days. I'm more relaxed when I have more time and don't have to stress about it. At least as long as I don't get over-ambitious with route, which I have been known to do ;). I’m in that very position now. I’m going in at #16 to Agnes and then over to Oyster, Hustler, Loon and kind of make my way up to Lac Criox and then back south. I figured the portages yesterday and it was right at 9.5 miles. Double portaging means x3, carry the 1 and....yeah, gonna figure something shorter out. LOL! One thing I like to do before trips is be very moody and snappish before leaving and then come home like a buddhist monk. 8) |
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| boonie |
Have you thought about heading straight north from Oyster instead of west there? It's pretty nice up through there and west from Pocket. Or east from Pocket would be another option. Double portaging does add up some miles, especially if you want to do enough of them to get away from the biggest crowds. I usually just figure it in like you are, plan a couple weather days, and about 10 +/- miles each travel day. Maybe have 1 or 2 route options. You'll find the 4 extra days good for mellowing out :). Let us know how it was for you when you get back. |
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| boonie |
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| LittoralZone |
I like/agree with what others have said here, and I'll add this. On the financial side - it lowers the cost per day of the trip. And now that I've bought a canoe that cost is a little less, though Quetico per night camping fees do add up. Again, I look at it as cost per day. Cheaper than most other places I could go and enjoy less. On the mental/emotional side - it seems to take me a day or two to let go and really start settling into the flow of the wilderness. On shorter trips after a few days of being in the flow I start saying to myself "only 2 days left", "only 1 day left", "heading out tomorrow, the trip's over"... and I'm out of the flow just as I get into it. On the longer trips I have more of those in the flow days, and I'm staying in the flow until I get to the last portage and climb into the towboat for the ride back to the outfitter. And I'm a bit of a loner, I'm fine with my own thoughts and my dog Crawford's company. On the physical side - I'm healthy, stay fit year round and I spend at least 2 to 3 months before each trip working out and getting in decent trip shape. I can get 14 days worth of good food in one pack and easily handle the weight. Crawford carries his own food. I take it slow and easy, triple portaging. As long as I can keep doing that, I'll plan on 14 day or longer solo trips. My first solo back in 1998 was a big learning experience. The trip was tough, thanks to too much/heavy gear/food and weather. After 7 days I was more than ready to come out. In 2017 I was more prepared, both with gear and mentally. After 12 days, on one hand I was ready to head back to civilization, but on the other I wasn't. I could have easily got cleaned up, reloaded with food and headed back in for more. Last year, 2019, after 13 days I dreaded the thought of ending the trip, I was kind of somber about it. Mentally I could have stayed indefinitely, I was enjoying living out of a couple of packs. After we got home both myself and, I believe, Crawford longed to be back in the Q. If work would allow, or if able to after retirement, I'd love to push it to 21 days or more. I'd carry another food pack if need be. Or, do two weeks, head to outfitter's to clean up and reload, then back in for another two weeks. So, my long winded answer to your question - Law of Diminishing Returns, When applied to solo wilderness paddling, does this law exist? I say NO! It does not. It's the Law of Increasing Returns. |
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| Nigal |
boonie: "I don't know what he does up there, but . . . he's so mellow when he comes back, grasshopper :) Yes I'm thinking of heading north through Rocky up to Geo-whatever-it-is then out to LaCroix and back out. With a day or two or meandering and lollygagging in between. I'll definitely post a trip report. Thanks. |