Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Solo Tripping :: too long or too short solitude time?
|
Author | Message Text | ||
dentondoc |
But here's the deal. I physically reach canoe country on the 1st day. I don't mentally reach canoe country until the 3rd day. That's when my mental state gets into "nature's rhythm." Then about a day before I start toward my exit point, I start to "layer up" like an onion again. So for me, anything shorter than about a week would never get me to the point of getting "nature's high." However, I do think you get there a little quicker when you solo rather than go with a group. dd |
||
bwcasolo |
life is too short! |
||
yellowcanoe |
How far is the drive (as mentioned? I think you need a trip to drive ratio of over 3 to 1 to make the outing meaningful. I do lots of two week solos but also a fair number of 3-5 night ones. I can start right from home but usually its a three hour drive for those short solos. Usually in May I am more conservative in how long I am out. I don't suffer from being in a city ratrace so the tempo of a trip is the same as at home. It does take me a day to get my organization down pat..re portaging. Its amazing..every year I go through the same messy process. |
||
TomT |
There, that about covers it. Best of luck and write up a trip report with pics ok? |
||
sunnybear09 |
|
||
HansSolo |
As far as planning group trips and/or having time restrictions for vacation time, I feel your pain! I don't know that there's any predetermined trip length for a "Quetico-Superior" solo canoe trip, or a group trip for that matter, but longer is usually better, IMHO. It seems it takes a day or two until a person can "reset" the brain and get into the rhythm of a canoe trip. At least that's how it is for me. Having a week or more just seems more fulfilling and allows you more time to travel deep into "Quetico-Superior Country". This is especially true if you're planning a trip in Quetico Provincial Park. In Quetico, it takes a day or two in-order to venture across the larger lakes that dominate most of the Entry Points, and then travel deep into the Park. That said, four days doesn't seem sufficient for a Quetico canoe trip. In the BWCAW, not so much. With less drive time, you can get to the BWCAW more quickly, depending on where you live. Also, because there are more Entry Point options, and smaller lakes to begin your trip in the BWCAW, you can usually get deeper into the wilderness with less time. Although you'll most likely be "sharing" the wilderness with more people in the BWCAW. But, I'm sure you're aware of most of this. If you're just planning to go a few lakes in and base camp, four days seems like less of an issue, especially in the BWCAW. But, if you're like me and enjoy putting some miles under your belt, then a week or more is preferred. I especially enjoy Kevin Callan's "Wilderness Quest" video, which he released last year. In the video, Kevin makes a point about having at least a week or more to immerse yourself in Quetico Provincial Park to fully appreciate the experience and your surroundings. I couldn't agree more. But, if all you have is four days for a canoe trip, four days in "Quetico-Superior Country" is still better than four days at work. :-) Hans Solo |
||
HansSolo |
quote yellowcanoe: Wow, and here I thought I was the only one that went through this! :-) Hans Solo |
||
butthead |
butthead |
||
Rambler_Dog |
|
||
karlwithak |
quote butthead: "Rambler_Dog: Plan for a week long trip and stay that long if you wish, you can always head home early. Or come out after a few days and enjoy camping at different places on the way home. Butthead hit it right on the head, (no pun intended) if at all possible, take at least a week....you won't come out early. |
||
boonie |
Solo planning is a lot easier and...so is solo tripping :). Unless you're one of those guys like me who argues with himself. Plan for the whole week, Rambler Dog, and keep ramblin' on. As noted, you can always come out earlier if you want. |
||
jwartman59 |
quote HansSolo: "quote yellowcanoe: nope, me also. i've come to accept that on the first day everything will be a disorganized mess, no matter how carefully i packed at the entry point. at the first nights camp, as you are repacking, things fall magically in place. i blame most of this on my excitement to get the h away from my car and all of the people at the entry point. |
||
nctry |
|
||
IBFLY |
the top end just comes down to how much time you have or how long you feel comfortable by yourself. Or, how much food you can carry with you. |