Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Solo Tripping :: Screw It. I'm Going Anyway.
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OBX2Kayak |
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nctry |
quote hooky: "Everything is packed up and ready to go. I've got way too much food, so I'm sure some of that will stay in the car at Sawbill. Probably have too much tackle. But I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. Be careful about leaving food in your car during a trip. |
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markaroberts |
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ducks |
What route did you do? For my solo later this year I'm thinking of heading to the Wine area. |
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hobbydog |
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nctry |
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butthead |
Take it easy and a bit slow, the handling IS different, even when paddling a tandem as a solo. I recommend a Prism just to get a good experience of paddling a solo canoe, one of the most stable hard tracking solos I have been in. Tandems can be a handful paddled solo, only real advantage is width and associated initial stability. More prone to wind and wave, and paddled solo do not track or steer as well. butthead |
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Huntindave |
quote hooky: " I solo hike, hunt and kayak, so being alone isn't a big deal. I actually kind of like it. Rods as mentioned are not a problem. Similar to what you will be doing I've transitioned from a kayak to a solo Prism. You will find the prism to be very close stability wise as what you are used to in a kayak. I have no trouble fishing from my Prism. I don't bring any fish into the boat which I do not intend to keep. Getting in and out of the prism can be much like you are accustomed to also. Sometimes in deeper water, I will, when getting out, lean forward in the seat getting my feet behind me and transfer from a sitting to a kneeling position. Then from the kneeling position, I can grab a gunnel in each hand while swinging the first leg out and into the water to touch bottom. |
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hooky |
One more thing that I realized last night - a #4 pack is way too big for one person. I think I'll just rent a smaller one from Sawbill and use my daypack to carry my bear vault and tackle box. I appreciate all the help. |
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housty9 |
Have fun and a safe trip and always where your life jacket. |
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Bogwalker |
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ducks |
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nctry |
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gnegard |
A solo canoe takes a little getting comfortable with. They can be a little more unstable, but after a lake crossing or two, you should be comfortable. But, remember, you could still use a tandem canoe and go solo. Nothing says you have to be in a Prism, or solo canoe. I've done both, and actually, I like my tandem, which is a Mad River 16 foot. A little wide in the beam, but very stable, and with packs and dog, it gives me plenty of stability and room. Just a thought. Do what you feel comfortable with. |
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Bogwalker |
Be sure to sit your ass down in the canoe before lifting your leg from shore or firm footing or you will get wet. Also as you paddle think of keeping your shoulders inside the width of the gunwales and your hips on a swivel. If you are tense or stiff it could lead to trouble. Good luck, be safe and enjoy. |
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OldGoat |
Welcome to the world of solo tripping. Having partners cancel out for one reason or another is precisely how I wound up with a basement full camping gear only suitable for one person. I decided if I was going to spend money on gear I needed to be prepared to go even if everyone else canceled. I would suggest a solo boat rather than a tandem paddled backwards, although I do both. The Prism will simply be more efficient when paddled solo. Good luck and stay safe. Goat |
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Bogwalker |
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ducks |
I rented it from VNO in Ely because they have ones set up as a solo with 1 seat in the center and they charge the same price as a solo canoe when you rent it set up that way. I think Hungary Jack on the Gunflint trail has the SR Q 16 set up as a solo but I'm not positive. Have a great trip! |
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hooky |
Can't wait to get up there and on the water. |
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hooky |
I"m going anyway. The catch? I've never portaged like this or paddled a solo canoe. I'm good with a map and compass. I solo hike, hunt and kayak, so being alone isn't a big deal. I actually kind of like it. I need to cram some knowledge into the next 48 hours and I'm hoping for some help. My rods are 7 foot and one piece. Will they fit in a solo prism, given it's shorter length and what I assume will be faster taper to the bow? I'm worried them being in the way and I'm thinking about buying a couple of 2 piece rods. At 70-80 each for a decent 2 piece, I'd like to avoid buying them. Since I've never paddled a solo canoe before and all of my time in a canoe has been as the motor, I'm thinking about taking one of my yak paddles. I have 220 and 240 cm. Which would be best for a 31" gunwhale or would it make a difference? I'm 6'3 with a 37" sleeve. Anything else I should consider, like how the hell do you get in and out a solo? In my yak, i just swing my legs out of the cockpit and stand while the paddle is behind me on the cockpit bracing. |
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Exo |
You will adjust to a solo canoe easily. |
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OldGoat |
Goat |
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hooky |
I hadn't thought about paddling a tandem backwards. Now I'm thinking about it. Is the Prism tippy feeling, but with good secondary stability or the other way around? |
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Duckman |
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bhouse46 |
Think about how the trip will be different such as do you eat differently when alone or when with groups? and what will you do with the time you would spend socializing around the fire? Reflect? and finally figure the time it will take to set and break camp alone. Glad you are doing it anyway; you might want to go alone more often once you get the taste. |
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housty9 |
This was my 1st trip I didn't carry live bait, and caught my 1st lake trout also. |
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boonie |
Everybody takes too much food the first time :). It took me several trips to get it dialed in pretty good. Tackle weight (or camera gear, or whatever) adds up in a hurry. I think a lot of us started to solo the same way - nobody to go with and just didn't want to miss the trip. |
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Duckman |
I spent that Monday stuck on Cherokee on my way to Frost. Drove up all day Sunday in the rain. Left Sawbill Monday morning in the rain(and kind of enjoyed it). Then it got old. Then the wind picked up halfway up Cherokee. Two people could have soldiered on, solo I figured I better stop. Spent the rest of the day sitting in the rain on the big rock by the water on the peninsula site on the west side in awe that it could rain/drizzle for so long. Boiled some water in one of those 20 minute breaks, put up the tent in the other. I'd rather deal with a quick strong storm or two than a constant rain like that. |
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Duckman |
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ducks |
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hooky |
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hooky |
I ended up giving some away and pitched a little into the secured dumpster. I went out of Sawbill to Alton and then north to Wine. Hit Mesaba, Dent, Trail and all the little connectors in between before coming back out and spending my last night on Alton. I had a couple of really long days in there. I spent Sunday & Monday nights on Wine at the island campsite. it rained all day Monday with the exception of a couple of 20 minutes windows. Here's what it looked like breaking camp Tuesday morning. This was my view for most of Monday. The rest of the time my view was a lot better, as the weather straightened out. |
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hooky |
Long story short, I ended up in a Vagabond and the 240 was plenty of paddle. Portaging takes some getting used to and the long portage on the way to Wine on Day 1 was a hump. I caught my first lake trout. Took way too much tackle and food, but not enough ibuprofen after jacking up my foot on day 1. I saw people on the way in and on the way out. I didn't see anyone in between. I saw I could buy leeches at Sawbill, but didn't realize they'd be $4.95/dozen. No live bait for the trip. I had a lot of fun. I read a couple of books during a rainy memorial day and before falling asleep each night. I caught fish in every lake where I really tried to catch fish. I came out a day early because of my injury and running out of ibuprofen, but still loved it. I'd go again. |