Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Solo Tripping :: first solo trip
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boonie |
The main reason I don't bring one, Tom, is the same reason I don't bring a lot of other things - weight, bulk, etc. I usually just sit on a log or legs stretched out on a nice slab of granite, sometimes there's a nice grassy spot. I have also used my BearVault as a stool, but Ursacks don't work as well ;). I have used my PFD as a pad, but I hear that's not the greatest thing for something you're counting on to float you ;). I might take a piece of closed cell foam . . . Gad! My brain is becoming addled by old age, Tom :). Maybe I'm just a hard-a**! :) On a slightly more serious note, a lot of people take a chair because of their bad back. Sitting too much is what makes mine bad. To be honest, my back hurts when I get up off the couch at home, so a chair in the BW is not going to be any better. I manage to hurt about the same without a chair as I would with one, so . . . I stretch it out, get up and walk around, stand - same as home. You'll survive without one, Tom, especially if you're not focused on "man, I don't have a chair - wish I brought my chair". Go for it, Tom, in your quest for old school simplicity, and see if you want to bring it next time. |
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cowdoc |
foam pad |
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TomT |
Boonie, I'm considering not taking a chair when I solo in Sept. Do you sit on any kind of pad? How do you manage and curious why you don't bring one? |
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boonie |
If you are not averse to taking one or two longer, tougher portages, then you should be able to achieve that to a large extent. You could, for example, enter at Sawbill and take the portage from Lujenida to Zenith, which will eliminate the vast majority of people who have entered at Sawbill. You are now in an area that is much less used. You can make a nice little loop around the lakes there and exit the way you came. You could also enter at Kawishiwi Lake and head up beyond Malberg into the Adams, Boulder, Makwa area, which sees a lot less use. You would also exit at Kawishiwi Lake. There are some other options depending on how much or how little you want to travel and/or portage. I double portage; consequently I add twice the portage distance to the map distance when calculating my travel. I usually aim to travel about 8 miles a day for 2 out of 3 or 3 out of 4 days on a 12-day trip. I do not fish. I also enjoy journaling, observation, photography, and reading. I try to maximize time for those activities by minimizing others. I eat simple meals - Freezer bag meals: cold cereal, food bars, dehydrated dinners eaten of the bag - that require little or no prep and no clean up. They require little time, fuel, and no extra "kitchen items". The use of bear canisters/Ursacks eliminates the need to hang a food pack. I do not take an axe or saw since I rarely build a fire, preferring to sit in the dark and star gaze or ponder things. There is no chair and no lantern. Others enjoy those things and you may too, but something you'll want to think about. There's lots of information about soloing tripping in past threads in this forum if you search. Good luck with your planning. |
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TomT |
quote boonie: " It will probably be a last minute decision. I'll see how heavy and bulky my packs are and how old school I want to take this trip. I'm thinking more simplicity is a good thing. |
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boonie |
I don't know if you'll have the same experience as me or not, but you'll only know if you try. I assume your Vittles Vault isn't tall enough to make a stool. Another factor may be that there's not as much "fire area structure" in the Q as in the BW, but I don't usually end up sitting there that much. Maybe just a square of closed cell foam or even reflectix bubble wrap. You will be able to sit in your hammock anyway . . .? jwipp- Any more thoughts on a route or other questions? |
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jwipp2 |
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jwipp2 |
Jwipp2 |
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KevinL |
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jwipp2 |
Jwipp2 |
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ducks |
Have a great trip! |
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boonie |
Yes, you can get to Pan Lake in 2 days. A couple of old, out of shape guys did it in 2014 - se my trip report and inspector 13's for some details. Here is a link to my photo album on shutterfly if you want to look at some pictures in the 2014 album. We went on up through Little Sag and exited out Sawbill. If you double portage, it's about 9 miles to Polly and about 9.5 to Pan. There's about 3 miles of portaging each day assuming double portaging. One of the portages on the way to Pan was flooded out in 2014 and required a little extra work. If planning to stay on Polly, I'd get there early. We didn't see anyone from Koma to Pan. Actually, only one couple between there and Kelso. When are you entering? Water levels from Kawishiwi up through there can vary with the season. We went in Sept. Good luck. Enjoy your solo. |
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cowdoc |
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housty9 |
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TomT |
Keep a journal to give ideas on how to improve for the next time. Beymer Book&*Version*=1&*entries*=0 |
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Marten |
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jwipp2 |
Thanks, Jwipp2 |
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boonie |
Solos tend to be very individualistic by their very nature. Generally speaking you may carry slightly heavier loads since no one shares the weight of community gear, so you may want to consider ways to lighten the load. You'll find many ideas for doing that by searching back through old threads in this forum. You'll also be the only one doing camp chores, so no one will filter water while you set up the tent, etc. I try to simplify these camp chores, especially for solos. I like lots of relaxing, quiet time on my solos, but some people like to keep busy. I usually plan shorter travel days - a couple of miles or an hour at least - than I would otherwise. You may travel faster or slower than you do on a group trip - only time will tell. How far do you normally travel in a day? I would take the hammock since it worked well for you and is probably lighter than the 3-person tent. Are you looking for a loop trip or would a point-to-point with a short shuttle or short walk be OK? Maybe the Lady Chain from Kawishiwi to Sawbill, or Cross Bay to Poplar, or Cross Bay to Missing Link, or a short loop out of any of these. |