Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: 2024 BWCA - First Solo
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Maxspeed3 |
I'm currently in the planning stages of my first solo BWCA trip for late May/Early June of 2024 for 5-7 days. I'm looking to enter at Kawishiwi Lake #37 and head north into Malberg and set a "base camp" in the area. The goal of the trip is to travel for the first 1.5-2 days, then setup "base camp" and explore the surrounding area. I'm looking for the base camp to be more on the "secluded" side. I'm also an avid photographer and hoping to see wildlife as well as "fingers crossed" see an Aurora display. Also take time to just relax in nature and recharge the soul. I plan to fish a bit for Walleye, Smallmouth, and pike. Days 3-4: Day trips to the surrounding lakes (Amber, Bow, Fishdance, and maybe into Beaver Lake . Looking at maps does anyone have any photos or "insider information" on the single site on Fisher Lake, campsite #1035? Does this site tend to be busy? The thought of being "secluded" on a small lake alone is something I've always dreamed of in the boundary waters. How is the fishing in this lake? Rough Trip Itinerary: Day 1: Kawishiwi Lake - Travel through Square Lake - Kawasachong - Townline - End at Poly. For a solo traveler, planning to pack as light as possible and renting a solo canoe, is it reasonable to plan for the first day? Or is this reasonably too far to go on the first day? I know everyone is different. I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on this. Day 2: Lake Polly - Koma, fish for walleyes for a bit, hopefully score lunch and paddle to Malberg Lake for camp for the night. Day 3: Camp on Fisher? Day Trip - TBD. Day 4: Camp on Fisher? Day Trip - TBD. Day 5: Leave the Malberg Area and head to Polly. Day 6: Polly to back to Entry Point. I'd love to hear your thoughts, suggestions, what to do's and what not to do's. Cheers! |
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Ausable |
Check out the Maps & Entry Points tab at the top of the web pages. On the digital maps each campsite is marked with a red circle. Clicking on a circle will open a pop-up with a link to campsite reviews. Here are the reviews for the campsite on Fisher Lake: Fisher Lake campsite reviews |
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Ausable |
Solo Tripping forum |
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MikeinMpls |
Like Ducks, my second solo was on Kawishiwi. It was early in the season and the lake wasn't as crowded as it gets now. I base camped on Kawishiwi, I could've gone farther, but I was into setting up a tent and not doing much. It was a "shake down" trip where I tried to make improvements based on what I learned on my first solo. I think paddling to Polly is a healthy first day. It's not that far, but everything takes longer, because you're the only one doing the work. Obviously you can't paddle as fast as a tandem and if you are bucking the wind it's slower going yet. I think it's a good idea to give yourself enough time to set up camp the way you want, relax, and take it all in. You may find Polly so nice you decide to base camp there. You're the only one that gets to make that decision! In terms of soloing, especially the first couple trips, I always recommend going small. Get things the way you want them, and develop a routine that's comfortable for you. Make a list of everything you do right, improvements that need to be made, things to bring, and things to leave behind. I've gotten carried away on my last few solos and brought more crap than I should have. I also bring more food that I need. I get these fancy campsite cooking ideas. Though you likely won't be alone on Polly, take in the woods sounds at night, and judge your comfort level with solitude during the trip. Though I doubt it will be an issue, some people find out they're just not comfortable with the aloneness, or the eeriness of the woods at night. And at the risk of you or anyone else saying "no shit," drink water. Water. Water, drink it. The last two solos I have become irresponsibly dehydrated on the portages in and out. I underestimated the amount of water I lose panting over the portages! This thread reminds me that I have to pick a route for my July solo. Mike |
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ducks |
Have fun! Just an FYI... Kawishiwi EP is #37 |
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YardstickAngler |
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YetiJedi |
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YaMarVa |
I’ve made it to Malberg in 4.5hrs single portaging, it’s an easy, level route. The portage into both River lake and then Fishdance lake are tougher, with beaver dams flooding the portage in multiple spots leaving Malberg. River lake and north toward Beaver lake is one of my favorite parts of the bwca. Good fishing and fewer people. Enjoy your first solo. |
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straighthairedcurly |
On my 2nd solo, I paddled from Polly to Malberg in about 1.5 hours and then did a daytrip that afternoon to the Fishdance pictographs and back. This summer I went from Malberg down to Kawishiwi Lake in about 4-5 hours, but I was in really good shape and had my systems nailed down (single portage, ultralight load). This summer, I also led a group of newbies from Kawishiwi Lake to Koma Lake in one day where we base camped for a few nights. We were able to single portage, but had heavier loads. They were exhausted by the time we reached Koma. This is all to say, make a plan, but adjust if you are tired or the weather slows you down. I don't think you will have much trouble finding solitude up in the Fisher, Boulder area. I never see very many people north of Malberg (and even Malberg is pretty low density). I've never checked out the Fisher campsite, but from the pictures in the reviews, it appears to be lightly used. If you enjoy photography, this area will give you lots of great shots. It is beautiful! Be sure to plan a daytrip to the Fishdance pictographs. And take your time exploring the different sections of the Kawishiwi River (exit Malberg to the west, but reenter from the north to get the best variety of scenery). For some important portage notes exiting Malberg see part 3 of my trip report: Malberg to Kawishiwi R to Fishdance day trip There is also info on the Louse R. on the next day. Have fun! |
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boonie |
Getting to Polly is a reasonable goal and a nice place to stop. Get an early start. For reference I double portage and it usually takes me 4-5 hours to get there depending on how much I wander and sightsee. Double portaging it's 8 miles to get there, another mile to the north end. I did not have to take the 2 short portages just after Square Lake due to a very large (~6') beaver dam just short of Kawasachong that requires going around one side or the other. There was a small beaver dam after the 2 short ones that required a pullover. I'm also on the Solo Forum where you'll find lots of useful information just by browsing/searching, and get answers to any questions. I've done 15 solos and some there have done more. We've all dialed in our equipment and techniques, but there are differences, so you get some different perspectives. After the first few solos I was focused on not being overambitious in planning my travel, reducing weight, and simplifying my gear and techniques - I discovered like Mike that I'm the only one doing things. I try to prioritize the things I want to do and eliminate things that take a lot of time. One thing I did after discovering "dehydration" like Mike was to get a Sawyer Water Filter Bottle for drinking while traveling. Happy to discuss it in detail if you want - just email. Another useful thing is to read trip reports through that EP. Just click on the maps & entry points tab at the top, then on entry points on the drop down, then EP #37. Scroll down and there's a list of trip reports. I should have 2 or 3 in there somewhere. |
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Maxspeed3 |
I'll gladly look at the solo forum as well. |
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YetiJedi |
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lindylair |
I did that area back in 2015, two older guys on a hot 85 degree humid day. We got to Polly in 4 hours and decided to push on to Malberg. That took us another 3 hours. We weren't pushing it, just moving steady. Polly is very doable but Malberg is doable too depending on how long you want to travel your first day. In between Polly and Malberg there is Koma Lake which has a few decent campsites to so if you keep on after Polly and decide it's too much you have an option to stop there as well. This is a great area and Polly is a beautiful lake. There are some great campsites on Malberg including sand beach sites if you like that. We headed over to River Lake and stayed on a great site there for a few nights too. Also very pretty there and good fishing. A short paddle to Amber Lake and the sand beach campsite there is pretty nice. Here is a trip report from our trip if you are interested: Kawishiwi entry |