BWCA Solo - My First canoe trip

**OCDave** · 06-15-2018, 19:21

Leaving tomorrow for a few days paddling and a few nights hanging. It has been a while since I have been hammock camping so, feeling a bit giddy.

Just wanted to brag.

Have a great weekend.

**alifeoutdoors** · 06-15-2018, 19:38

Very nice. I can still remember my first solo. Eye opening experience. Enjoy. Where are you putting in?

**OCDave** · 06-15-2018, 20:08

Originally Posted by alifeoutdoors

Very nice. I can still remember my first solo. Eye opening experience. Enjoy. Where are you putting in?

EP 62 - Clearwater Lake. I am considering the small loop.

I feel like I am a competent paddler but, am little intimidated by the size of some of the lakes, specifically Pine Lake. I have 6 days to finish if necessary.

**alifeoutdoors** · 06-15-2018, 20:21

Aye, wind becomes a whole different animal when you're solo. I put in on Clearwater once where the spring head wind was so strong it took me a couple hours just to bail out on my plan for reaching Mountain at the first camp site. The main difficulty of those east side lakes is they're all skinny, long, east / west lakes. Pine Lake is notorious for PIA potential :P Worth it though, gorgeous lake, great campsites. Six days, aye, you've got plenty of time. Just paddle early in the morning on the big ones and you'll be fine.

**OCDave** · 06-15-2018, 20:24

Originally Posted by alifeoutdoors

Aye, wind becomes a whole different animal when you're solo. I put in on Clearwater once where the spring head wind was so strong it took me a couple hours just to bail out on my plan for reaching Mountain at the first camp site. The main difficulty of those east side lakes is they're all skinny, long, east / west lakes. Pine Lake is notorious for PIA potential :P Worth it though, gorgeous lake, great campsites. Six days, aye, you've got plenty of time. Just paddle early in the morning on the big ones and you'll be fine.

Thanks.

**LazyBee** · 06-15-2018, 20:34

Good luck, the BWCA is one of my bucket list items for someday! Looking forward to the trip report.

**TallPaul** · 06-15-2018, 21:42

I hope you have a great trip. Looking forward to the trip report.

I remember one of our trips - the first day, I remember thinking everybody I knew would love this. By the last day, we’d had wind, a bit of near hypothermia, and a moose that came thru camp. I still look back fondly on the memories.

**Bubba** · 06-17-2018, 14:16

I want pictures when you get back!

**Big Flounder** · 06-17-2018, 20:46

I just returned from 6 days in the BWCA on a solo trip (EP47). My first time up there and it was awesome. I'll write up a trip report once I get things caught up here at home. Hope you miss the bad weather they were going to have up there after I left.

Oh and yeah, paddling into the wind solo is brutal.

**Big Flounder** · 06-17-2018, 22:03

I know you've already left but in case you might see this, please be careful and wear your life vest. A gentleman just drown in the BWCA on the 9th.

http://wtip.org/man-drowns-bwca-perent-lake