We get a little spread out at times when travelling, but in general we stick together when I go with the usual suspects.

Layover days its every canoe for themselves if that's what people want.  We all know how to navigate and where camp is.  Dinner is served at dusk.  Be there if you want some.

Quote:


PBS has this on video and it just aired locally awhile back. I've watched it numerous times and understand his motives completely.
"Loneliness" is a state of mind. Some people feel alone even in a group.

Proenneke was never truly alone, he just had different "neighbors" than most of us. up

Puckster wrote on Apr 24^th, 2013 at 12:08am:


I haven't totally given up on trying a solo trip.  I go on an annual fall trip with a great group of friends, but now that I live closer I may try a trip one day.  I have a Souris River Quetico Duralite with a removable middle seat that I believe would work as a solo canoe.  Maybe one day I'll give it a try.

I'm reading "One Man's Wilderness" about Dick Proenneke homesteading on a lake in the Alaskan wilderness and can't imagine living alone for thirty years in the wilderness. Like I say, I enjoy the group experience.

starwatcher

I voted "Everyone paddles and portages together" because that's the goal.  But then what happens is we get a bit spread out and "We regroup at portages". 

I like the company of groups, but one great thing about our 2012 1-canoe trip was that no one was asking "where do we go" from 1/4 mile ahead over the radio.  The last couple trips before that I've been the organizer/navigator/leader, but I've ended up with a relatively slow canoe & navigating from behind sucks!  "If you want to be in the lead, you need to know where you're going!" 

-Tom

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I look at this a little bit differently. If your talking someone who's fit vs a couch spud then the odds are the fit person will prevail.
Assuming everyone is fit enough to undertake a trip, then the mentally tough will prevail long after the physically stronger but mentally weaker throw in the towel.
Look at the elite Navy Seals. Everyone that enters training is the fittest of the fittest in their respective services. 1 in 100 make it thru the training. The difference is mental toughness, the will to persevere.
Your mind leads, your body follows.

I've taken enough mixed workout classes to know that while women may initially "whine" more than men, once they get their minds "right", they find that their not really the "weaker" sex and guys find out that muscle without resolve doesn't take you very far.

I answered that we regroup at portages. Our idea is to paddle together keeping all canoes within sight. But, given bays, islands, points, etc, we occasionally lose sight. But we all have maps, and at least one seasoned paddler in each canoe. Our agreement is to meet at the portage and regroup there. It is ok for wheover gets there first to go ahead and portage, so the trail does not get clogged. But no one leaves until everyone is over the portage.

Hey Starwatcher, I'm with you.  I tried soloing, but after a few trips decided it wasn't for me, even with my dog Puck.  I sold my Bell Merlin II, and got over it.   Even though getting a group together can be a hassle, I enjoy the company. 


prouboy

Jim J Solo wrote on Apr 23^rd, 2013 at 7:23pm:


I have heard that mentally women can be a tough group if need be. One of my favorites comes to mind.......Margaret Thatcher  .

On the other hand (now that my male chauvinist disclaimer is firmly in place  ) I know lots AND lots of women folk who would not do well with heat, mosquitos, cold wet weather and a great deal of physical exertion. So I would beg to differ.......

My take is fairly independent of sex........everyone is an individual and toughness of spirit cannot be generalized by gender. What seems plausible though is the physically stronger one is the more apt one would be able to deal with the demands placed on the body.........when you become wore down physically it can be hard to be "tough" mentally regardless of sex.   

I only did the separate travel option once. I knew the guys were capable of traveling on their own, but one was painfully slow, in everything he does. How can a guy that's so nice drive me nuts?? Look up "passive aggressive" behavior.
They were very easy days, Batch Bay - Jesse, Jesse - Walter, Walter - Lonely. I made sure they knew the campsites I was heading for and gave them all the maps, he loves maps. I used a GPS and had been there before. I even let them start off ahead of me each day while I did some paperwork in the bush. Still I ended up well ahead of them.

The guys used a very fast tandem, 18' Sundowner, and I had my Voyager. Upside was it helped me to decide to rent a Minn III for a later trip I was doing with 2 gals. That worked great too, except I'd rent a Minn IV and remove a seat next time.

After the two trips last fall I was left with one simple impression. "Guys are stronger, but gals are tougher"

We paddle as a group, but may get spread out along the route, and portage as a group. We switch canoeing partners daily. My canoe is faster than the others, so we may get ahead of the group, so we regroup and usually wait at points out of the wind every hour or so.  We regroup at portages and portage as a team.  I've never tried solo tripping, but maybe one of these days.  Tell you the truth, I really like the group experience.

starwatcher