GOOD. POINT. I'll be careful out there! I had been an avid, but probably too casual wilderness muncher until I recently id-ed a really lovely plant along my driveway I'd been wondering about for a long time... water hemlock, seriously poisonous. And I had just pressed some of it's flowers for decoration! It's a good reminder that the wilderness is rather indifferent to my survival.

Honeybees wrote on Aug 13^th, 2015 at 2:44pm:


That's a good way to spend your time, but I hope your not planning to try eating new items for the first time while solo and in a semi-remote area?

A bad "experience" on a solo trip could turn into something life threatening real quickly.

I'm also a plant nut; I'm bringing my wildflower id guide, fruits and berries book, mushrooming book, and wild-edibles guide. I'm hoping for many happy hours of learning new plants!

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I used to keep a journal in a waterproof little note pad, but from years of working with my hands and a serious dog bite on my right wrist, I have some carpal tunnel issues that are aggravated from paddling either with a conventional or double paddle.

I went the last few years with a small digital voice recorder that I keep in my dry bag.
At night after dinner, I enter day/date/start lake and that nights campsite as well as portage thoughts and anything I might want to put in my trip report.

I don't go into great detail just enough to jog my memory when I write a report.

Another option for people like me with similar issues.

Honeybees wrote on Aug 12^th, 2015 at 8:12pm:


Take a book to read and/or try journaling if you haven't yet. Journaling seems like having a conversation even though it's only noting your thoughts at the time. But it's also a more accurate record of what you really thought/felt during your trip. I also find that pacing myself to keep moving is better than lounging in camp. Be curious along the way and enjoy your trip without a rushed pace.

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Don't think meals as much as calories needed per day. The average man needs about 2000 a day, women about 1800. That is just to maintain normal body function. You factor into strenuous work/play you could go much higher and NOT gain any weight.

IF you’re like most people and carry a few extra lbs, you can easily lose them and still not be hungry IF you eat a good mix of lean protein, complex carbs and healthy fats.

On a river trip you’re not going to burn as many calories as you would paddling into wind/waves, and the portages sound fairly short.  I’m guessing somewhere around 2500 calories a day should be more than enough to get you started.

I bring zip lock bags of various grains/legumes and spices. I can mix and match to make different one pot meals. People think meat/poultry/fish for protein, but you can get quality protein from plant based sources. That gives you a lot of flexibility and while I do bring a source of lean protein ( Venison sticks) and fish, I don’t need them unless I want them just for the variety.

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Back to honeybees, I'm a live to eat person and focus on same issues. I did a 5 night solo, mostly home dehydrated ingredients, and food was 20-25 pounds. Probably had enough for just two more days but I like picking and choosing. Fresh eggs,  cheese, and summer sausage; remainder dry.

Ranger wrote on Aug 11^th, 2015 at 7:08pm:


Something must be broken with that list. There should be three full columns and water is only mentioned 4 times. 

solotripper wrote on Aug 12^th, 2015 at 8:15pm:


Well I think prefer the company of a few select individuals but if I can't convince someone  to accompany me then I'll go solo. I can't NOT go.

The REAL question is you still going solo again?

That Dry-fly I keep telling you about would fix those first two issues and when the wind is to fierce you wouldn't be on the water tandem either.

My dryer lint/paraffin wax Magic candle DIY fire starters would take care of your wet wood problem.

A pair of rag wool gloves while paddling will fix the blue finger nails.

You’re on your own with the huge field knife, putting a hole in your canoe and vomiting from either sea- sickness or food poisoning.

I find a warm hot chocolate /coffee laced with some booze around a campfire at night makes most of those concerns just part and parcel of a good trip report.