It was a girlfriend from Bemidji that turned me on to the North.  Our first trip was hell as we had no experience between us other than a youth trip she took as a youth.  She swore we'd never do it again. Looking back, I can't blame her.   We made every mistake that first year.  Left to late in the morning on our put in, got lost over and over,  I freaked at my first sighting of a bear bag hung, wind bound, tent with holes in it, Aluminum pots and pans with no butter or grease, staid up too late.  I really should get out those old notes and write the story properly.

We took four trips together after that. Our last was a 12 day Boulder Lake circle trip starting at Snowbank, returning through Insula to Lake one.  We had split earlier that year but both of our love for the Northwoods was strong enough to overlook the fact as niether of us was yet involved with another.

I went into a slight depression the next spring  after our breaking, partly due to thinking I'd never be tripping again as the thought of a solo seemed ridiculous.  I was reading the BWJ one day and came across atricles on solo trips.  I commited to the idea, and looking back, it was the best therapy I could have found.

With a few solos now under my belt, I'm not looking back, but do hold in anticipation the belief of finding my gal that will commit to the trip.  

k