Hi all!
I'm heading out next week on my first ever solo trip--a week long paddle on a familiar river (the Namekagon/St. Croix) as a chance to get my head on straight before I start seminary this fall. I've done lots of group trips, usually packing pretty heavy and looking out for teenagers and the like. Experienced solo-trippers, what's essential on your gear list? I don't want to carry more than I need, but I don't want to be stuck up a creek without a paddle, as they saying goes.
Perhaps it goes without saying that I'll bring a paddle, though.

I wouldn't say I'm a very experienced solo tripper. I've done two, both week long trips and in a kayak. But...on my trips I found myself lounging around in camp more often than when accompanied. Two items that make that camp time more relaxing and enjoyable for me, perhaps because of my declining youth, are a camp chair and a hammock. Both the chair and hammock I bring are small and light, an Alite Mayfly folding chair and a cheap nylon hammock I bought for $20 at Meijer.

A good tarp, big enough to set or take your tent down under in bad weather.
A decent rain suit.
A nice lite hammock and/or lite chair.
Do a search in the trip reports section.
I solo only, but wouldn't consider myself a "minimalist" solo paddler. I don’t mind taking some creature comforts but if you’re okay with the minimal and eating well isn’t a concern, then you can easily go down to the  bare necessities.
Mad_Mat travels fast and light, so reading one of his trip reports might give you some good ideas.
If you’re doing mostly rivers, the portage/weight issue shouldn’t be too much, so that gives you room to decide how minimalist you want to go.
At the minimal you need enough nutrient dense food to give you the right mix of protein/ complex carbs and good fat. Then you want to stay dry and warm, traveling or in camp/sleeping.
Small cook set or just pot IF you go dehydrated food. Way to purify your drinking water.

spare paddle and pfd are essential; don't forget a watch if you need to meet someone at a specific time at the takeout, and money for a shuttle if you use a service; small shovel for latrine; anything that is mission critical should have a backup, like two lighters, or two boxes of matches - there is no buddy to hand you theirs if you lose yours - I always keep a compass and matches in my shirt pocket - in case I walked away from camp and got disoriented, at least I could find my way back to the river.

trash bag lined dry bags - your sleeping bag should have at least 3 layers of protection; pretty much the same for everything that won't stand being wet, like your food (I found a small hole in the bottom of my drybag which explains why stuff inside got wet this past weekend - multiple layers kept the bag and gear dry - lots of water in the bottom of the boat from class III rapids) a bailer is useful.

painter lines on bow and stern - anyone can get careless and flip a canoe - with the lines in place, you grab one and swim to shore while towing your boat

I always lash down my gear on river trips - aside from not losing things, it provides extra floatation - unless you already have a system in place, look at your boat and figure out how to lash the gear in before you leave for the river

I'd add a book to the list, and or fishing gear so you don't have too much down time

the usual stuff like a first aid kit, repair kit, spare glasses if you wear glasses or contacts, bug dope, sunscreen

unless you are really into cooking and then cleaning up, go with freeze dried meals

make your own list, and check off the items as you pack them so nothing is forgotten.  make sub-categories like sleeping (e. g. bag and pad and repair kit for pad);  cooking (stove, fuel, cookpot, spoon, etc - add a few paper towels for cleanup)
water (filter or iodine tablets or bleach, water jug for camp, water bottles; tenting/camping (tent, ground sheet, rain tarp, saw for firewood, chair if you want one - minimalist is a gardener's kneeling pad,

Try to go as light weight as possible. I made that mistake on my first solo, taking along too much stuff. Too much food was my primary downfall. I found that I don't eat as much when I'm solo, and I definitely prefer easy to prepare / easy to clean-up meals. I'd rather be fishing than doing dishes.

Are you taking a dedicated solo canoe? If not there are ways to set up a tandem for more efficient solo paddling. Many people also like to use long kayak paddles for solo trips.

There are more references here on QJ, such as:

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I agree with light. Also easier to stand yourself in dirty clothes than for others do I have a spare in case I get wet but not much more. One pot and stove. Otherwise just light weight.  I'm not a rain suit person - never carried one and never missed it. I do have a light rain coat with hood, but I'm fine with quick dry pants and avoiding getting dry pair wet.

End of day, you need two packs or able to divide weight for balance.

I do envy those that solo and single portage, but not enough to do it.

And books. Mystery, spy, and summer fare. That's my fun in the sun on the shore all alone.

I have done the Namekagen from Hayward to the the Danbury take out on the St. Croix. There are no portages over a 100 yards so the amount of gear to portage should not be an issue. I am also starting to do the solo trip so I am interested in the vast knowledge base here has to say. My experiences on trips with my son when he was in high school was to much food. And to many changes of clothes.

My advice would be layout what you think you need in piles from left to right on the floor. To the right of that, put what might make you the happiest in logical piles from left to right.

Then lay out the containers you are planning to take and take everything that fits. Then look at what's still on the floor and consider it's possible usefulness durning the week.

Too much food has always been one of my problems since the trip we paddled the last long day with nothing but peanut butter and Tang for fuel. When you return with clothes you didn't wear that means you had a good weather trip. The way I look at it the more I take, the more exercise I get.

A positive attitude is, as you probably know, the smallest, lightest and most useful thing to bring along on any trip and you can't borrow one on a solo.

ENJOY!

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A positive attitude is, as you probably know, the smallest, lightest and most useful thing to bring along on any trip and you can't borrow one on a solo.

I don't think this aspect can be emphasized enough IF you’re thinking of doing a solo trip of ANY length.
I’d bet that if ALL the solo paddlers here laid out their gear side by side there would be a few necessities in common and a whole range of other items that each of us bring that we think make a great solo trip.

The single most important “item” we ALL have in common is that good attitude and the will to deal with things as they come up, which means you think before you act and adapt to your circumstances.

You read tandem/group trip reports and often time’s someone is the “ramrod”, the person who get’s things organized, picks up the slack and if needed boosts sagging morale or sometimes puts whiners/slackers in they’re place. EVERY tandem/group needs a person like that IF the others are not self-moderating.

Solo is a different “cat”. No-one is reminding you left gear in camp because you kept a sloppy camp and scattered your gear all over the place. You sleep late and miss your pick-up or over estimate how far you have to go to pick-up or to keep on your schedule, it’s ALL on you.

You make a dumb decision on water/land you shouldn't expect someone is going to bail you out.
You hit a rough portage and you have to 3x it and arrive in camp dead tired, no-body is going to set up your tent, make a hot meal or warming fire or find/cut wood for that fire.

That’s where that positive attitude comes in. I use a quote from Winston Churchill about doing what is “required”. You can only do that when solo IF you have that positive attitude.

Bringing the positive attitude is one thing, keeping it when things get tough is something else.

jimmar wrote on Aug 12^th, 2015 at 6:29pm:

Bringing the positive attitude is one thing, keeping it when things get tough is something else.

That's why going solo isn't for everyone. Before I went solo in the Q, I did a solo-lite trip in Algonquin Park. Plenty of people, well-marked portages/campsites and numerous places to bail out if things got rough or I couldn't stand to be with myself for that long.
I would of told Honeybees to do a short maybe 2-3 night trip first before doing a week long one, but the trip is next week, so it’s too late for that.

I guess on a river trip assuming it's with the current, you could cut the week long trip down considerably if you find that solo isn't for you.

Look, it's starting to rain - Delightful! I love rain.

And there are snow flakes mixed in - WOW! this should make for some cool photos!

Paddling into a fierce wind, again – Excellent! I really need more exercise!

Hey, my fingernails are turning blue - Sensational!  that fire is sure gonna feel good!

The wood is too wet to start a fire - Marvelous! a few extra hours of rest in my warm sleeping bag will do me good!

Oh crap, i cut off the tip of my finger with my huge field knife - Finally! I get to see how well my first aid kit works!

Dang it, I punched another hole in the bottom of my canoe - Fabulous! I sure do love duck tape!

Ugh! I'm feeling nauseous and starting to vomit – Wonderful! I need to lose a few pounds!

Huh? Theres a shoeless, nappy headed, vagrant looking character standing in my camp – Awesome! Someone to talk to.

It's so wonderful to have all of your perspectives! I especially like the idea of how to lay out gear, for necessities and niceties. Truth be told, attitude is one of the least of my concerns. I've guided plenty of trips with middle schoolers, and had to keep all of THEIR attitudes up in the rain all week... I have the feeling that I'll be fine there. Maybe I'll be surprised though--without the adreneline of keeping small people alive in the woods, what will get me out of bed?
My biggest worry is packing food. I'm a real foody, and plan to entertain myself all day thinking about meal plans for the night, so I want to pack ingredients instead of meals. Without portages really being a thing on this river, I know I can get away with overpacking... but I reallllly don't want to be hungry out there. Does anyone have a good way to estimate food amounts when you're not dividing it out by meals? Weight of food per day or anything like that?
I'm starting to get nervous--not about safety, this is a route I know well, a well-traveled river with lots of take-out points--but more about talking to myself all day. It sounds like a good life practice to be alone sometimes. I'll either come out refreshed or insane... probably both.

;D ;D ;D
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. :o :-/

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. ;) ;D ;D

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

;D ;D ;D The REAL question is you still going solo again?

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. :-/

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

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.

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My biggest worry is packing food. I'm a real foody, and plan to entertain myself all day thinking about meal plans for the night, so I want to pack ingredients instead of meals. Without portages really being a thing on this river, I know I can get away with overpacking... but I reallllly don't want to be hungry out there. Does anyone have a good way to estimate food amounts when you're not dividing it out by meals? Weight of food per day or anything like that?

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

I'm starting to get nervous--not about safety, this is a route I know well, a well-traveled river with lots of take-out points--but more about talking to myself all day. It sounds like a good life practice to be alone sometimes. I'll either come out refreshed or insane... probably both.

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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or try journaling

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.

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!

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

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!

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.

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.