Hello All, I'm planning my first solo trip in mid-July into Bald Eagle Lake and hopefully Gull lake. I've made a number of BWCAW trips, but this is my first solo. Any tips or tricks the group could share with me, especially if you've made solo trips before? I'd also appreciate any tips on Bald Eagle, and especially Gull, where I hope to camp for a few days. I'm also planning to fish while I'm there, so any info on locations or past luck there would be kindly appreciated. I'm headed in via EP 84 - Snake River. Thanks.

Go as light as possible and watch every step that you take. I would bring a journal to keep notes for future trips. It's a learning process where you'll get better and more comfortable each time you go. Have fun.

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watch every step that you take.

I think this is the best advice overall that anyone doing their first or last solo trip should keep in mind.

Not only on portages but on the water too, even around camp doing chores.

Everything is on you and IF something bad happens, you better have a backup plan.

That old school idea about thinking before you act plays out big time on a solo trip.

IF you can access the trip reports forum there are plenty of solo paddlers, myself include who know how important it is to think AHEAD and what happens when you don't.

Most of us can laugh about them now but at the time they could have caused major issues.

I anticipate the best of outcomes but plan for the worst case scenario. So far it's kept me safe with only a few bumps/bruises/strains to show for my lack of forethought  ;)  ;D

RFGD65,

Ditto on all of the above.  Stay conservative.  Use of a SPOT Messenger or other communication/location tracking device is highly recommended.

A few years back, an ex-QJ member decided to take an ill-advised solo trip into a remote section of Woodland Caribou Park.  A number of us - while admiring his spunk - advised against his undertaking, given his limited experience level coupled with the rigorous challenges we knew he would encounter in that particular sector of the park.  As it turned out, about the ONLY thing he did right was to carry a SPOT device.  This enabled the rescue team to find and extract him when he suffered a major injury on a portage during his very first day.

Solo trips take most folks outside of their comfort zones.  This can get the adrenaline flowing and result in an exhilarating experience.  Such trips represent great opportunity for personal growth.  They also represent great opportunity for tragedy... possibly including a veritable "end of growth" altogether.   

Preparation and avoidance of foolish risk are the critical factors. 

Build a solid solo tripping routine on easy routes before venturing into high risk areas.  Routine builds confidence.  It also creates awareness of risks you might not have considered from the solo perspective.  With greater confidence & awareness you will soon be ready to tackle more challenging scenarios.

At least in mid-July you should not have to worry too much about hypothermia.  Nevertheless, before any trip - and, especially solo trips - I find myself eyeballing park maps carefully.  Mainly, I try to prepare mentally for wind & big waves by sketching out a game plan for travel, contingent upon the wind direction and land forms I will encounter.  For instance, some routes are ridiculously easy IF the wind is blowing from the west.  However, if it is an East/West oriented lake featuring cliffs on the north & south, it can produce a funneling (multiplier) wind effect that becomes a very different story... especially for the guy/gal in a solo vessel.

Again, preparation & risk avoidance are critical.  "Generic" tips, I know, but it's a good place to start.  Maybe there is some specific "tactical" advice you are seeking?

That's my two cents worth, anyway.

Jimbo   8-)

It's a great area. I agree sprained or worse ankles or legs are the biggest hazard. Don't push and no one else will. 😀

I have only taken 3 solo trips, all in a kayak, and with a duration of no more than one week. Some good advice here on QJ, from much more experienced solo paddlers than me. I did not have a SPOT device, but I left word with a local outfitter (I used their service frequently in the past but not on these solo trips), Quetico Park Office and my wife about my expected route/itinerary and the time I would return. I gave my wife phone numbers for the outfitter and park office and instructions about when she might need to contact them. For instance, if she didn’t hear from me more than one day after my scheduled exit, I told her to make some calls. I did not deviated from my predicted route, at least not much.

I thought about what to do ahead of time if injury or some other catastrophe occurred. That can really play with your mind so you need to stay level headed. I had to deliberately change my mind set for my solo trips, even though they were not all that adventurous by QJ standards. I focused on slowing everything down and thinking about every move I made. Even with that, I made some poor decisions, like paddling too near shore in large waves and seeing usually submerged boulders becoming exposed near the hull of my boat as I bobbed up and down between the waves, or like nearly capsizing in a river that I should have not tried to paddle. Poor decisions usually surface for me, when I’m too tired, too rushed or too hungry.

On my first trip it took me a few days before I felt at ease and comfortable. I enjoyed each trip, especially the aspect of not having to worry about accommodating the desires of a larger group or another person. On the other hand, it is also enjoyable to share the experience with another like minded person. 2 cents from a solo newby.

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Poor decisions usually surface for me, when I’m too tired, too rushed or too hungry.

I found when I first went solo that despite knowing better I was allowing myself to get dehydrated and didn't take the time to replenish my (energy/food/snacks) as we ALL should.

There is a simple chart over the urinal in the men's bathroom at the park office in Atikokan.
Unless you're taking medications that can change your urine color, the rule of thumb is to drink enough fluid so you pee as clear as possible.

Dehydration/ not eating properly will cause MENTAL confusion that you might not even be aware of until you make a stupid decision or find yourself "lost" even though your map route is laid out right before you.

I wouldn't worry about how exactly much you drink because everyone handles heat/exertion differently. The "color" test will make you drink the right amount to get the right result.

I like to journal more when I solo. It's kind of like having a conversation with yourself and a great way to remember how you felt during the trip and fine tune your outfit for the next trip. Some stuff will be similar to your group trips but also some differents may surprise you. I enjoy the freedom of doing whatever, whenever, but miss sharing some cool stuff with friends. Example, I don't care to fish so much solo but I love to knock around exploring. When I do fish solo it's more like I'm checking to see if I want to bring friends back to that lake. I stop at campsites for the same reason.

All that safety stuff ditto. But July should be busy enough to not be too isolated. Let us know how it works out.

I was in that area in September.  We spent two nights on Bald Eagle, and did a day trip for fishing on Pietro.  Even though we only paddled through Gull's south end to get to Pietro, the trips largest walleye and SMB were caught on Gull!  My son caught the smallie casting to the fallen timber on the west edge paddling to the portage to Pietro, my brother caught the walleye in the same area, I believe trolling. 
Gull was hit pretty hard by the fire, I think it was in 2007?  The eastern shore was spared, and there are 2 sites I think.
Have fun!  I only had a fire one night on my solo, and every night with a group.  I kept a daily journal on the solo, took the journal, and never opened it with the group.

Thanks for the replies, everybody. Safety first seems t be the theme. That makes my wife happy. She wants me to go, but she's a little nervous about it. I've rented a SPOT unit from the outfitter. Now I'm working on getting my gear in order and as light as possible. Will definitely also bring a journal. Good info on fishing on Gull. I'm hoping for similar luck. I did find a map from the forest service that shows the burned areas from the Pagami Creek fire. I'll probably stick to the unburned areas if I can. Will post a report here after I get back. Thanks again.

As others have suggested, your safety net is between your ears.  It doesn't apply just when you're going solo, but it's more important than ever then.

I've been to the BW 15 times, 8 of them solo.  You might like to check out my trip reports; they're pretty thorough.  The solo trip in Sept. 2011 might be useful for checking out the area hit by the Pagami Creek fire.

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I have day tripped  in the burn areas - twice just in that loop Gull-Clearwater-Turtle - and look for a chance to camp in it. No place like the ridge between Camdre and Clearwater where you can see two lakes at once. Not often in BWCA. And should be a great berry year!