I am reading this topic with more interest than I had last year.  Last fall, I bought a new Bell Merlin II because I decided to try going solo and for the years where we have an odd number.   Depending on work and family issues, I hope to try for some early season lake trout in Beaverhouse for maybe a 4 day trip.  So in a week or two depending on the ice and weather, I hope to get my first solo experience.  Unlike others, I will base camp and concentrate on fishing.  I will take a double bladed paddle and a bent shaft and see which I prefer.  My biggest concern is that I will get bored with my company.  I've been told many that I am a bore so I will have to test that allegation.

Westwood

My initial concerns vs. the reality of it

"I'll get bored".  There is always much to do about the buisness of staying alive, fed and dry.  It's a rare solo day when I was actualy bored.

"I'll get lonely".  Yup I do.  But it has a value all it's own.  Some deep introspection can be had over 5 days of solitude.

"It's dangerous".  Yes, to a certain extent it is.  After you survive your first bad mistake alone....you will be forever impressed to "never do that again".  Most of my mistakes are water crossings related to weather.  Shipping water and a mile from shore on my 1st solo....that was all I needed in cold water to become a bit more savy.

"Bears".  Who cares.  I'm so tired by nightfall that I can share with a bear.  Just so it leaves me alone.


Now after several trips....the biggest concern to me seems to be personal injury/health crisis.  Couple trips ago I slipped down rock ledge 10' to the water.  Was almost certain I'd busted my ankle.  Instantly the thoughts started about how I'd exit with a bum leg.  After the pain subsided 10 minutes later...turned out just to be a bad sprain and I gimped on.

I have met folks who've had heart attack and stroke back in there.  And I always fear something like a kidney stone or appendicitis happening.  Some of these things....you just gotta figure you'll die back there.

Careful MT you don't want to hurt Mr Bib's sensitive feelings.

I figure if I can't handle the competition I shouldn't be out there.

My approach has changed very little over the years. On how far you go, that's entirely up to you and where you wanna be. That's the beauty part. There's no need to push any buttons but your own. You simply get to enjoy what's pulling you.

The way I look at it is the more people I travel with, the harder traveling is. It takes longer to do anything when no one want's to make a decision or someone doesn't agree with one that's been made. Plus everyone's progress is limited by the lowest common denominator in deference to group harmony.

90% of my solos have included all the same gear I took with bow paddlers minus their personal stuff. Last two years I've gone with a two man tent instead of my usual four-season three man and borrowed solo boats. Much easier. I'm getting old. Still learning though.

While I cringe a bit when I hear someone does a solo because, what, basically they don't have any like-minded friends, they seem to have become much more common. FWIW - I didn't even make a reservation for my first solo because I dreaded the alt group leader question and was afraid they'd say no, you're an idiot, go back where you belong boy.

I was embarrassed to meet people on portages, still am but for a far different reason. I practiced on group trips, asking the bow paddler to read a book, did day trips by myself ... I was fully prepared and even then I did the same route I did a number of times before so my first solo ended up being boring because I was too afraid I'd mess up. Next year my solo was the route that I wanted to do as a group but we all decided was too far. It poured one day and snowed the next. I was woefully unprepared and almost lost my ride but had great trip! Had I been able to convince any friends to go with - it would have miserable for everyone involved.

Now that I think about it, the trip before my first solo was with my girlfriends kid. All I needed was ballast ... yet that kid was one of best bow paddlers ever in that he never uttered a whiney word and we had some of the worst weather imaginable.

Being alone and being lonely are two completely different things a few days in. I am certainly more careful solo but really, two people in one canoe is in many way's doubling the chances of something bad happening IMHO. I know parents that won't fly in the same plane together due to their assessment of risk. What a PITA they are to go anywhere with.

BTW - the little used "Rendezvous forum" is intended for paddlers with no good partner options to arrange trips together. The group solo thing is another good way to check the ice before venturing out alone.

If you don't know what you're doing and even if you do, hey, be careful out there.

db wrote on Apr 24^th, 2011 at 5:01am:
   

It's only the safest way to travel.  What do they do for groceries, take different cars?  Let me guess, when they go for a romantic walk around the block they head off in opposite directions.

Quote:

The corollary being that it doubles the chances of something bad not happening too.  Doubles the chance of something good happening.


Yes soloing is inherently more dangerous.  That's a meaningless statement.  How dangerous?  Out of the thousands of trip nights I'm aware of across all the people I know who trip I've only heard of a handful of serious injuries.  It's not as safe as flying, but safer than driving.