As usual, very interesting and diverse comments from fellow soloists.  Safety is always of paramount concern, especially on the difficult, rocky, steep, slippery portages with heavy pack and/or canoe.  A blown out knee, ankle or back could end the trip pretty quickly.  As for gear, I take the same as when I’m paddling with my teenage boys, minus their personal stuff, downsizing from a 3-man tent to a 2-man tent, and bringing one less pot and eating utensils.  I bring a lot less food (they are teenagers after all).  Then again, without the boys as my pack mules, I find portaging is quite a bit more physically taxing, especially with the main packs.  I usually carry the canoe, paddles, rods, etc with the boys or without so no big deal there.  And I can't wait for the day I actually solo with a real solo canoe and not a tandem.

Unlike what appears the majority, I like layover days during solos.  I typically travel a day or two and then spend an extra day or two at a nice campsite on a lake or area I’d like to fish or explore.  I really look forward to evening fires, so a couple hours hauling, cutting and splitting wood is food for my soul.  Loneliness has never been an issue to date.   I’ve spent several days at a time without seeing another paddler, and never thought that it’d be nice to finally see someone….if anything, it brought the wilderness to an even higher level—everything felt more acute—the inspiration, awe, and pleasure that you just don’t get when someone else is around you.  Of course, if the weather’s been rotten for more than a couple straight days, the inspiration, awe and pleasure would be pretty far from my mind and it might actually be better to have someone with which to share that misery.  That and paddling into stiff winds for hours on end alone...the words that come to mind is...it sucks big time.

All nice posts I read these because it is interesting information.
I have only done one solo.  Last year at WCPP.  I spent six days and enjoyed the heck out of it.
I was very organized.  Being organized when by yourself is key as know one else is around to help.
I was VERY careful.  Because, ever step is calculated and thought out.
This was mentioned before, but is true, as you never want to be hurt alone, as it may be sometime before help arises.  I took a Sat Phone.
So I felt that I could have communication if needed.
I Start earlier when by myself, I set up camp earlier also, as it seems there is no help around (haha)  I journal when by myself but not so much when in a group, I read the bible as I really enjoy that in the outdoors, and it is such a quite place to do it. (no distractions)
I think about life a lot when by myself.

SunCatcher

@preacher,

Heck with talking to tree's...I just talked to myself!
haahha

Since I am still relatively "new" to solo tripping, I may not have it all figured out yet, but here is what I do differently:
I get up at 4:30 - 5 am almost always on a solo.  I may not get out of camp till 7 or as late as 8:30, but I am up.  I like to witness the sunrise, and the world "waking up".  I travel long day's,  ussually if leave camp at 7 am, don't quit till 7pm or later sometimes.  I like to "be on the move"  I will take a day and re-charge, but I really like being on the move, guess the good Lord wired me that way.  When I do rest, I love my hammock for that lazy, lay around stuff.  I love to fish in a group, but it isn't a deal breaker at ALL when soloing.  I like to just sit in camp and think, and watch the world around me.  Also, alone, I find my self paddling real slow sometimes, especially along granite walls, thinking I might find a picto, or just soaking in the glories of the world.  Something we do little of when tandem.  There is something "REALLY" special about being by yourself in a canoe in the wilderness.  The thing is, I can't say I ever felt alone.   I always feel safe, and confident, If I didn't think it would be that way, I more then likely wouldn't have gone solo in the first place?  I 2x every portage and sometimes 3x the short ones.  I have learned to slow down more and take LOTS of pictures, with electronic camera's what's the difference?  I love solo's, they are very good for the Soul.
SunCatcher

TomT wrote on Dec 9^th, 2011 at 4:51am:



Did the fire get those 300 yr old trees?

Nice video... Yeah, the third day is a better one for me too.

Like Pine Knot I like a day off now and then. My August solo I had several. I ended up paddling long distances and needed those days to recoupe. I was in the BW and it was usually because of full campsites I had to keep moving.