My only solo trip was a few years ago starting on Labor Day weekend. Friends and family were worried about me and thought I was a little crazy and truthfully I was a little nervous too. Forcing the worrisome thoughts out of my head and just pushing ahead led me to the put in at Beaverhouse Lake late on a Saturday afternoon where I stood with my homemade cedar strip kayak and a pile of gear, wondering if I should turn back.

After crossing Beaverhouse in the whitecaps, hugging the shoreline where they were actually worse, and nearly rolling my kayak in the outflow of the river at the portage to Quetico Lake, I began to wonder if my friends and family were right. The rest of the trip was flawless.  Weather was perfect, except for one windy day. I took my time exploring, fished and spent short days traveling. Usually I had camp set up by early afternoon and just paddled around nearby for more exploration and fishing. I made it into Jean Lake and then back out on the same route. The first night I was a little nervous about bears or moose or whatever visiting as I tried to sleep,but after that night I slept great with little worry.

I loved the experience and recording it with photos and video. Sitting at night by the campfire, looking at the stars, catching some nice fish, preparing delicious campfire cooked dinners, exploring a hidden waterfall, paddling in the early morning fog, all were experiences that, at the time, I had a desire to share with someone and I missed that. But, I also felt that those simple things seemed richer somehow because I was alone. It’s hard to explain but, I felt more “connected” to the trip. When I allowed myself to let go of schedules, expectations and not feeling the obligation to make sure others were pleased, it seemed like I eventually felt much more relaxed than on previous trips. I’m sure the trip could have turned sour with bad weather or an accident or something, but it didn’t and I look forward to my next solo. Soon I hope.

My first solo trip was 20+ years in the making.
Back in the mid 70's, 3 other guys and myself started doing backpack trips.
2 of us lived in MI and the others in Atlanta and Boston.
We took turns planning the trips, but increasingly I ended up doing the detail work even on others trips and being the driving force behind them.

I was into the work-out thing and still am, but they were 3 guys who liked to party.
As we aged they became less able to handle the physical demands of a backpack trip and so we got into canoeing at my suggestion. I figured even with portaging, it was easier than a 15-20 miles a day with a pack.

Worked for awhile, but there was a fatal flaw in my plan. You can bring more gear paddling.
In their case that meant more booze and other recreational products.
Soon the trips became party around the campfire until past midnight, sleep till 10 am, get on the water bitchin all the while by noon, and then want to stop by 3 PM, sleep till dark and then repeat the cycle for the length of the trip.

Meanwhile I was doing all the navigating, wood collecting. fish catching/cleaning and 1/2 the cooking.
At the end of the trip I was mad as hell and promised never again. They would give me a few months to calm down and then start up about the next trip, promising they would be better this time.

I blame myself for allowing them to manipulate me but I'm a loyal type person and we had known each other for a long time. I allowed that to overrule my common sense.

Straw that broke the camels back was the year it was my turn to plan the trip. We had 10 days to go down to Jean Lake and back out at Beaverhouse. Ended up going out thru Sue Falls and taking that time to go 25 miles. I was beyond pissed off.

I had a big fight with them and 2 of the guys said they were done with me becasue I wanted to "work", while they wanted to party. The last guy and I went on a few tandem trips, but he eventually decided he rather party too.

My first solo came when he backed out 2 days before trip. I ended up going alone and even though I had some mis-adventures and didn't go very far, I realized that the only difference for me in going in a group ( at least that one) and going solo was I didn't have to listen to anyone whine and could enjoy the serenity without having to herd the Tom cats toward the take-out and being the object of their bitching when problems arose.

I could see doing a group solo or with the right people a group tandem trip, but before I would sign on for either I would want to set the ground rules beforehand and make sure are goals/wants are the same.

I agree with the introvert/extrovert thing. If you can't stand to be alone with your thoughts, then solo isn't for you.

During the day your busy and it isn't much of an issue, but at night around that campfire you really come to understand your on your own and responsible for your decisions, good or bad. Some people find that more frightening than anything.

My first solo canoe trip was my first camping trip period and I remember it as equal parts thrilling, peaceful and overwhelming. This was before I knew about such things as yoke pads and that first portage (300 rods from Bruin Lake to Little Gabbro) was a life-changing struggle.  I stayed in four days, got lost a lot on the first day and then mostly base-camped on Bald Eagle and spent a lot of time fishing, reading, trying out all the skills I'd been reading about for the months prior to the trip, and trying not to let my imagination run wild with every sound I heard in the woods.  I went over Memorial Day weekend and it was rainy for the first couple of days, but then on the third day the sun came out and I sat on a rock on the shoreline soaking it in.  I sat there a long time, long enough that a red squirrel came out from under a rock and sat with me almost directly on my foot.  That was a moment where I felt like I was part of the landscape and not just passing through it.  I left the next day after running out of food.  But I was hooked and have been going back multiple times every year since.