10 First Solo Trip--Gear List? (Read 13770 times)
solotripper
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Re: First Solo Trip--Gear List?
Reply #10 - Aug 12th, 2015 at 7:18pm
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jimmar wrote on Aug 12th, 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.

  
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jimmar
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Re: First Solo Trip--Gear List?
Reply #11 - Aug 12th, 2015 at 7:44pm
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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.
  
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Honeybees
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Re: First Solo Trip--Gear List?
Reply #12 - Aug 12th, 2015 at 8:12pm
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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.
  
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solotripper
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Re: First Solo Trip--Gear List?
Reply #13 - Aug 12th, 2015 at 8:15pm
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Grin Grin Grin
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. Shocked Undecided

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. Wink Grin Grin

  
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jimmar
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Re: First Solo Trip--Gear List?
Reply #14 - Aug 12th, 2015 at 11:41pm
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solotripper wrote on Aug 12th, 2015 at 8:15pm:
Grin Grin Grin
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. Undecided
  
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db
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Re: First Solo Trip--Gear List?
Reply #15 - Aug 13th, 2015 at 7:57am
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Ranger wrote on Aug 11th, 2015 at 7:08pm:
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Something must be broken with that list. There should be three full columns and water is only mentioned 4 times.  Grin
  
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BillConner
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Re: First Solo Trip--Gear List?
Reply #16 - Aug 13th, 2015 at 12:24pm
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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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solotripper
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Re: First Solo Trip--Gear List?
Reply #17 - Aug 13th, 2015 at 12:24pm
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Quote:
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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Jim J Solo
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Re: First Solo Trip--Gear List?
Reply #18 - Aug 13th, 2015 at 1:41pm
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Honeybees wrote on Aug 12th, 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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solotripper
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Re: First Solo Trip--Gear List?
Reply #19 - Aug 13th, 2015 at 2:28pm
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Quote:
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.
  
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