The author Mike Kinziger, made five solo journeys to five remote wilderness regions in Western Ontario, Canada. In his book Alone in a Canoe, Mike tells journal stories about his 3 week paddling and fishing excursions to Woodland Caribou twice, Wabakimi, Opasquia and Quetico.

I met Mike Kinziger in Balmertown Ontario back in August of 2014. He was about to fly out from Red Lake to Opasquia Provincial Park to embark on a 22 day solo trip. Fog and severe thunderstorms delayed his early morning flight for more than 8 hours so I got to have lunch with Mike and had the opportunity to talk paddling and fishing. A very interesting guy. We exchanged emails and have kept in touch.


I just picked up the book on Amazon Prime. Its a good read.

Alone in a Canoe also includes detailed gear and food lists and trip statistics.  It is a must read if you ever dreamed about what it would be like to be alone in a canoe in the wilderness for any length of time. Mike includes  200 color photos documenting the journeys.

Mossback,

LOL.  Like you I am thinking of where I will be going on my solo trips when I retire in 3 years. I am thinking of doing the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail in April -July 2021. And I like the idea of doing 3 week solo trips to the Q and maybe Wabikimi and Woodland Caribou.

Can't wait to reitire.

Wally13 wrote on Mar 5^th, 2017 at 5:42pm:


That's about MY time frame, too, Wally13.

About twenty-five years ago on a day in early June, my paddling buddy & I came across a couple of older gents shortly after entering Lonely Lake.  I'm pretty sure I was still checking myself for ticks accumulated  over that long portage from Yeh Lake (I had flicked off something like 17 of them) when we spotted two white-haired guys, each paddling a solo canoe on mirror-still water.  There was barely a ripple.  Each had a wonderfully-behaved Black Lab sitting patiently and gazing forward in the bow of his canoe.  It was a curious sight.  We altered our direction and intercepted them just as they were approaching their camp.

After exchanging pleasantries, these fellows each lit a cigar.  They told us that they had worked together for many years.  Frankly, they looked so much alike that I thought they were brothers... and possibly even twins.  They were even dressed similarly, each wearing plaid flannel shirts and leather hats.  It turns out that, several years earlier, they had made a pact.  They & their identical Labs (possibly twins, too) would do a month-long joint solo canoe trip all around Quetico.  Well, THIS was that trip; they had retired together just a few weeks earlier.

Those guys immediately became our "heroes." 

We didn't chat long, eager as we were to set up camp (and to check ourselves more thoroughly for ticks) and because we wanted to leave these guys to the peace they were seeking (and, possibly a good Bourbon or Scotch to go along with their cigars).  Nevertheless, their story really struck a chord with my buddy and I.  We talked about it not only for the balance of our trip but for years beyond.  We talked about doing something similar.

Well, unfortunately, my buddy won't be making that trip.  Sometimes Life short-circuits even the best-laid plans.  Still, in 2-3 years I figure to be imitating my "heroes" and doing a nice long retirement solo, too.  Food cache replenishment, that sort of thing.  It's part of a plan that I'll keep, if at all possible.

Might even find me a dog that will stay in my canoe.  My current version of canine swims like a fish but simply won't tolerate being paddled around.

Yep, let the countdown begin.

Jimbo   

MossBack wrote on Mar 6^th, 2017 at 8:18pm:


Mossback,

Your wish is my command.  I've started such a thread over on the General Discussion Board.  FYI

Jimbo   

Damn, I still can't correctly do a quote.