Alright, the wheels are beginning to turn; your solo is starting to take form.  It’s time now to build the framework of your trip by figuring out where you’ll be going.  Your next step is to determine what kind of solo trip you’ll be taking and then charting it out.  Take a minute to answer the following questions:

1.  How long you want to be in complete solitude? *I typically go for 3 days.
2.  Do you want to be in complete solitude or are you okay with seeing others in passing up there?
3.  Is this for fishing or are you up there for the scenery or a balance of both?
–  Fishing:
==  Do you want to set up a basecamp or do you want to travel from lake to lake?
==  What type of fish do you want to target?
–  Scenery
==  Do you want to set up a basecamp or do you want to travel from lake to lake?
==  What specifically do you want to see (e.g. waterfalls, pictographs, moose, etc.)?

Once you hash out what kind of trip you want to take, go to this site HERE to get an overall look of the Boundary Waters.

Now google and call a few outfitters making sure to dial at least one based out of Ely (west side of the Boundary Waters) and at least one on the Gunflint Trail (east side of the Boundary Waters).  Tell them that you’re going on your first solo trip up there and then proceed to tell them what kind of trip you desire taking (how many days, quiet solitude/high traffic, fishing/scenery, basecamp/lake to lake, etc.).

They should give you a few options to ponder as well as be able to tell you if and when certain entry points are available.
*side note: entry points are the places where you enter in the Boundary Waters. You need an entry permit issued by the National Park Service in order to get in. Some are more difficult to come by due to demand.

Now that you have a pile of information, begin to sift through the recommendations. Compile a top three while keeping the following in mind:
– Large lakes can be very difficult to paddle when it’s windy.  You’ll want to avoid them at all costs as there is a bit of a learning curve when you’re paddling alone in a canoe.  I’d highly recommend taking rivers as they’re a great way to learn the ropes of navigating your canoe, effective weight distribution in the canoe, etc.
– You’re not a hero.  Don’t kill yourself with a massive, 40–50 mile loop. Ease into it with a 5-15 mile trip.  Trust me, there are plenty of things that’ll challenge you along the way.
– Available campsites aren’t guaranteed.  It’s a first come, first serve setup.  My first night ever in the Boundary Waters was on a lake further up the map because all the campsites on the lake we wanted to stay on were occupied.   If you choose a more secluded trip, chances are you won’t have to concern yourself with where you’ll pitch your tent.

Once you have your top three trips chosen, it’s now time to see if they’re available.  Call the outfitter again to check availability and then book the entry point permit with them (if outside their business hours go to www.recreation.gov).  You’ll also want to rent a solo canoe (don’t convince yourself that you’ll be fine using the two or three man canoe collecting dust in your dad’s garage).  If you’re lacking gear, most outfitters can hook you up with all the essential equipment and food for an additional cost.  We’ll go over gear in the next section, so let’s keep on subject with charting your course.

If you’ve booked your entry permit, congratulations! That’s a huge step.  Things are probably getting quite real in your head.  It’s time to devote some serious time with planning out your trip.  Figuring things out as they come is the most stupid thing you can do.  Plan ahead giving yourself multiple options; not only will it bring peace of mind for you and also for loved ones that’ll want to know a general overview of where you’ll be.

This is the time now to write up best case, average case, and worst case scenarios.  The weather (wind, rain, etc.) is your largest obstacle. On a good day, you should be able to travel 8-12 miles.  On an average day, you should be able to get 5-8 miles.  On a bad day, you’ll be lucky to get 5 miles.

Keeping those in mind, go back this site HERE.  You’ll get a Google maps aerial view of the lakes, portages, campsites, places of interests, etc.  Many of the campsites have reviews posted from other users, so mark those off as key points if they are in the general vicinity for where you plan to be.

The final aspect is writing out your best case, average case, and worst case scenarios out listing the following:
– Day (Friday, June 19)
– Activity (Traveling, Fishing, etc.)
– Route/Location: (Route: Burntside > Crab > Little Crab > Korb > Cummings)
– Potential Campsites (289, 287, 295)

The major reason for writing it out is so you can read through it each day leading up to your trip while following the map.  Eventually it’ll be ingrained in your memory that’ll serve as a means to stay a few mental steps ahead when you’re actually out there – you’ll also spend far less time glancing at your map to make sure you’re on course.

The other benefit of writing it out is to share your trip plans with your loved ones to give them a good idea for where you’ll be.  I use this as a lead in of my final, heartfelt, farewell message to them. In no way am I trying to evoke fear, but it could be your last; get your house in order by making sure your relationships are on good terms.

Now that you have your trip and, hopefully, your relationships in good order, it’s time to address the final mental aspect before you take off:

Pre-Solo Gear Preparation – Inspect What You Expect