Solo tripping can be one of the most rewarding outdoor experiences.  The feeling of traveling alone along your chosen route is amazing.  Of course, heading into the backcountry alone also brings with it a heightened element of danger that all soloists must be aware of and respect.  If you get into trouble on a solo trip you'll have only yourself to get you to safety.  Depending on the degree of your predicament, that can vary from a relatively easy correction to an almost impossible escape.  What would you do if you went 15 km off course?  How about wrapping your canoe around a rock while traversing a rapid.  How would you deal with a broken arm or leg?  These are all situations you must consider before embarking on your solo journeys.  Being prepared can save your life!

Lesson Learned:

  Many of us are excited when the ice and snow melts.  I'm no exception.  So when I was 16, I decided to rent a canoe for a mid-May, 4 day trip along Ontario's Georgian Bay.  I had never been in a canoe before but figured I could deal with whatever came up.  This was to be my first solo trip and I was psyched!  I heading out with all the confidence of an uninformed "gear junkie (you know the type ), ready to tackle the world......Skip ahead to the first night where I had to deal with a thunderstorm, a curious black bear and a couple of raccoons that thought my food tasted pretty good.  I woke in the morning after a terrified sleep to realize my tent was leaking, there were bears nearby and all my food was gone.  Now I was faced with a full days paddle into a headwind to get back to my vehicle.  All with no food. 

  Well, I made it back, worn and frustrated cursing all the way.  I thought I was prepared because I read a few books and thought I knew what I was doing.   It was a tough lesson, but one that taught me to think about what I was doing.  I consider myself lucky!  What if I lost my food on the second day and had to go two days without eating?  What if my sleeping bag got soaked and then the temperature plummeted?  Would I be able to adapt and thrive or would I be in a pretty bad situation?  Years ago I thought I knew the answer, now I know what the answer is.  Bottom line:  Being prepared for your trip and having the knowledge to deal with situations as they arise is the most important element to having a successful solo trip. 

There's no need to be frightened or hesitant when going solo.  If this is your reason for not taking the plunge, you'll regret it years later.  I now enjoy soloing more than traveling in large groups, but I do it from an educated position

  Wilderness First Aid
  Navigation & Orienteering
  Weather - What to Look For
  Paddling Confidence
  Satellite Phones
  Personal Floatation Device (PFD)

      If you're planning on paddling in areas populated by bears there are a few basic facts you should be aware of.  Click here to find out more: Tripping In Bear Country?

    You can go into every trip as prepared as possible, but all that knowledge means nothing if you don't act responsibly with it.  Going solo brings an element of higher risk to an activity that's already risky.  Going solo means taking less risks, calculating your actions more thoroughly and more times than not, "slowing down"  There's no-one to look to for a second opinion.  You live and die by the situations that you ultimately create for yourself.  Ensure you make the right ones by analyzing anything that even looks close to being dangerous.  A lake crossing in moderate winds with a loaded canoe is easily accomplished with little danger while tandem paddling.  When solo however, this could have dire consequences.  You'll tire faster and move slower.  Know your physical limitations and be honest with yourself.  Keeping a level head is the key to solo safety!  oh and don't forget to wear your