I have been planning my first BWCA trip for almost a year now. Being from Oklahoma this truly was to be the trip of a lifetime. Well unfortunately the guy I was going with just backed out. We were supposed to leave a week from tomorrow and be in the park September 28 (my 35th birthday). I'm not real sure when I will get the chance to go again, or who I would go with. Maybe I'll hit a solo trip. Keep posting the great trip reports so I can continue to dream!

you could always choose a route that is solo friendly, since it'd be your first solo... you need to do it!!! it's your BIRTHDAY!

I don't know your situation as to canoe, gear, etc., but if using an outfitter you could have them rent you equipment and put you on a easy solo route. The time you are going there will be few people around. Solo trips are fun too.

BTW, welcome aboard.

Oh, I feel for you CanoeH34d. I've had a similar experience before and it was really disappointing.

If you go solo or are lucky enough to find a short notice partner, I am betting you will not have just A trip of a lifetime. You may well get hooked and have many trips in your life. I would go and thus see just what you think you are missing is in fact just that. Good luck.

quote AndySG: "I don't know your situation as to canoe, gear, etc., but if using an outfitter you could have them rent you equipment and put you on a easy solo route. The time you are going there will be few people around. Solo trips are fun too.

BTW, welcome aboard."

I was using Piragis, unfortunately I the budget for the trip was split down the middle and I can't afford the travel to and from Minnesota from Oklahoma on my own, didn't plan for that expense. On the flip side, I have been talking with my Father in law and it looks as though we may be planning a spring fishing trip to the BWCA! So all didn't end totally bad!

I'll hang my hammock here at the house for my birthday and pretend like I can hear a loon, and look forward to actually being there in the spring! Not all hope is lost!

That's the spirit! Both those times are the best time to go IMO.

If I didn't all ready have plans I say come and we would go I have every thing one would need

I hope you can find a way to make it work! You deserve it, and you will not be disappointed if you make the trip!

quote riverrunner: "If I didn't all ready have plans I say come and we would go I have every thing one would need"

Now that would be an offer I would take someone up on! The more I talk to my son about it the more he wants to back with me next fall. Looks like my first year in the boundary waters could have two trips!

That's why I bought a solo fifteen years ago. You should go anyway. It's probably a couple hundred bucks in gas. Bring some CDs and sip some whiskey. Go fishing and sleep in a tent in the rain. Talk to some loons. Might grow some hair. You won't be bummed anymore, you will be enlightened. Dude, you almost got to party with riverrunner. Almost. I would think about that for a minute before I backed out. The other guy was probably a pansy and I wouldn't count on your father in law either. Just sayin.

quote warhawk: "That's why I bought a solo fifteen years ago."

I just had the go solo conversation with my wife. If I had the funds for it I would keep the trip alive in solo fashion. But I'm going to wait and go with my father in law in the spring. And I'll also have the extra money then to go solo if something happens. Absolutely not counting on anybody next time. As for the other guy, he backed out, I think I can't argue with your observations.

go solo, do it, pick an outfitter who can put u in a solo canoe. do it, you will love it.

Sucks that you can't go. May you have a great spring trip.

I can't believe your tripping partner backed out with only a week to go. I would have been livid with anger if that happened to me. He best have a really good excuse.

Shoot! That is a huge bummer. I really hope you do go this spring. My first trip into the BWCA changed my life!

quote Minnesotian: "
Sucks that you can't go. May you have a great spring trip.


I can't believe your tripping partner backed out with only a week to go. I would have been livid with anger if that happened to me. He best have a really good excuse. "

Unfortunately there was no good excuse. He never checked how much vacation time he had at work. Livid is a pretty good term. I'm still processing it. I'll see him this morning for the first time. Not sure how well this will go. Thanks for all the tips on solo, I'm definitely looking forward to it!

I like my situation. I'm like... by the way, I'll be paddling for the next month. Them: ok.

Man, that really sucks.Don't give up, you will get there eventually, and it is well worth it. If I had any vacation left I'd tell you to pick me up in Wichita, Ks on the way, and we'd go, I have all the gear and a nice Souris River Canoe. I missed going this year for the first time in almost a decade. Fickle friends are a PITA.:)

Sorry to hear this. It sucks when this happens. I have had this happen to me, but for legitimate reasons. Sometimes that's life,there are obstacles and disappointments.Sometimes you have to adapt to the situation. If it doesn't work out or you are uncomfortable going solo, keep planning, and preparing for another trip.
Keep the dream for a trip alive.

quote mgraber: "Man, that really sucks.Don't give up, you will get there eventually, and it is well worth it. If I had any vacation left I'd tell you to pick me up in Wichita, Ks on the way, and we'd go, I have all the gear and a nice Souris River Canoe. I missed going this year for the first time in almost a decade. Fickle friends are a PITA.:)"

Wichita isn't too far, we might need to get together and plan somethin for us southern folks.

If you have any questions about the BW, I would be happy to help a fellow Oklahoman. I've been going up since '83.

quote bassnet: "If you have any questions about the BW, I would be happy to help a fellow Oklahoman. I've been going up since '83."

I take it from your comments you are from Oklahoma as well? If that's the case then my question would be have you found anywhere around home to satisfy that canoe bug between trips? I've not had much luck myself.

solos can set you free.

what Mocha said....Do it!

Forget the Illinois River (massive chicken poo runoff). I live near the upper end of Oologah lake, and put in on Double Creek. All of the Okla. Lakes have excellent Sand Bass, Crappie, and Bass populations. The rivers that feed them are great fishing in the spring, early summer, and fall. Where are you located?

I thought I was dead too

Till I realized I was just in Oklahoma....

Just passin through... Cheers!

quote warhawk: "I thought I was dead too

Till I realized I was just in Oklahoma....


Just passin through... Cheers!"

And let the Oklahoma jokes begin! It's really not that bad right? Maybe I'm partial, born and raised here. Bassnet I'm in Bixby.

quote bassnet: "Forget the Illinois River (massive chicken poo runoff). I live near the upper end of Oologah lake, and put in on Double Creek. All of the Okla. Lakes have excellent Sand Bass, Crappie, and Bass populations. The rivers that feed them are great fishing in the spring, early summer, and fall. Where are you located?"

okay so here's a question, diving away from BWCA a little. Is there anywhere you have found like say double creek where a man could go for a nice paddle and then setup camp and hang a hammock along a lake here in OK? I'm still trying to find somewhere that tells what the state regulations are for camping along the banks of the lakes and I can't seem to find anything.

First of all, Bixoma is a pretty lake, and good fishing atvtimes. Arkansas river is excellent fishing in places. Mounds city water supply lakes are excellent, especially the bigger one. On ft. Gibson, put in at hwy. 69 bridge, fish downstream for MLB to 9lb. Fish Illinois River before April. Camping a tough one, most land is private or corps ofcengineer.

Hey bud, sorry to hear about your misfortune. That's such a bummer! I'm an Arkie but I have some Okie friends. You need to join the Dust Bowl chapter of the Arkansas Canoe Club. Link below. Those people will be able to help you out with the Oklahoma paddling info you seek and you'll make some of the best friends you could possibly hope for in the process. I speak from experience. I'll also send you the email for a buddy who lives in Jenks and has been paddling for decades. He can help you out with some beta. Arkansas Canoe Club Dust Bowl Chapter

quote DeuceCoop: "Hey bud, sorry to hear about your misfortune. That's such a bummer! I'm an Arkie but I have some Okie friends. You need to join the Dust Bowl chapter of the Arkansas Canoe Club. Link below. Those people will be able to help you out with the Oklahoma paddling info you seek and you'll make some of the best friends you could possibly hope for in the process. I speak from experience. I'll also send you the email for a buddy who lives in Jenks and has been paddling for decades. He can help you out with some beta. Arkansas Canoe Club Dust Bowl Chapter "

Sounds great! I will definitely check it out!

Is this guy short just gas money? Couldn't some of us(me included) pitch in $20 via paypal and get this guy enough for gas and food that his buddy was supposed to pay to get him there and back?

quote mpifkin: "Is this guy short just gas money? Couldn't some of us(me included) pitch in $20 via paypal and get this guy enough for gas and food that his buddy was supposed to pay to get him there and back?"

Wow, that's an incredible gesture, but I've already cancelled the outfitter and my vacation time from work. Just one more thing to prove that this group here is like a big family. I'll be coming back real soon. Hopefully around the May time frame. Thanks again, I'm really pretty speechless!