Solitude / Wilderness

Thanks guys. Saskatchewan sounds interesting.

PaddleTime said:

Thanks guys. Saskatchewan sounds interesting.

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May have to use the train - don't let that 18.5 mess you up. Someone had mentioned on the earlier thread about a Champlain I believe. 18' long 37" width. I have rented these twice and will purchase one when I get back to Michigan. Hauls everything!!

Yep, saw your note on the other thread. Sounding like you guys are thinking 18.5’ might even be on the short side. But guess I’ll just have to skip rail travel. I looked at the Champlain, but Wenonah didn’t suggest it for 3.

You say a week to 10 days or less, don't forget to factor drive time, put-in and take out days, and a weather day. Just the drive from Missouri to any town close to wabakimi will take more than 16 hours. Canoe country in SK would be 24 hours from MO. Either of those will require a launch/exit or travel overnight stay. So now your 10 day trip is down to six. Add a weather day and you are at five. That ain't much time, given that you seem to be keen on solitude.

I'm gonna be straight with you:

You seem to have a deep interest in doing things right, and that's fantastic.

You also seem to be really interested in canoe tripping, which is even better.

In looking at your posts, your topics and statements appear to be those typical of a rank beginner. I recognize the patterns because I was there myself not so long ago. Most efforts by the community to get to know your capabilities and narrow the focus of discussion have been rebuffed or evaded. This makes you appear to be unserious in your search for answers. There are many people on this board who have many hundreds of days on the water. Not day trips, but multi week and multi month expeditions. If they are asking questions, they have a darn good reason and your answer WILL impact their recommendation. I have tremendously benefitted from the wealth of knowledge on this forum, and am thankful for it.

All of that said, here's my answer to this thread, given the dearth of informatin you are willing to relinquish:

Go to the BWCA. Rent the biggest 3-man you can find and have the outfitter shuttle you as far as they will take you. Paddle as far as you can get from an entry point as quick as you can go. Enjoy the solitude and the hassle free nature of staying in the US and close enough to most central states to be accessible with a marathon drive. If you have all the gear, great. Take it and rent a canoe. If you don't have the gear, rent it all and go forth. Use Piragis. Once you decide to do this, the forum can help you with a route, should you decide to ask.

Yep, drive time factored in on that. I appreciate the suggestion on the BWCA rental approach, but that’s not my style or what I’m looking for at all. I can see how that would be a good way to go for some for sure. Not following you on some parts here - but I am not sure how I could help your perception (I could explain again but we are perhaps getting into broken record territory). Not looking for a specific route (would rather make up my own before referencing established anyway) or anything close to anything other than southern-ish Canada / northern U.S. - it’s all on the table. I’ll definitely start a new topic another time if I’m looking for a specific province or drive time.

I think I’ve tried to answer everything, but let me know if I missed something that would help out! Getting some really interesting places to research so far also, thanks all.

Wenonah Itasca?

PaddleTime said:

Yep, saw your note on the other thread. Sounding like you guys are thinking 18.5’ might even be on the short side. But guess I’ll just have to skip rail travel. I looked at the Champlain, but Wenonah didn’t suggest it for 3.

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Of course they didn't, but I guarantee you, you
can take one tripping with three.

I was thinking the same. And thanks for mentioning the Itasca. That said, have it narrowed down to epoxy (shortens the list pretty quick).

I’ve been reading a lot of your posts as well, and it seems like you know what answer you want and you are fishing for someone to give you that answer.

I noticed you’ve brought up Quetico multiple times, but appear to not be interested in BWCA. The two parks are connected and my understanding is they share similar characteristics, though I’ve read that in Quetico you may be able to find solitude quicker. Others on this site could elaborate.

On your canoe post you ask for suggestions, but then say you are dead set on epoxy boats and there aren’t many options. Sounds like you should buy the epoxy boat that your research tells you is best and hope you love it. The impression I get is that you’ve never paddled an epoxy boat so have no first hand knowledge about its durability in the conditions you may put it through. Might be worth considering other options if you want to broaden your search. I also have never paddled an epoxy boat, and I’m curious to see my new souris river Quetico and how it handles scratches and dings.

I’m newer to this community, and I’ve quickly gone from 0 to 5 canoes. My 5th canoe being the only new one in my fleet. I think what other members are getting at is that you can’t “engineer” out every possibility without getting in the trenches and seeing and feeling things first hand. Buy the canoe that your research tells you will work and then go on your first trip. Pick a location that your research tells you will fit your needs. Maybe it will be perfect, or maybe it won’t quite meet your expectations. It’s easy to sell a gently used canoe and even easier to adjust your trip for next time.

This guy makes great maps for newbie canoe trippers in southern ontario’s popular provincial parks. I have his whole set.

Good luck.

Hey @Jmharrick absolutely fishing for answers but in no way am looking to hear an answer on something I’ve already decided, unless you consider southern-ish Canada or the northern U.S. as a prerequisite on this destination thread.

Epoxy yes, I’ve decided to go that route for several reasons. More interested in other design features at this point. I probably should have never mentioned epoxy in hindsight as it’s not really relevant to the recent topics. Maybe got things off track. I am more interested in the differences on the shortlist - tumblehome and flare, symmetry, construction… Absolutely trying to buy the boat my research tells me is best. The shortlist is short, and these are some of the differences.

Thanks for the input on the BWCA etc., have planned a few routes in the area and am looking for some alternate / possibly more remote / additional places to explore someday. Have a few great leads so far and again thanks all for getting me started on those.

Marshall Lake loop, Northern Ontario. Lots of trip reports on this site. It is a true loop trip, might see a boat or two on the last lake, but usually fairly isolated. Crown Land, only fee you would need is Crown Land Camping permit. My buddy and I usually maintain ports, hoping to get in end of June to clear them up again.

None in the lower 49. Excluding Canada, which could be a state any day now. There are some remote lakes in the Rockies. And I’ve felt remoteish there, but there’s often still road noise East of the Mississippi, except for the middle of BWCA, but Rockies or NE MN, inner Everglades are as close to wild I’ve paddled in.

Late to this, but for my money, the Whitney wilderness loop in New York’s Adirondacks can fill many of these requirements IF you gain the chops and gear to go in the shoulder seasons. We’ve twice paddled the loop the last week of September and then first week of October. On both trips, we saw one other canoe and one other party camped. No reservation necessary, great camping, good fishing, excellent scenery. It’s unique in that you get mountain views while plying the water. Portages are long and a couple are difficult. The weather can get raw that time of year, but I’m kind of into that.

There are plenty of trip reports on this site.

Thanks guys. This research is looking like it will keep me busy for a while. Sounds like some great places to check out, wide range, thank you.

i have always sought solitude in places where I see no one for many days. Very near my home are many state forests and wilderness areas of the Adirondacks. For my pleasure, since I was much younger, I have gone into the wild areas portaging between ponds with a lightweight canoe, such as a light cedar woodstrip or carbon Hornbeck canoe. Sometimes initially using larger waterways as entry points, sometimes just parking at a convenient back country dirt roadside pullout and heading in on old ancient ghost trails or overgrown old logger skidder trails. Pond to pond, map and compass off trail through the woods, never seeeing anyone. But let someone in on your itinerary, just in case. Oh, and nearly all of NY designated wild forests and wilderness areas are free and legal to camp on anywhere you please, with following a few simple LNT rules, such as not setting up a camp within 150 feet of water bodies, trails or roads. No need in most areas to camp at officially designated sites as long as you don't leave a mess.

The last couple posts from yknpdlr and MichaelMerry reflect my opinions as well.
I'm surprised it's taken 33 posts to recommend the Adirondacks. I've been visiting, paddling and camping in the ADK's for my entire lifetime...if it's solitude you seek, you'll find it. A great combination of water, mountains and history that you can touch.
No permits required, plenty of water for as many days as you wish, just take care to respect the regulations and the land.
Any of the established canoe routes will provide a quiet experience, and can lead to complete solitude with but a few carries/bushwhacks.

I have to be honest, not the first place I would have thought of but sounding like I need to do some more research on the area. Thanks.

Take a look...

Downeast lakes in Maine certainly gets you solitude and wilderness

Ok, I hate to throw this out there but in the interest of being straight up for the new cat, there is a base close by the ADK's and, depending on the length of your trip you might find yourself with a little entertainment. If you have not heard the sound of an F35 (or whatever it is) it is something you won't soon forget. And that's BEFORE the afterburners kick in. And that chopper(s) flying overhead at odd hours - hopefully it's not for you - does get your attention, too. On the positive side..........