Helinox Camp Chair
CCS silnylon Tarp
Sea to Summit Comfort plus pad
Rapid Fire
Bob Dustrude Saw

no buff for me.. Had chemo and lived in them for nine months.. bad memories

EddyTurn wrote:

What are the chances that one doesn't have time or nerve to properly estimate wind direction when using a spray? For most of casual wilderness travelers I'd say it's 50/50 at best. This might end dangerously in me being disabled in the path of charging bear.
I live in bear country, though it's just 50 miles away from New York city. I met bears on the streets, met them in the woods. In 10 years I heard about one nuisance bear - it didn't run away from hikers! Should I carry the spray every day? In the woods I just talk to myself or sing, when I'm sure nobody but bears can hear me.

Same here. Those little bells are worthless over wind and running water..A rangrer in Glacier suggested an air horn or a really big bell like on a buoy. Having lived in NJ in bear country in the 70's ( the age of bears knocking down tin cans every garbage collection day and finding them in neighbors kitchen) and now  we are better behaved in Maine but still in bear country.

My spray has long expired. I almost always forget it. Be of heart though I have seen Algonquin bears many times and most were with cubs. One trio of cubs and Mom was playing on diving off a log repeatedly on the Amable du Fond River while I watched.. Another mom came out of a creek on the portage to Radiant went under the bow of the canoe and fled.. Cub stopped to watch.. That was an interesting moment.

Bangers cant be fired over the bear..that might scare them to come to you Spray is of course wind dependent

We did the Rock-Louisa portage right after ice out in2012. Be prepared as you may be the first over. We did have a saw.. We were glad we did.

solosal wrote:

getting back to the opening of dontgroandaddy, I would say there is nothing wrong with looking behind you while on a trail.  I do this every backpacking trip.  I've only got a few years under my belt as a solo backcountry camper but here is my advice.  Do not read or watch anything remotely related to backcountry camping a few months prior to going in.  That being said do read lots of stuff in the "off season" that will help you be prepared. If you have camped in the backcountry before all the same rules apply ie: be prepared for any encounter whether It be wildlife or human and keeping a clean site.  Finally as others have mentioned make sure someone knows your plan - this could mean a in and out date from the backcountry or a check in from a SPOT (or other means).  I have found going solo that my instincts are heightened and that's okay.  Its all really a part of the experience...its the wild for pete's sakes.  All that being said, I am a woman, so some are worried about me for other reasons.  The biggest question I get from others, when I go solo, is don't you get bored by yourself?  The answer is simple - if I can't be alone with myself who the heck would want to be near me!

I am really awed about the number of women solo trippers out there. And we are not afraid to speak up.

Another reason for soloing is that it seems from my slanted viewpoint that its not as hard to get a group of guys together for a canoe trip and male bonding as it is to get a bunch of gals together for a canoe trip and female bonding. Gals want something else( spa etc) and we are odd gals out. We do exist so we are willing to solo to do the things we love.

30 liter barrel and a Woods Mason Pack. Pack weights are maybe 35 lbs for the Woods and 20 for the barrel
My canoe is 31 lbs. No superwoman.  But I have been flattened by carrying too much and face planted in Woodland Caribou  on a flooded portage. I had some 80 lbs on me and tangled in a pack strap.

Not doing that anymore. Woodland Caribou is a place where you might go till spring next year without being found.

I love to solo cause I can spend time with my camera and not worry about any one elses timetable. My first solo was in 1996 in Algonquin and was for a week.. The only jeebies I have and still do is leaving gear unattended.   So I break up portages so I am never far away from my gear. 

I have seen bear aplenty and do think about the fact that they are active during my day and perhaps sniffing my gear when I am gone. But mostly its been seeing back ends of bear though one walked 10 feet in front of my canoe going to Radiant while I was carrying it. It left fast. The scary part was the second bear..the cub that stopped and walked under the bow of the canoe  to stare at me before..thankfully..following mama.

I have seen some wonderful bear antics as cubs and mama played in the water for a few minutes before the fleet of Girl Scouts in Grummans arrived.

Watching wildlife is so much more possible solo.

Blue Green algae are not algae. They are a bacteria. Sure your water filter should filter them out.

E coli and giardia are also carried within you and you can contract Giardia by not handwashing well.  It can be gotten at home quite nicely too. Its not just lake water. The poor beaver is much maligned. You can get it from a dog.

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/giardia/general-info.html

they are said to work well and are probably  illegal if there is a fire ban.

Hemlock Peregrine. Colden Nomad, Swift Keewaydin 15, Northwind Solo by Northstar . You are seeking a l/w ratio of 7 or better.. If you are small Placid Rapidfire or Shadow can be reinforced to use with a standard touring seat. 7.5 and 8.5 respectively. Savage River too of course has fast solos.

Argosy is not fast. Its sub 14 feet. LWL not LOA counts. I have had one for ten years. Paid $600 USD for it. Kiji is way high I think.