Why Womxn Shouldn’t Canoe Alone

When I first announced that I was going on a solo canoe trip, a lot of people were supportive.

A lot of people weren’t.

I had someone tag me in a comment (along with Ontario Parks and CBC) saying “Not too S M A R T are you? Take a buddy.”

I wondered what prompted that initial response. Would the same comment have been said if a man was to announce that he was going on a solo canoe trip? So I asked. His reply was:

“Take a buddy. Accidents happen. Never go in the bush or waterways alone.”

I guess I felt really sad by the response. The fact that no one (espesh womxn) shouldn’t go into the forest alone. No one should ever build a connection to nature by being alone and observing. Thinking our own thoughts, getting inspiration, taking care of our mental health, learning about plants and animals, seasons and change.

The forest is my solace. The water that runs through Mother Earth’s veins in the form of rivers and lakes are my refuge.

Approaching a campsite a couple of days after ice-out in Algonquin Park.

To prepare for going out into the wilderness alone - a solo canoe trip - I endured many hundreds of kilometres paddling with my husband. I’m certified in ORCKA’s Moving Water Level 1 Canoeing and am certified in Wilderness First Aid.

The only hesitation was to actually put the wheels in motion of planning a trip.

The day I left for my first-ever solo canoe trip, the ice had just come off the lakes in Algonquin Parks a couple of days earlier.

When I pushed off from shore, I thought I’d feel nervous. I felt nothing really. Just a deep need to reach the first portage and from then on, I knew I could do it all.

Snow on my food barrel.

Home for the first couple of nights.

This trip was a shot to prove to myself that I can canoe trip solo. I can carry the canoe, paddle solo, I can hang my food barrel, start a fire… survive.

I had done it all before but with someone else helping and doing all the “heavy lifting.”

The sense of accomplishment when I reached my first campsite was incredible. I remember my smile beaming from cheek to cheek. I might have even yelled a “F*CK YEAH!” that echoed through the park.

Day two - windbound. Couldn’t go anywhere.

Pretty much finished my book this day.

Day three allowed me to pack up camp and paddle to the next lake.

When I rounded a corner on the lake, I was hit with more headwinds and whitecaps. I was being so very cautious. So I ended up having to stay on the next lake. When I tried to land my canoe, I tipped and fell in the water. Good thing I was wearing a drysuit!

Used my own body and mind to get myself into the backcountry of Algonquin!

What were my fears? Not being able to lift and carry the canoe? Not being able to throw a rope in a tree to hang my food barrel? Tipping the canoe?

Well, I did all of those things! What could possibly be left for me to do? I for sure knew at this point that I could keep doing these solo trips. My fear of tipping the canoe disappeared after I did it in ice-out water.

A calm enough evening for a campfire.

My last evening.

Listen.

It’s all about being prepared. I was prepared with a drysuit for tipping the canoe and had all of the necessary gear and skills to travel in the backcountry.

It comes from experience and pushing your limits a little farther. The sense of accomplishment is unbelievable.

And if solo tripping isn’t your thing, you’ll feel the same sense of strength and accomplishment and confidence doing a trip with other women.

If you have any questions about doing something like this, I’d be happy to connect with you!