Canoeing solo in the Boundary Waters

By Molly Milroy

Roberta

Laidlaw has spent countless nights sleeping under the stars throughout the years. Being outside is her passion and while she has traversed many miles on the Superior Hiking Trail and backpacked into the deep woods for days at a time, her latest outdoor adventures include canoeing. In 2020, she completed her goal of canoeing solo in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The nine-day journey took years of preparation and planning.

Guided by Girl Scouts

the ground and in tents,” Laidlaw reminisced.

In 1971, while in eighth grade, Laidlaw first stepped into a canoe off of Newport Beach in Orange County.

“This is where I learned to canoe, sail and row,” she said. These lessons paved the way for her future outdoor adventures.