First Solo Backpacking Hike | mosquito-HELL!

I did it—my first solo backcountry hike. In this episode, I head to Big Salmon Lake in Frontenac Provincial Park for an overnight trip that pushed me to the edge. Between blackflies, heat exhaustion, mosquito warfare, and an overstuffed 20kg backpack, this backcountry hike was anything but peaceful. But I did it—and I’m proud. This is a raw, unfiltered look at what it’s really like to be a solo female camper hiking into Ontario's wild with zero experience, a bug suit, and sheer determination. I booked site 3B and ended up at A (you’ll see why). I sweat through every layer, wrestled with my air mattress (again), and learned what not to pack. ✨ In this video: • Solo backcountry hike to Big Salmon Lake • Frontenac Provincial Park camping tips • Hiking with heat + bug protection • Fire ban & summer camping struggles • Platform tent setup • What I’d do differently next time 📍 Location: Big Salmon Lake, Frontenac Provincial Park, Ontario 🎒 Content: Solo backcountry camping | 1-night hike-in 🌡️ Conditions: 30°C heat, blackfly peak, thunderstorm risk #solobackpacking #solocamping #backpacking Chapters: 00:00 – Blackfly war begins 01:40 – Hiking to Big Salmon Lake (2km in) 02:52 – Fire ban & smoke update 04:22 – Bug suit vs heat exhaustion 06:31 – Backpack meltdown 100m from camp 08:02 – Thunderstorm incoming 09:34 – Finally bug-free (sort of) 10:44 – The bite drama & campsite mix-up 12:56 – Why I ended up at the wrong site 14:06 – Tent setup on platform (first time!) 15:21 – Cooking dinner & gear thoughts 17:38 – Real talk: heat, gear, bugs 18:42 – What I learned (and won’t do again) 19:12 – Air mattress fails (again) 21:11 – A better day: no bugs, no net 22:47 – Wild swim plans, packing up 24:43 – What I’d change next time 27:28 – Final reflections & hiking confidence