Hi, this will be my first year doing GISHWES. I'm in solo and I know they'll put me in a group. Is it okay to wait for them to place me somewhere or should I actively look for a team? Also, will it be difficult to complete tasks if I'm in a group with others no where near me?
Letting the GISHWHES staff choose your team means that it will be completely random, which could turn out phenomenally, but it's not guaranteed. If you want to be totally sure, start looking for your team now, and find people with traits you admire and things you have in common. If you're looking to be competitive, it's essential you actively search for a team, to ensure you have a team of varied skill sets, locations, and the best possible people on your team.
It's always helpful to have someone or some people doing the tasks with you, but it's not impossible. Just pace yourself properly, and always stay organized. You may want to enlist someone close to you though as photographer, since chances are you'll be in a lot of the items.