Back to civilization (for the time being).
Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 9:10 pm
Hey all!
Well, I thought I'd take some time to update everyone on my trip. I packed up back in June and hit the road heading west. I ended up making my way to Wyoming, which is where I spent the majority of my time. I wanted to steer clear of the tourist areas like Yellowstone, so I opted for Bighorn National Forest near Buffalo instead. It was FANTASTIC!
Living in the wild was better than I could ever have expected. The people I met along the way were really nice to me. I camped out in a single person tent wherever I could find a decent spot. One night, I awoke to what I think was a bear or a wolf just outside my tent (I didn't actually see it, but it was making a low growling sound as it circled me). But that's as harrowing as things ever got.
The journey for me was spiritual in a sense. When you're alone, in the wilderness, pitted against the elements, you sort of have to put your faith in a higher power (I did anyway). I'm Catholic by religion, and it was a time for me to sort of reconnect with my faith.
Being in the wild also taught me a lot about myself. I'm stronger and braver than I ever thought I was. I'm also waaaaaay too dependent on modern technology. We are so pampered.
Oh, and being in the wild is extremely dirty business. I went days sometimes without showering, or getting the chance to bath. And I'm not used to walking around with dirt under my fingernails.
In the end, I decided to return to civilization. I know what you might be thinking: he couldn't handle it, so he quit. Not exactly. The trip crystallized a few things for me, particularly, that if I want to live in the wild, it's definitely doable, but it's also something that should be planned for a bit better. I'm a teacher by profession, so it was easy for me to come back to the Midwest, find a job, and fall right back into my old way of life. But every time I think of Bighorn, I get this deeply homesick feeling in the pit of my stomach. What I want to do now is plan a way to move back out west. With some financial planning, I think I could buy or lease some land in Wyoming, build a rustic cabin (my hermitage), and make a living by either writing, or publishing (ala Dan Price). Or, I can do something else.
The truth is, I had romanticized Chris' trip out west. And while being in the wild affected me profoundly, it was also really difficult. I spent a lot of time sun burned, hungry, and dirty. But I also saw some of the most beautiful places in North America. And I experienced the momentary freedom of a life without an itinerary.
I want to experience it again. My first trip was just my "baby steps." I've already grown a lot . . . next summer I'll be sprinting!
Ascetic.
Well, I thought I'd take some time to update everyone on my trip. I packed up back in June and hit the road heading west. I ended up making my way to Wyoming, which is where I spent the majority of my time. I wanted to steer clear of the tourist areas like Yellowstone, so I opted for Bighorn National Forest near Buffalo instead. It was FANTASTIC!
Living in the wild was better than I could ever have expected. The people I met along the way were really nice to me. I camped out in a single person tent wherever I could find a decent spot. One night, I awoke to what I think was a bear or a wolf just outside my tent (I didn't actually see it, but it was making a low growling sound as it circled me). But that's as harrowing as things ever got.
The journey for me was spiritual in a sense. When you're alone, in the wilderness, pitted against the elements, you sort of have to put your faith in a higher power (I did anyway). I'm Catholic by religion, and it was a time for me to sort of reconnect with my faith.
Being in the wild also taught me a lot about myself. I'm stronger and braver than I ever thought I was. I'm also waaaaaay too dependent on modern technology. We are so pampered.
Oh, and being in the wild is extremely dirty business. I went days sometimes without showering, or getting the chance to bath. And I'm not used to walking around with dirt under my fingernails.
In the end, I decided to return to civilization. I know what you might be thinking: he couldn't handle it, so he quit. Not exactly. The trip crystallized a few things for me, particularly, that if I want to live in the wild, it's definitely doable, but it's also something that should be planned for a bit better. I'm a teacher by profession, so it was easy for me to come back to the Midwest, find a job, and fall right back into my old way of life. But every time I think of Bighorn, I get this deeply homesick feeling in the pit of my stomach. What I want to do now is plan a way to move back out west. With some financial planning, I think I could buy or lease some land in Wyoming, build a rustic cabin (my hermitage), and make a living by either writing, or publishing (ala Dan Price). Or, I can do something else.
The truth is, I had romanticized Chris' trip out west. And while being in the wild affected me profoundly, it was also really difficult. I spent a lot of time sun burned, hungry, and dirty. But I also saw some of the most beautiful places in North America. And I experienced the momentary freedom of a life without an itinerary.
I want to experience it again. My first trip was just my "baby steps." I've already grown a lot . . . next summer I'll be sprinting!
Ascetic.