Re: [Paddlewise] Wilderness: Isolation or Adventure?

Dave Kruger wrote:

> So, how does wilderness travel affect YOU?  I'm curious.
>

Back in '89, after a grueling summer of far too much overtime, I took a
long break.  I started it with a one week solo canoe trip in Algonquin.
It was early October.  Snow almost every day (flakes only - only two
days resulted in any accumulation and it was melted by noon.)  Mostly
cold, very high winds (forced me to shorten my trip in distance) and
lots of rain.  The middle three days I saw no one.  On arriving at Burnt
Island Lake at the end of those three days, I stood on the shore with my
binoculars scanning the three campsites on the far shore that had signs
of life.  I felt comfort in just seeing someone.

I found that such an extended trip in total isolation produced a _profound_
sense of lonelyness.  That surprised me.  I am more or less a friendly
loner.  I'd taken solo cycling trips before.  However, cycling puts you in
constant contact with strangers; it's not isolating.  When I finished, I told
myself I'd never do that again.  Since then, I've taken only one kayak trip
alone - three days/two nights in Massassauga Prov.Park in late Sept.
(though I do lots of solo day trips.)

Long trips with others are very therapeutic for me, both mentally and
physically.  Time away clears my nasal passages (there's something
in the city that irritates or I'm mildly allergic to;  ragweed and stuff
in the wilderness seems to relieve that :-)

In Nahanni, I found myself a changed person.  I don't know why that trip
had a greater effect on me than others.  Most trips. like hiking in the
Queen Charlottes several years ago, mellow me.   But the Nahanni trip
really changed me.  When I returned, I felt really invigorated.  I had lost
a few inhibitions - singing, for example.  I never sing in public.  To ward
off the bears,we were advised to sing, clap hands etc to make noise.
I sang the Teddy Bear Picnic song - to the point that the others kept
begging me to stop.  After three days, everyone else was singing it.
Maybe it was doing a trip that, to many canoeists, is one of the "ultimate"
trips.  Maybe it was the people I was with.  Maybe it was just the spectacular
nature of the area.

Nahanni was also the last time I was in a canoe.  The weekend after I returned,
I bought my kayak.  I guess I was fed up with dealing with the idiot in the bow
(or stern) seat and kayaking a single freed me from that.  Solo canoeing is a
pain; solo kayaking is fun (mostly because of the wind).

I long to get out of the city and into the wilderness.  I sleep better in a tent on
a Thermarest than in my own bed.

Is it isolation or adventure?  I've experienced the isolation and can't really deal
with it.  I need people.  Travelling with others is an adventure, even if a small
one.  I just came back from a week in the Dominican Republic at a five star
resort.  Three days of scuba, some sailing on a Hobie Cat, boogie boarding,
wandering on the beach etc.  Didn't really like it(other than the diving).  Not
my style.  Too many fat Canadian and German tourists in horribly unflattering
bathing suits.  Too many smokers and drunks.   I'd rather be on the shores of
Ellesmere Island planning the day's paddle to the next campsite.  Forget the
predictable tourist spots; give me the enjoyment of the wilderness, where I
can rely only on myself and the few people I travel with.

Mike



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