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“What is most striking in the Maine wilderness is the continuousness of the forest, with fewer open intervals or glades than you had imagined. Except the few burnt-lands, the narrow intervals on the rivers, the bare tops of the high mountains, and the lakes and streams, the forest is uninterrupted. It is even more grim and wild than you had anticipated, a damp and intricate wilderness, in the spring everywhere wet and miry. The aspect of the country, indeed, is universally stern and savage, excepting the distant views of the forest from hills, and the lake prospects, which are mild and civilizing in a degree. The lakes are something which you are unprepared for; they lie up so high, exposed to the light, and the forest is diminished to a fine fringe on their edges, with here and there a blue mountain, like amethyst jewels set around some jewel of the first water, — so anterior, so superior, to all the changes that are to take place on their shores, even now civil and refined, and fair as they can ever be. These are not the artificial forests of an English king, — a royal preserve merely. Here prevail no forest laws but those of nature.”
– Henry David Thoroeau, Ktaadn, The Maine Woods
Mount Katahdin. (source)
Burnout is likely imminent, as I can’t remember the last weekend I spent doing nothing at all, but I can’t fight the strong urge to simply go. I’m not sure why I’m so compelled to do anything but stay still; the desire runs far to deep to try and understand, at least for now. So I go. I run, both figuratively and literally. I see all of the beauty and variety the world has to offer, and suddenly my internal struggles seem far less intimidating and insurmountable. But that, kids, is a blog post topic for another day.
We are off to spend 5 days camping in the Northern-nearly-Canada-Maine wilderness, where the number of moose likely outnumber humans, and the area is so desolate they haven’t even bothered naming the town, it goes by a number instead. No cell service, and obviously the trees don’t come with wi-fi. I am both wildly intimidated by the vast emptiness and incredibly excited for its untouched beauty. I will be practicing my newly acquired orienteering skills (just kidding, I still haven’t finished ” Be Expert with Map and Compass
“), embracing the suck crisp (cold) New England weather, and hopefully sharing a ton of laughs with some really great friends who are ridiculous enough to also be taking on this adventure.
In the meantime, I’ve got some guest posts lined up from a few friends. I have no idea what they plan to write about, so you know, consider that a disclaimer. If I am not taken prisoner by nearly hibernating bear or Bigfoot himself (bucket list item #13 about to be checked off!) , I will hopefully have some great stories and photos to share upon my return.
Have a great week, my friends.
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