My gear is packed, the van is gassed up, and in a few hours we’re headed out on the river for the rest of the month. The plan is to canoe two different river systems, increasing the challenges as the skill and experience level of the group progresses. We will have one resupply day to stock up on fresh foods and any items we run low on.
This is my favorite part about guiding and teaching outdoors; leaving the modern world behind. The next few weeks will be among my happiest of the year, where we are working as a small group with a common goal and life is simplified down to traveling under our own power, taking care of ourselves and each other, and immersing ourselves into the natural world. We get to leave behind the cares of the modern world and live the woods life that hasn’t changed for thousands of years. The things that are valued are physical strength and endurance, gracefulness of movement, and the ability to keep a smile on your face even when cold/wet/accosted by bugs. Things that are not valued are the number of social media followers you have, your credit score, and countless other things our culture has invented that serve to make people unhappy. We’re leaving those behind. For me it is a great antidote to the challenges of modern life.
Until June 1st I’ll be off the grid and not answering (or receiving) any emails or messages. I’ll check in when we get back.
