Way Out There: Adventures of a Wilderness Trekker

Remoteness and isolation made this trail unique. In the 402 miles between Norman Wells and Ross River, there were no towns or even permanent

He’s the kind of guy you would go to the ends of the Earth with, so I did. Our adventures have included Iceland, New Zealand,

descending into long gullies, ascending back to the ridgetop, contouring across knolls, negotiating rough, scoparia-covered slopes, and detouring around rock buttresses on highly exposed ground. The going was slow and deliberate: I cautiously moved

After dinner, as I stood in front of my tent, nursing my evening mug of hot chocolate and looking out over the valley, six wolves silently materialized out of the bush not more than ten feet from me.

learned valuable lessons that day about staying more aware of my physical condition and my surroundings, about not taking anything for granted, and about remembering how unforgiving nature can be. When things get tough, courage is not necessarily the most important attribute. What’s important is being able to control your emotions and maintain a po

really felt great returning this favor. It was like I was doing it for all those people who had been so kind to us. I’ve stayed in touch with Tom and his family, and we have become close friends.

The difficulties I had encountered were superseded by stirring memories of the vastness, remoteness, silence, and incredible beauty of this pristine wilderness.

today. It showed me that one should never be afraid of being afraid. I

I can actually feel my senses becoming keener, to the point where I see things more fully than if I had been part of a group.