Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

When I crossed by the snow covered sign that read “Welcome to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness National Park” and looked at what surrounded me, I was beside myself. I didn’t know that trees could ever be so beautiful. The towering trees were the perfect shade of dark emerald green, and the way the snow piled on them looked like painting. I thought I was living a fairytale. It was the most beautiful sight I have ever laid eyes on.

Similar to the concepts in Introduction: In Search of Nature, Cronon challenges popular concepts of wilderness. Cronon begins by saying “the time has come to rethink wilderness.” The author elaborates on this idea with support from the general concept that wilderness isn’t what it seems. Cronon implies that wilderness is a product of civilization, and wilderness isn’t as pristine as commonly thought. Similar to Introduction: In Search of Nature, this text claims that we see wilderness from our own biased perspectives, which are influenced by our longing/desires. The author states that wilderness was once perceived as a bad thing (e.g. Adam and Eve being cast from Eden into the wilderness), but today we search for a soul cleansing, anti-civilization,

As humans, or better put, as animals, we need the wilderness to remind us that we are small even insignificant. These large empty spaces, no matter where they are, forces us to realize that we are part of something bigger. When we create a world made purely of technology, we lose part of our animal selves and we are not happy. In “Wilderness Letter” Wallace Stegner outlines the idea of wilderness and how we need that idea in order to be happy. While making a point about becoming stuck forever in our own world, Stegner writes, “Without any remaining wilderness we are committed wholly, without chance for even momentary reflection or rest, to a headlong drive into our technological termite-life” (111). The wilderness allows us to be outside

Sometimes, being alone in nature does not always teach us life lessons. Because of how busy we become searching for more connection, we do not get the chance to take in all of what nature has to offer. However, when we go out into nature with another person, experiences become more enriching, and we learn more valuable life lessons. This is also demonstrated in “Her First Elk” by Rick Bass, a story of a girl who went to the woods looking for one thing, and because of her interacted with other humans found so much more. It was simple, Jly had lost her father who used to hunt elk with her.

The wilderness can be used to measure against the man made world, a “scientific yardstick.” Throughout the entire piece he is arguing that the importance is not what we can actually see or touch, but what we think of and

In “The Trouble with Wilderness,” William Cronon illustrates the paradox within the notion of wilderness, describing that if wilderness is that which lies beyond civilization -- beyond humankind, then so is the notion of nature outside the realm of the human... that humans are therefore, unnatural. Further, he explains that if our concept of nature (and ultimately our concept of God) is outside of humanity, then our existence is synonymous with the downfall of nature. That wilderness is purely a construct of civilization is central to this argument.  For example, Cronon asserts that “the removal of Indians to create an ‘uninhabited wilderness’---uninhabited as never before in human history of the place---reminds us just how invented, just how constructed, the American wilderness really is” (pg.79). Instead of in isolation from civilization, Cronon finds that his most spiritual experiences with nature have always been closer to home… a sense of wildness (versus wilderness) can be found in one’s backyard, gazing from a front porch, and in the melding of the human experience with mother nature. One of Into the Wild’s final scenes drives home this idea by altering the literal point of view that main character, Chris McCandless, has had of both himself and of the world since the beginning of his two year journey.  Into the Wild attempts to dramatizes Cronon’s argument to rethink wilderness; we will examine how the film succeeds, and where it fails, to support its premise.

Factors such as relationships with program staff, “solos,” mastering outdoor activities, and observing the world are thought to be positive experiences that facilitated change as well (Foundations of Adventure Therapy, 2007).

Wilderness in its true state is lush, sleek, and channels water. It is because of its true natural state that is has the ability to generate billions of dollars into America’s recreational economy. One provident example, is the San Gabriel Wilderness in California. Now of course protecting this land has natural benefits,

Change make us feel alive because it is the essence of every living thing. Chris MacCandless and Timothy Treadwell desperately needed a change in their lives in order to escape from their past unpleasant experiences and problems and they found their solution in the wilderness. Leaving the human word of comfortable excesses and surrendering their fates to nature empowered them to gain back a feeling of control over their lives. When your life is under a constant threat and you push yourself to your limits trying to survive in the wild, you start looking at many things differently than in normal circumstances. Wilderness can be a perfect place to find a peace in your mind and help you find your answers, but it is also a dangerous place that you

According to William Cronon’s “The Trouble with Wilderness”, the main concerns with the wilderness term being humanly constructed and lack of concern with the local environments. Cronon emphasize much of the historical and philological meanings of wilderness as a human construct via spiritual and religious perspectives. He desired for people stop putting so much emphasis on the above and beyond that is out of our reach and focus on the present. He pushed this into the idea of one should start putting emphasis and care into one’s own environment rather than just focusing on environments beyond the local one. He believes change should start locally.

In Challis, Idaho there is one out of many protected areas known as Frank-Church River of No Return Wilderness. This protected area consists of a very large space of land because it is 2,366,757 acres, this is mentioned on the website where I found the information about this area. With the information that I gathered the website states how large this wilderness area is, and in some pictures that I looked at it is shown that there is a large and beautiful river which is part of Frank-Church River of No Return Wilderness hence the name of the wilderness area. The river is open to the public so that those who want to visit can. People who do plan to visit Frank-Church River of No Return Wilderness, may go on hikes and explore around the area and

Wilderness is a natural environment, which has not been altered by human civilization. This land exists by its own and does not have people living it. In such a land, an individual can, therefore, involve in any action that he or she is willing to involve in. One can, for example, take illegal drugs in the wilderness, but since there is not a police force in the region, he or she would not be subject to any consequences. In the wilderness, an individual is therefore completely free, without any form of restriction. Within the society where there are other individuals, however, freedom is much different from the freedom that an individual can experience in the wilderness. In such areas, laws and social restrictions bind an individual. This aspect makes him or her not to be entirely free. In the civilized society, therefore, a person is never entirely free, he or she is restricted by boundaries like laws and the need to maintain restriction, and thus he or she conforms to those laws. Both wilderness and freedom thus have a relationship, an individual in the wilderness is considered free because, in the wilderness, the individual is not bound to operate or act according to the standards or expectations of others. Social boundaries and laws do not bind an individual in the wilderness (Mincy,

Superior National Forest, Finland State Forest, East Colvill Wildlife Management, Grand Portage National Monument, Cascade River State Park

Another problem I find living in the woods and having a simple live is boredom. After Thoreau worked on his house, he had to work for two months planting and caring for his beans plants. He had ten months of leisure. Most people find that doing nothing in woods for 10 months in the woods with limited social interaction would be extremely boring. Instead of finding there spirituality, they would complain of boredom.

Being outdoors is an amazing solution to spending time with family and friends. It is a fun approach to mingling and enjoying quality time with them. In addition to that, you are outside spending time in nature. Taking a break from your everyday life to enjoy what mother nature provides for us, has many advantages. But, before you start heading to the campground, you should know of all the positive aspects that you will get once you get outdoors.