As we prepare to welcome back our 10 day seniors trip tomorrow we wanted to share these words from longtime camper, now tripper Evan Edgell on why he chose to come back to camp to lead canoe trips this summer:
I missed the woods – being out in the wilderness. I missed the swish of the paddle pushing through the water. I missed the glow, smell, and crackle of the fire. I missed having a canoe on my head until the burn in my core, back, calves, and shoulders proved to me that I had put in a meaningful effort. I missed waking up in the morning, breathing in the cool, misty, Algonquin air, and having a reasonably straightforward vision for the day: Food, water, shelter.
For those unfamiliar with the backcountry, the idea of an entire day revolving around nourishing the body, traveling to a new destination, and going to sleep may sound like a pointless reversal of centuries of progress. But anyone lucky enough to venture off into the wilderness knows that this is where the magic lies.
On the trail, we are generously gifted the opportunity to rediscover simplicity. It is a reunion with simplicity. We are removed from modern stresses such as finances, schoolwork, social media, and politics. We are also stripped of modern comforts – comforts we may take for granted in our everyday lives.
What remains, surrounded by loon calls and rain falls, starry nights and mosquito bites, kevlar canoes and muddy wet shoes, is a beaming spotlight on human fundamentals: Something to eat, something to drink, a place to sleep. A reunion with simplicity. The satisfaction and contentment that come with it. That is the gift. That is the power of trip.
