Friends and clients alike are always surprised when I

mention my passion for wilderness camping. Knowing me to be

extremely "plugged in" (never away from my cellphone or

laptop or iPod for more than an hour) they always laugh when

I tell them my vacation plans. "I'm going wilderness

camping!"

All types of camping are fun, but wilderness camping holds a

special place in the hearts of true campers.

Wilderness camping pits a man (or in my case a woman)

against the elements.

When wilderness camping, you must live by your wits.

When wilderness camping, you are out on your own.

Wilderness camping requires self reliance and fortitude.

Wilderness camping tests your survival skills and your

creativity.

Wilderness camping can be a real challenge.

So why the heck would anyone go wilderness camping?

Especially when they could just drive into a campsite, pitch

their tent ten feet from the car and enjoy all the comforts

of home that they can cram into their car? And they don't

have to be lonely either. There are always beer guzzling

partiers right in the next campsite making all kinds of

noise.

So what could be the attraction with wilderness camping?

Being way out in the wilderness where you could be attacked

by a bear? And once you get way out there, you only have the

few meager supplies to eat that you could carry on your

back. With this wilderness camping, you are a few days walk

from the nearest fast food place and forget about beer. It

is too heavy to carry and the nearest bar is a forty mile

hike away. So what could possibly be the attraction of

wilderness camping?

Well, the attraction of wilderness camping is all the things

that it is and all the things that it is not.

Wilderness camping is a way to get some peace and quiet.

No beer guzzling parties at the site next door. In fact, in

most cases, you don't see other campers when wilderness

camping.

Wilderness camping is a chance to get away from all the

modern mechanized distractions and to be alone, just alone

with yourself and with whatever nature comes up with for

you. No cellphones or laptops.

Wilderness camping can be a spirit quest.

Wilderness camping can put you in touch with your deepest

self.

Wilderness camping can help you rebalance your life and

priorities.

Wilderness camping gives you the space without distractions

to see what is really there.

Wilderness camping gets you away from all the things you

think define who you are and puts you in touch with the

quiet space that is truly at the heart of who you are.

Wilderness camping gives you a chance to see, hear and touch

unspoiled nature.

Wilderness camping gives you a chance to look around and see

no manmade structures, no cell phone towers, no telephone

poles, no wires, wires, wires, blocking your view.

Wilderness camping puts you out where things are natural and

real.

That's what wilderness camping does for me. I know it can

do the same for you.