One of the first causalities of aging is courage. Not the loss of courage to meet our social obligations or to work hard, find new employment, or even move to a new geographic location. It's often younger adults who fear these kinds of challenges/ changes. No. Here I'm referring to the courage to take on the wilderness, to go into a forest and live a simple life for a few days.
Later in life we prefer the creature comforts of home — a forty-foot motor home, a resort, or even a luxury cruise ship — and avoid the rigors of wilderness life. I found myself looking back with nostalgia at my backpacking days, when I went into the woods and lived in a primitive shelter, slept in a cave, hand-fished for my dinner, and used a map and compass to find my way.
There is a way for most anyone who seeks to reclaim their youthful sprit. Listen, there is more risk driving your vehicle to the mall than spending a night or two in the woods.
In the woods the most important task of the day is to get up, make a fire, heat water for coffee, eat breakfast, and let the sun warm the old bones. Sound good?
Here are a few easy and manageable steps for any one who desires an emotional rush without unnecessary risk.
1. Identify an area within an hour drive of your home. This can be a National Forest or Wilderness area, Desert, or sea shore.
2. Plan a short day-hike ahead to check out the area you choose, just to be certain it meets your requirements for natural beauty. There are not many seashore areas left in California that are devoid of hordes of people, including the Central Coast.
3. Be certain you have appropriate clothing and equipment.
Hiking shoes should be broken in or soft style to begin with. No jogging shoes, please. Forget wearing the heavy mountaineering boots. Have a sufficiently warm sleeping bag to provide you with a good nights sleep. In this case, be certain to take along an insolite ground pad, (open cell type). Cold will likely come up from underneath you. Dress in layers. Bring a tent with a good rain fly.
4. Tell someone responsible where you are going.
Search and rescue operations often begin when someone goes off for a trip and doesn't tell a soul where they'll be. In this vein, don't change your plans once you are on your trip. Cell phones do not work too well in remote areas.
5. Before entering any forest or wilderness area, obtain a Wilderness Permit.
6. This trip should not be longer than two nights.
The third day you should be heading home. If you get lost or injured, stay put. People who wander around are a nightmare to locate. Be certain to bring plenty of water. It would be preferable to camp near a stream. Remember stream water needs filtering or boiling. Giardia bacteria can make your life miserable. Eat high energy food and if you must make a fire, make it small, in the center of a clearing, and surrounded by rocks.
