Why to Go
There are many good reasons to get into the backcountry.
Adventure
It is hard to imagine a place in the world where human beings have not already set foot. Capturing the sense of adventure and excitement that earlier explorers must have experienced may seem impossible, but the backcountry is, by definition, an untouched wilderness where humans have installed few or no civilized amenities.
Most backcountry areas look the same today as they did centuries ago. Stop at any point along your journey and know that our predecessors trod on that very spot, smelling the very same fragrances, feeling the very same sun rays filtered through the canopy, and resting for a while before completing their own journeys somewhere in the mists of the past.
Peace & Relaxation
The backcountry is free of road rage, overtime, irate clients, and just about any other common source of stress. Unlike drive-in - or frontcountry - campgrounds, to which many dump their home essentials for a weekend, the backcountry is for those who choose to take only what they can carry. It is a realm of serenity and silence within which total strangers can share a sacred space in harmony and friendship.
Rest & Recuperation
Stress-related burnout is a common ailment in our fast-paced lives. The perceived need to live out of our email inboxes or at the speed of information is arguably unhealthy and, ultimately, unsustainable.
Until we learn to slow down and place the value of actually "living" over that of merely "existing," the backcountry offers a refuge from the rat-race lifestyle. Relaxing and energizing, nothing about the backcountry suggests the need to rush. It is a slow and simple place where the mind and body can recover.
Challenge & Self-discovery
Our bodies are tougher and more capable than most of us realize. There is an untapped strength within us that we neglect simply because modern living has eliminated the need for it. (Why walk when you can drive?) In the backcountry we discover just how far our legs can carry us. It is usually farther than we imagined.
The toughest obstacles to overcome are those that we erect within our minds. Once you prove to yourself what you really can accomplish, however, distances become shorter and goals become reachable. Physical accomplishment translates into mental confidence and spiritual strength, both of which help us cope back home.