Crossing The Boundary: A Return to the Wilderness and Freedom

Crossing the boundary means crossing from National Forest lands into wilderness, where one is on her own. In crossing boundaries you leave one set of rules for another. If you're not ready to make a change in your life you are not prepared to cross any boundary - whether it be physical, mental or emotional. You have to know how to pack your gear properly, be prepared to be honest with yourself, be willing to accept the pain.

This book is a compilation of backpacking trips that my daughter and I have taken over a period of twenty-six years from 1979 - 2005 after our move to Jackson Hole, Wyoming where we spent years hiking in Grand Teton National Park and the Wind River Mountains. A subsequent move to the Canadian West opened us up to Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks in the Rockies and the Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park in Nelson, British Columbia.

I chose the title because of the freedom and joy I feel crossing the wilderness boundary at the beginning of our hikes and how at the end I turn back repeatedly to stare at the sign indicating the starting point as it finally vanishes in the distance, and I reluctantly continue, knowing I have to wait until our next adventure to feel the crossing.
Our trips lasted from a few days to a few weeks and over the years we learned how to survive in the mountains. We also came to the realization that wilderness was essential to our relationship and our lives.

It was all about freedom . . .