It is weird the things you do or desire while in the wilderness may be things that you wouldn't even thinging about doing in normal modern life. Take for instance the jeans, or pants, you wear. For me, there is nothing like a dirty pair of jeans in the BW. And there is nothing worse to me then starting out with clean jeans. I can't wait to get them worn in and dirty. I love the fact that I can wipe anything on them. They are my towel and napkin. It's great. Maybe it's the fact that I just don't care what I look like. Or maybe it makes me feel closer to the land(with the dirt, mud, and water on them). Or maybe i just don't feel as dirty as I would I wore the same pair of jeans for days in the city. It's a different kind of dirty. The one exception to this is I like a clean pair of pants at night and for the tent. But what I do know is that I would never do that in regular life.

It's weird how things change when your in the BW. As I'm walking around campus from class to class I'll avoid every puddle in an attempt to try and keep my shoes from becoming wet or from dragging the bottom of my pants through the puddles. But when it come to the BW, before I even get into the canoe for the first time I'll submerge myself knee deep in the water. It's inevitable that I'm going to get wet, so I figure I might as well get it out of the way.

HumbledByNature

I think one of the greatest ironies for me is the food I eat. Much of the food I eat in the woods, I only eat in the BWCAW. Not because of the food itself, but some things I like to enjoy in the wilderness and wait until I go back to have it again. I also eat freeze dried from time to time and would not eat that at home. One of my favorite BWCAW dishes is rice, beans and some tuna added. I certainly could and would eat this at home, but while in the wilderness I especially enjoy it.

The other big difference for me is cleanliness of any sort. In the woods I do not wash and shower every day and some trips never until I come out. At home I take a shower everyday. In the woods I do not change clothes daily, I would never consider that at home.

In the wilderness I do not get bored or antsy sitting still for long periods of time doing nothing but looking at the scenery, at home if I have 5 minutes of idle time I feel guilty that I should be doing something productive.

In the woods I fall asleep in 30 seconds, at home I find myself thinking about the day just finished and the one ahead before falling alseep. It can take me quite a while to go through that process.

I know I enjoy and savor the last two differences the most!!! I guess all of this is just a few of the reasons why we go.

I believe that not only are somethings better in the BWCA, all things are better!!! I think it is the feeling of getting back to "Nature" where you don't worry about how clean something is... and you eat food to give you energy to pursue your daily challenge, yet no matter what the food is... it sure taste a whole lot better in the BWCA than it does at home... And the overall sense of peace, no worries, the only deadline you have is when you come out... every little thing means something special... the sound of the loons at night... the wind blowing in the top of the trees... the sound of rain drops on the tent... the warmth of a fire in the early morning, or a good cup of coffee or your preferred beverage around the fire at night... These are the things that fill my mind with the longing to go back again and again... To me the is the freedom of the place to be "you" you have no one to impress except yourself... and to be able to share that with a companion, be it wife or friend is a special thing also...

Bruce

I agree that everything is better in the BWCAW. My own opinion on the matter is that in life outside the BWCAW you are supposed to act, look, think a certain way. You have been taught how to act and look and think since you were born. It seems to be a strategy people have always used in order to function in society and thrive. However, in the wilderness there is no set way to act. No one is around to make what you do or think seem not to be correct. In the wilderness you are who you are and you have nothing to make you unhappy. So if you dont care your pants are your napkin, if you dont change clothes day to day, and you are ok with that, its all that matters. No one will be there to make you think differently. Personally this is why I usually go alone into the BWCAW, it only makes this change greater and provides for an even better experience.

Malachi-I like your perspective. I think you are right! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It made me think and helped me understand as well.