The Meaning of Wilderness

After completing our second hitch of trail work in the Bob, more and more I find myself contemplating the meaning of wilderness. We’ve mulled it over as a crew, both in discussions during intern orientation and amid early morning, pre-work stretch circles, but I’ve found the resulting interpretations to be somewhat variable. From what I gather, these inconsistencies arise because the meaning of wilderness is not simply a legally designated, minimally managed piece of federal land, but instead a feeling that arises within each individual. This subjectivity gives way to a myriad of perceptions, exposing the multifaceted entity that is wilderness.

My definition of wilderness surfaces in the small, unexpected moments, the moments when I find my mind engaging only with what is right in front of me: the crunch of the dirt beneath my boots; the way the sunlight streams through cottonwood seeds as they float to the ground; the subtle buzz of hummingbird wings among a patch of wildflowers; the vibration of the crosscut saw in my hands as I cut through a fallen tree. Stripped of the nuances and distractions of everyday life, my attention is not stretched across a web of past experiences or future possibilities, but instead rests in the exact moment that I exist in. This harmonious exchange with the present is hard to come by in our bustling lives, yet the immersion into wild places seems to encourage it. I’ve found that my increased access to the present moment creates a foundation for reflection on the role humans play in this world.

The Bob’s untouched and vast beauty is reminiscent of a time before human influence sprawled across all corners of the earth. It makes me appreciative to be a part of such an exquisite cycle, but also urges me to question my own my place within the wild. A sense of home collides with a sense of unfamiliar awe, an addictive contradiction that compels me to return again and again. And in many ways, this is what I have begun to define wilderness by; a confrontation of my own humanity, the realization of a stark dissonance between my normal lifestyle and the reality that exists beyond the frameworks of human society. Wilderness is not only the physical area that I am working in and surrounded by, but it is a tribute to a time before human intervention and alteration. I am reminded that while now I may be a visitor in this wild place, I am also still a part of it.

Through the improvement of the trails that we clear, brush, and reconstruct as a crew, we are inviting others to define what wilderness means to them. With increased exploration and understanding of the wilderness, we can cultivate stewardship for wilderness areas like the Bob, promoting a much needed responsibility and love for wild places all around the world.