My Wild Summer
On the fourth floor of College Hall in Spokane, Washington, the scribblings of a graphite pencil on the back of a quiz was where my wild summer started. On the front, I...
Category: Voices in the Wilderness
Voices in the Wilderness, begun as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, allows people from many walks of life to tell personal stories about enjoyable —or maybe not-so-enjoyable —adventures and personally important moments in wild country. Pieces are written by people from all around the Scotchmans area. Each story tells of the writer’s special relationship with wild places. The stories are funny, touching, scary, inspiring and all rooted in a personal relationship with a place with no roads.
These essays are published in papers around the region including Montanian, Western News, Sanders County Ledger, Bonner County Daily Bee, and Sandpoint Reader.
Voices in the Wilderness – Deb Hunsicker
The Joy of Seeing
by Deb “Walking Carrot” Hunsicker
“There’s some kind of animal down there.” I shift my attention from the bag of trail mix I’m focused on and scan...
Voices in the Wilderness – Simone Durney
Ode to the Free Dog
After a few years of discussion, my partner and I decided to adopt a dog. Yes, the covid-19 lockdowns influenced our decision to find a dog at that particular time,...
Voices in the Wilderness: Briana Whitehead
Three Abandoned Trekking Poles
Gannet Peak - Wind River Range, Wyoming
It was a perfect July in Montana. We had just gotten married at Legacy Bike Park near Kalispell, and were ready to...
Voices in the Wilderness: Chesney Lowe
The Hidden Waterfall
Growing up in the mountains of Montana, there are many memorable wilderness experiences to be had. The wilderness has so much to offer and is something that everyone...
Voices in the Wilderness: Payton Betz
The wilderness is a place where dreams, challenges, and discoveries shape who we are.
Venturing to a place with many variables and changing environments allows one to be in the present,...
Voices in the Wilderness: Emily Myers
A Most Memorable Wilderness Experience
When Schweitzer Mountain closed early due to COVID-19, my friend Josie and I were determined to keep skiing. We hatched a plan to hike up the...
Voices in the Wilderness: Winter Sedler
My First Backcountry Skiing Experience
When my dad asked me if I wanted to go backcountry skiing, I imagined bottomless powder untracked as far as I could see. Eager to prove myself and...
