In Search of Solitude

In this month's Backpacker Mark Jenkins looks for the most remote spot in the lower 48. While I think his journey is very noble, I think his definition of remoteness is a little skewed. I don't think that solitude can be found with a satellite image and a GPS. 3.3 million people visit Yellowstone a year, and while most of those people barely ever leave the safety of the asphalt, it's almost impossible to get away from everyone completely. Shouldn't the overall goal of finding the most remote spot be to get as far away from every other living breathing human being on the planet. The fact that Mr. Jenkins had to pause on his journey to allow other people to pass on the same trail multiple times should be a clear indication that he had not found the most remote spot in the lower 48. Just being on a trail should be another clue. Within two hours I can be standing where there hasn't been another human being for at least ten years, and it's on public land, not a trail in sight. I'm sure it's within a few miles of an overgrown logging road that probably showed up on Mr. Jenkins's satellite, leading him to believe that there had been a disturbance to the natural order of everything within a 25 mile radius.
I think it's a pretty safe assumption that the most remote place is not within a national park or monument. While these places are truly magnificent they have had more human traffic than Paris Hilton's penthouse on New Years Eve. I do commend him on the effort and the trip sounds amazing, I'm sure he will have a lifetime's worth of stories and some of the wildlife he saw is something few people will get to witness. I guess I just have a different definition of solitude. When I go camping or leave the confines of civilization for any amount of time, I don't want to see even the slightest evidence of humanity let alone another member of our society.
My challenge to everyone reading this is to go out and find your own solace in solitude. Go somewhere that is so quiet you can hear the wind blow on a perfectly still day. Don't do it because I told you to, don't even do it for yourself, do it for the future generations that may not have an opportunity like we have then make a resolution to do some volunteer work next year to help ensure they do. If you do donate money to an organization make sure you know what they do, not just in the public light but what they stand for. We have a few organizations locally that think they are helping but nobody sees what they do where nobody is paying attention. Understand how nature works first then try to help, not the other way around.


Go where you can see all the stars and the Milky Way without street lights washing them out.