Keeping Secrets: Camping and the Beauty of Solitude

I spent the early years of my childhood in the towns of Greensboro and Craftsbury Vermont exploring the woods behind my house. I remember the feeling that I got from the forest; it felt different from anywhere else. It was a feeling of isolation that was somehow comforting. In the past couple of years I have reconnected with the forests of the Northeast Kingdom where I grew up, taking frequent visits with my girlfriend Hannah who has expressed to me her love for the region, also. This feeling I had as a child is still there like an old friend of few words that never left.

Before every trip I spend time looking at maps and finding new places to go. We often find ourselves driving down nearly impassable class-four roads and wondering, “what the hell are we doing?" When we get to the destination we realize why we love to do this. I am addicted to the feeling of remoteness and I often fantasize about living in these places: A life without having to reply to text messages, emails, and obsessive device usage. No pressure to communicate, all there is to do is be alive. The trips help keep us sane and when we come back to Burlington we feel inspired and refreshed.

Hannah and I are especially fond of boreal forests, which is primarily the habitat we seek out in Northeastern Vermont. Besides the raw beauty of the landscape there is an abundant wildlife and plant population that thrive in these areas. There is never a dull moment for us. It feels like Vermont’s last frontier. Should you decide to venture in this region treat the land with respect and be careful whom you share your special places with.