A couple weekends ago I – along with 14 other students – spent 24 hours alone in the woods. Here’s what happened (and because this blog will end up being so long, spoiler alert: after a near death experience – although I might be being a bit dramatic – I survive).

On the trip we could bring five items, along with a “soup can survival kit” – basically anything you could fit in your standard 14 oz. soup can. I chose to bring a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, water bottle, knife, and a small aluminum pot set. In my soup can kit I brought matches, a spork, bug spray, some copper wire, and I wrapped duct tape around the outside. In my pockets I smuggled toilet paper, wet wipes, Firestarter, glow sticks, hand warmers, rope, toothpaste, a tooth brush, durable gloves, and a headlamp. We were given food and some other goodies – twine, a metal match, a whistle, cotton balls, a bit of foil, and a pencil.

We met up at 9, left by 10 and arrived at our designated locations at Tussey by 11. Dr. Ricketts, our instructor, dropped us off in pairs along one road. We had to go in 100 yards or so, until we were shielded from the road, then pick sites to set up shelters far enough away from one another that we couldn’t see each other, but were still within shouting distance. That was task number 1 – picking a campsite because where we were, there were no established campsites. We each had to find a site that wouldn’t collect water, wasn’t covered in rocks, and was between two trees so we could set up tarp shelters. Which leads me to task 2 – setting up tarp shelters. Using a 9’ x 12’ plastic tarp, some rope, and acorns, I set up a solo shelter. Inside I hung up glow sticks – which was a mistake (bugs!) – laid down my pad and sleeping bag, and called it a day.

Next came the hardest part – fire building. Because there was no firepit and we were trying to have as little impact as possible, we were instructed to build fires in our #10 cans. On Saturday, I struggled pretty badly to get my fire going. When Dr. Ricketts came to check on us, he took pity and gave me a fire stick, which significantly improved my efforts. I was able to heat up a can of chicken noodle soup. And I don’t know if it was really that good and Progresso deserves a huge shout out, or because I was starving and I worked so hard to get the damn thing hot, but it was the best chicken noodle soup I’ve ever had. While I had the fire going I also boiled some water for rice, and then for hot chocolate. All in the same soup can – tin cans are the best!

By the time I was done cooking and eating and I had put the fire out, it was dusk. I collected more firewood for the next day, and started on the 3rd task – a walking stick. I put on my headlamp and got to work getting all the bark off. It was 7:00 and practically pitch black. I had this plan to make a beautiful, elaborate walking stick, but there was simply not enough daylight and I did not want to keep dealing with bugs flying at my face because of the headlamp. So I cleaned up the stick as best I could, took off my outer layer, and climbed into my sleeping bag to work on the written assignment.

For the written assignment, Dr. Ricketts had us write down six lifetime adventure goals. He’s had an incredible career of fun; being outdoors and teaching other people outdoor skills. He made adventure a career and loved every moment of it, and he wants each of us to set goals for ourselves to continue seeking adventure. I love that, because I had never thought of this before. I was content to live a comfortable life indoors, but not anymore. Here are my six goals:
1. Hike the “100 Mile Wilderness” of the Appalachian Trail
2. See the Northern Lights
3. Get scuba certified and go dive in Australia
4. Travel the Alaskan wilderness and fly a seaplane
5. Hike in the Redwoods
6. Go on an adventure in the Amazon Rainforest
Not included: go to space, a.k.a. the ultimate adventure.

I started to write my reflection on the weekend so far when I heard an extremely loud buzzing directly. Over. My. Head. I took down all of the glow sticks and threw them into the bottom of my sleeping bag in hopes of making it go away, but it didn’t work. I tried to tap the tarp to get it to fly away, but that didn’t work either. The bug was insistent, and it was also creeping me out. Pitch black. A bug tapping against the top of my tarp over and over again, and making noises that sounded to me like it was trying to chew through it to get inside. Needless to say, that after a couple minutes of this nonstop buzz, tap, chew, buzz, tap, chew, I was thoroughly freaked and ready to die. I was certain this bug wanted me, so I did the only thing possible – I hid. I zipped my sleeping bag all the way up, put cotton balls in my ears (for my own peace of mind that no bugs would crawl in), put on my hat, and stuck my entire body inside my sleeping bag, holding it closed tightly over my head. That demon bug was not getting to me, nope. Not today Satan.

So eventually I fell asleep (mind you, this is about 7:30 pm), and I sleep wonderfully through the night. Warm, dry, and super cozy. I wake up at 12 hours later thoroughly refreshed, bug forgotten, and ready to reinvent the flame. And reinvent I did. After struggling for so long the previous day, I was determined. I brushed my teeth and got to work, and let me tell you I crushed it. A little pile of tinder in my tin can, a wad of duct tape surrounded by a ring of cotton balls (which was one torn up cotton ball) sitting on top, a metal match, and focus. That’s all it takes. The spark from the match lit the cotton, which lit the tape and from there went the tinder and I was golden. I nurtured my little flame until it was ~lit~ and ready to aid me in making my breakfast. I made biscuits, a breakfast sandwich, and enjoyed some hot green tea with granola, all while admiring the view.

After that, all there was left to do was clean up. That was pretty much it for the solo weekend. Now that I’m back in the comfort of my own home, I have time to reflect a bit. Although I was constantly worried about ticks and spiders out in the woods, and now my back and legs hurt from crouching while tending the fire, I kind of want to be back there. I enjoyed the serenity. I liked the feeling of independence. I think that starting a fire with a metal match this morning is one of my proudest accomplishments. It’s the little things, but little things that mean something. Mostly it was nice to just be. To not have to worry about much past starting a fire for your next meal and simply breathe fresh air and enjoy the beauty of life itself.