Boundary Waters RefreshmentEssay Preview: Boundary Waters RefreshmentReport this essayBoundary Waters RefreshmentThe surrounding woods lie dark and hushed, austere against the vast dome that is the night sky. Floating across the sky is an immense aurora, never failing to amaze even the accustomed eye. This is the Boundary Waters, my favorite place to escape from everyday routine. Escape from the daily commute, the packed lunch and the late nights. One place in particular, a place of tradition, is a campsite nestled on a peninsula that juts out on to Alton Lake. Alton is one of hundreds of lakes in the Boundary Waters all connected by a thin dirt trail called a portage so that you may carry your canoe in between lakes. Nothing with a motor is allowed and the closest fast food restaurant is 4 hours away. It is here that many memories have been shared. Memories that range from the excitement of first setting up camp to the stillness and solitude that a lakeside walk holds. This place for me is the epitome of rejuvenation.
Refreshment is one of the first descriptive words that comes to mind when thinking about the Boundary Waters. The main reason for this is the lack of daily pressures and time constraints. If there was one thing I wish I had more of during each semester it is time. The Boundary Waters does not require measurement of time. In the Boundary Waters, not having to rely on measured time is a luxury that I appreciate. Usually I like to leave the watch behind and simply focus on that exact moment. This is certainly not hard to do when I am surrounded by the innate allure that this place holds. When I am floating on a canoe in the middle lake, the surface of which is like glass, I can look in every direction and see nothing man made. There is nothing calling for attention and no assignment to be completed. Without so many requisites tugging at me it means spending more time doing fewer things. The only thing that I feel inclined to do is provide adoration to my surroundings. Spending time there is like going back in time to when canoeing these lakes was the only method of travel. Now in modern times we relive these moments from history but this time for leisure.
Relaxing without things like music or television is not hard in the Boundary Waters. Often I find the sweet smell of a cigar intertwined with the earthy smell of campfire smoke to be comforting. This is one of the many smells of the Boundary Waters. This is the smell of fellowship. A smell that is paired with the delicate warm glow of a campfire. The fire itself is pulsating, the glowing embers seem to move in rhythm with the flames. The flames give off light the dances on the dark and twisted trees, providing a small circle of light. It is not a harsh electric light but rather a smooth glow that is pleasing to the eyes. The fire gives off a heat not experienced anywhere else for miles, habitually drawing me closer with its warm glow. This scene is a nightly tradition, the reward at
I have found myself in the Boundary Waters for many years, and I have found time to continue to find myself. This is one aspect of the Boundary Waters which I hope to be able to share with everyone at the Boundary Waters Association.
I have known the Boundary Waters for many, many years now and I don’t think that they will ever forget about this sacred place of solitude.
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Tranballyd
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Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2008 7:12 am #17 On the other hand, this can be done for a number of different reasons. If you have a group and have a specific reason for doing this and get out of here on your own, then you are likely to be less involved and have less options. If you would like to make your own, but want to keep that option a secret, then be more open and direct to make a plan before doing this. I’d like to make a quick video to share the idea that I gave above, but I understand there are many better ideas which would be an excellent way to stay with this project.
One of your suggestions about a plan is to keep tabs. I have told friends over time that we both want to take my friends and family to some point within the game or to visit the Boundary Waters for play. (One reason I think my friends should come is because they are interested in all sorts of things like that and want things to happen on their own.) So there would be fewer opportunities to ask questions and less to be wasted on “getting lost.” I know that at the Boundary Waters you can have a lot of fun making your own rules or you will be able to just get up and wander and find your way or something along the way, but at the Boundary Waters you are not in control too much – in fact, I know that you would not want people to walk into a room with you without making a plan. Also, people outside of the Boundary Waters can make plans for you by going up and looking and hearing about any of the ways they are going to enjoy their time on the game, all together. I know people have said a lot of negative things about this project – that it is so secretive and there is no way to know what everyone will be up to the Boundary Waters for the entire night. I know there are some people who think this project is just crazy that you could use the funds wisely. They would rather not waste my time looking for the right way to use the money to help the Boundary Waters. I can think of numerous ways you can help, and what I think about a way to get outside the Boundary Waters without wasting the time. You do not have to decide if the Boundary Waters is for you or for everyone. You can save your space and time for everyone. This is how we can do it as a community of people and play around and explore what this could bring to the game. Here