I'll be 43 in two days.  I'll be soloing until I'm no longer physically or psychologically able. 

With luck, I'll die out there doing what I love.  Beats a hospital death.  Not a desire to die, the acceptance that I'm going to die and I'd rather die doing what I love.  I recently was part of a hospital death.  I want none of that when it's my turn.  Let my last breath be fresh air scented with loam & pine.

I know of one guy who's in his 80s and solos.

I don't know about gruesome, but definitely more fertile.

Ran into a man and his daughter.. another pair perhaps like Intrepid and Intrepid Dad, I suppose.  He was 84 if memory serves me correct.  He was staring at me curiously and called to his daughter.  He wanted a picture of this fool soloing in the woods with a Shitzu (Me)... so I paddled on over.  We spent a couple hours together.  They had had a Bear in camp the night previous.  Wrote a story about it as he shared so much wisdom in such a short time.  He was wearing a full body Red PJ or something... what a memory.  Anyhow... he had more to teach and tell then many.  Just coudn't give up the woods.

Preacher wrote on Feb 25^th, 2011 at 6:17pm:


This reminds me of something Dick Proenneke said in his book "One Mans Wilderness". He said (I'm paraphrasing) "If I were to die I hope people would not spend a lot of time looking for me. I will die just like the animals do. When it's time to settle up with the Lord, there is no better place to do it then in the wilderness."
I still remember the first time I read his book, when I got to that part all I could think was, "Amen brother"!

wally wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2011 at 12:41pm:


Me too.