Experiencing the Wilderness

Authors

  • Bitsy M Wedin Northern Michigan University

Keywords:

descriptive, expedition, phenomenological, wilderness, women

Abstract

 The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to

explore the experience of wilderness travel as noted by 11

women who had completed at least a 46-day 700 mile canoe

expedition to the Nunavut and Saskatchewan territories in

Northern Canada. Research typically explores outcomes of such

travel and not the detailed descriptions of the actual expedition

experience. Little is known empirically on how women paddlers

experience the day-to-day life of wilderness trips. Women

meeting criteria were asked to submit completed trail journals

of their journeys, which were read, analyzed, and formulated,

into essences with resulting themes of perceptions of wilderness

travel. Women describe the expedition experience through

connections to the journey, the land and the people.

Issue

Section

Regular Papers