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| Keywords: copter peak copterpeak noatak national preserve noataknationalpreserve find your park findyourpark wildlife tracks wilderness sand noatak national preserve virtual visit texture outdoor On our last night in Noatak National Preserve, I decided to explore north of our campsite, following the winding stream, into the canyon. This was my first hike alone in the backcountry and I really got a sense of how powerful the wilderness can be. The further I walked into the canyon, the more I felt completely and totally alone. This wasn’t a bad thing though; it made me realize how much more is out there, void of any human contact. When you’re out in the wilderness, you play by nature’s rules. It was eerily quiet; the only noise was the sound of my boots hitting the large rocks and my voice echoing against the mountainsides. The last thing I wanted to do was surprise a bear, so I made lots of noise, shouting, “Hey there, Bear” frequently. Thankfully, I didn’t encounter any bears but I did see scat and caribou tracks. As I continued to walk, I scanned the mountainsides for any trace of wildlife. I’d stop abruptly, wide-eyed and ears on alert, only to realize I was staring at a boulder in the distance, not a bear. I made my way back to camp and watched as the sun illuminated the mountain we climbed yesterday, creating a blue shadow in the canyon. I think a lot of us feel invincible in the modern world because of technology, but as I slowly became engulfed in mountains that towered above my head, I realized the power of wilderness. We aren’t invincible here, which makes it that much more important to respect the land and the wildlife because this is their home, not mine. (Copter Peak - Waypoint 13) NPS Photo\Emily Mesner On our last night in Noatak National Preserve, I decided to explore north of our campsite, following the winding stream, into the canyon. This was my first hike alone in the backcountry and I really got a sense of how powerful the wilderness can be. The further I walked into the canyon, the more I felt completely and totally alone. This wasn’t a bad thing though; it made me realize how much more is out there, void of any human contact. When you’re out in the wilderness, you play by nature’s rules. It was eerily quiet; the only noise was the sound of my boots hitting the large rocks and my voice echoing against the mountainsides. The last thing I wanted to do was surprise a bear, so I made lots of noise, shouting, “Hey there, Bear” frequently. Thankfully, I didn’t encounter any bears but I did see scat and caribou tracks. As I continued to walk, I scanned the mountainsides for any trace of wildlife. I’d stop abruptly, wide-eyed and ears on alert, only to realize I was staring at a boulder in the distance, not a bear. I made my way back to camp and watched as the sun illuminated the mountain we climbed yesterday, creating a blue shadow in the canyon. I think a lot of us feel invincible in the modern world because of technology, but as I slowly became engulfed in mountains that towered above my head, I realized the power of wilderness. We aren’t invincible here, which makes it that much more important to respect the land and the wildlife because this is their home, not mine. (Copter Peak - Waypoint 13) NPS Photo\Emily Mesner | ||||
