For a long time all I wanted for Christmas were books about outdoor survival. I was convinced that the woods were calling me. I camped a lot I took classes. At 18 I told myself if I don't live in the woods by myself by the time I'm 25 I have failed.

We remained at our encampment of this day until the morning of the 7th when we descended ten miles lower down and encamped on a spot of ground where several thousand Indians had wintered during the past season.