The wilderness, and the Boundary Waters in particular, are widely considered a place for personal reflection. Certainly there are many aspects that appeal to recreational enthusiasts who visit the Boundary Waters, including fishing, camping, paddling, hiking and simply the notion of ‘getting away from it all.’

At the heart of wilderness, however, lies something deeper. In this episode of the WTIP Boundary Waters Podcast, we hear the story of Erik Dickes from Omaha, Nebraska. Erik made plans with his father in 2018 to paddle in the BWCA. It was to be the first and long-anticipated trip to the Boundary Waters for both of them. After losing a battle with cancer in the fall of 2018, Erik’s father never made it to Minnesota and put his paddle in a Boundary Waters lake. Determined to follow through on a trip to canoe country, Erik and his friend Johnny completed a week-long trip to the BWCA in May 2019. With his father in the forefront of his mind, Erik recorded part of his trip in an audio diary that is shared on this episode of the podcast.

Also featured in this episode is an interview with outdoor writer and journalist Stephanie Pearson. Stephanie is a contributing editor to Outside magazine. Her stories have also appeared in The New York Times Magazine and other publications. In May 2019, Stephanie published an article in Outside titled “The Uncertain Future of the Boundary Waters.” She discusses the focus of this article on the podcast, as well as her personal connections and history in the Boundary Waters.

At the end of episode 18, a supporter and listener of the podcast, Chelsea Lloyd, shares a musical gift by covering Ian Tamblyn’s “Campfire Light.” Tamblyn’s tune is the theme song of the WTIP Boundary Waters Podcast.