what is wilderness?
wilderness is when you can walk into the forest and have to know where you're going or you're going to get lost

are you in wilderness now?
[yosemite valley] is a wilderness that has been turned into a fun land. there are even bikes and inner tubes. it's pretty hectic here and there are more people crammed into this little space than there are in the 30 miles north and south of Independence put together.

Goals and Expectations

My goals on this trip are to make it the whole way and to make some new friends in the process. My expectations are that this trip should be fun and that I should go home with a new understanding of life. I expect to get a good workout and wish I could stay here when it is time to leave.

Water

Water is the most important thing in all the world. It keeps all of the world animals alive. It is the most abundant source of energy in the world. When [you realize that] your world is mostly made up of water and so is your body, you start to appreciate it. Today on our hike when I began to want to stop, I would drink some water and be ready to go a again. It helps bring back stamina. I have never carried a big, heavy, 30-pound bag on my back before and the water helped me carry on. In all I have begun to appreciate water more than I did when I was at home.