Interviewed by Chandra Sather-Gessner
My name is Michael Halder. I have a birth defect called cerebral palsy, but I’m able to live by myself. I can drive, I have my own house, and I cook and clean. Iโm proud to live independently. This is my Wilderness Inquiry Trail Tales Story.
The thing that I was most afraid of was going on a trip with a bunch of strangers. The thought of not knowing anyone made me sweat bullets two weeks before the trip. I like people, but meeting new people can be tough. My biggest motivation was knowing that Iโd enjoy the Boundary Waters no matter what. It turned out to be fantastic! After the first five minutes in the van on the drive up, my fear was totally gone. I knew instantly that I was going to have a great trip with my new trip-mates.
My best advice [for people apprehensive about a Wilderness Inquiry trip] is to just go for it! Donโt let fear hold you back. I had a blast. Fall is the best time to go to the Boundary Waters because there aren’t any bugs. Also the nights are cool so you can sleep well. Since 2009, I have taken a trip with Wilderness Inquiry every year to revisit one of my favorite places. I can’t wait for my next adventure!
My name is Michael Halder. I have a birth defect called cerebral palsy, but I’m able to live by myself. I can drive, I have my own house, and I cook and clean. Iโm proud to live independently. This is my Wilderness Inquiry Trail Tales Story.
Boundary Waters – A Second Home
Throughout my life I had visited the Boundary Waters Canoe Area 23 times. Three friends and I used to go up every fall, and during the winter months as well. From 1997 to 2007 I had 22 muscle surgeries on my feet and hands which were tough to recover from. During those years, I never felt strong enough or confident enough to go on a canoe trip again. In 2009 I was feeling good so I signed up for my first Wilderness Inquiry trip. I knew I had to get back to the Boundary Waters.
The thing that I was most afraid of was going on a trip with a bunch of strangers. The thought of not knowing anyone made me sweat bullets two weeks before the trip. I like people, but meeting new people can be tough. My biggest motivation was knowing that Iโd enjoy the Boundary Waters no matter what. It turned out to be fantastic! After the first five minutes in the van on the drive up, my fear was totally gone. I knew instantly that I was going to have a great trip with my new trip-mates.
The Wilderness Inquiry Experience
I use a walker which made me very apprehensive about the adventure. Itโs hard to use the walker on my front lawn, and I knew from my past experience that the Boundary Waters terrain is much more difficult than that! I was worried that I wouldnโt be able to get around. The staff suggested I take the walker with me, but sometimes I would use a walking stick or grab onto someoneโs arm. On this trip there were plenty of arms I could hold onto when I needed help. The staff really know how to help with my mobility issues. There was nothing that they couldnโt work out.
Considering Wilderness Inquiry
My best advice [for people apprehensive about a Wilderness Inquiry trip] is to just go for it! Donโt let fear hold you back. I had a blast. Fall is the best time to go to the Boundary Waters because there aren’t any bugs. Also the nights are cool so you can sleep well. Since 2009, I have taken a trip with Wilderness Inquiry every year to revisit one of my favorite places. I can’t wait for my next adventure!
The Benefits
Just being in the wilderness can be a great escape. I like to be able to forget about my everyday life for a week and just enjoy being a part of nature.Editor’s Note
Michael Halder has been a participant with Wilderness Inquiry for over a decade. He continues to not only join us on trips, but is also a vital participant in our staff training. Thank you for your continued support Michael, we look forward to seeing you on the trail again soon!Have a Trail Tale to share? We want to hear from you! Tell us your story to be featured.ย
