Member-only story
Solo Female: 48 hours Alone In A Forest: What I Learned
The idea was to get as uncomfortable as possible.
When I was 17, I went on an Outward Bound course.
It was tough.
You get thrown together with a bunch of other young people (ones you don’t know) and are dropped into a remote location by boat — in my case the South Island of New Zealand.
From there, you spend 21 days getting pushed to your absolute limit.
There’s no access to phones, books, or technology of any kind. And no link to the outside world.
It’s you, your team, and the mountains.
The idea is to get uncomfortable
From the moment you arrive, you realize quickly things are going to get tough.
After surrendering your worldly possessions, you don physical training gear and go for a run that makes your lungs burn and muscles scream (many people vomit at this point).
Then, knowing you have three weeks to go with limited gear, you’re told to roll around in the mud. Then swim in a cold lake fully clothed.
On Outward Bound your clothes are always wet. You have blisters. You’re often cold. Life is always a little bit uncomfortable.
