| Beyond the Singing Wilderness heather Bearnes |
The book, The Singing Wilderness by Sigurd F. Olson is mostly a collection of memoirs. Olsen describes his days, season by
season, in the wilderness lake country of the Quetico-Superior. Within his journal-like chapters, there is also a description of the “singing
wilderness,” as the title would suggest.
In his description of the singing wilderness, Olson emphasizes the need of man to slow down and return to what was once the only
important thing- nature and basic living. He sees an escape into the wild not as a vacation to an entirely new place, but as a return to
something old and engrained. Modern life is busy, cluttered, and distracted. Return to something pure and simple, and you will find a
connection with the past and with yourself. The busy life of the city will slow and quiet to the rhythm of the seasons. Olson views this as
the “singing.” It is a return to our ancient past- when life was completely tied to nature and her whims, when all of our self-made
distractions did not exist. He declares that the need to hear this singing and feel this connection is an instinct within us all. It is that
hunger, that one sense of longing, which many attempt to satisfy by remaining busy. Our need for the singing is the feeling that there
must be something more, and it stems from our ancient past. Without the connection and the singing, something inside of us all
remains empty and void.
I found Olson’s description of the singing fascinating because I knew exactly what he was talking about. The book centers on time
spent in true wilderness, but Olson also declares that the singing can be found in small and quiet corners of an area. He couldn’t be
more correct. Ever since I was young, I have loved several corners of my family’s property. We had a small grove of maple and ash. In
one corner was a climbing tree; that was where I first discovered the peace created by separation from people. There is a small cluster
of firs that I visit while the snow falls and the north wind blows. These are the places where I discovered the silence. The silence,
however, is no silence. Within the calm and silent is such motion, sound, and music that it is beyond description. I have known this
since I was very small. It was nice to begin the trip already knowing what to listen for.
season, in the wilderness lake country of the Quetico-Superior. Within his journal-like chapters, there is also a description of the “singing
wilderness,” as the title would suggest.
In his description of the singing wilderness, Olson emphasizes the need of man to slow down and return to what was once the only
important thing- nature and basic living. He sees an escape into the wild not as a vacation to an entirely new place, but as a return to
something old and engrained. Modern life is busy, cluttered, and distracted. Return to something pure and simple, and you will find a
connection with the past and with yourself. The busy life of the city will slow and quiet to the rhythm of the seasons. Olson views this as
the “singing.” It is a return to our ancient past- when life was completely tied to nature and her whims, when all of our self-made
distractions did not exist. He declares that the need to hear this singing and feel this connection is an instinct within us all. It is that
hunger, that one sense of longing, which many attempt to satisfy by remaining busy. Our need for the singing is the feeling that there
must be something more, and it stems from our ancient past. Without the connection and the singing, something inside of us all
remains empty and void.
I found Olson’s description of the singing fascinating because I knew exactly what he was talking about. The book centers on time
spent in true wilderness, but Olson also declares that the singing can be found in small and quiet corners of an area. He couldn’t be
more correct. Ever since I was young, I have loved several corners of my family’s property. We had a small grove of maple and ash. In
one corner was a climbing tree; that was where I first discovered the peace created by separation from people. There is a small cluster
of firs that I visit while the snow falls and the north wind blows. These are the places where I discovered the silence. The silence,
however, is no silence. Within the calm and silent is such motion, sound, and music that it is beyond description. I have known this
since I was very small. It was nice to begin the trip already knowing what to listen for.
The Necessity of Wilderness
We divided into our smaller groups and headed out the next day. I had
no idea what to expect. I was out of shape and had no experience
whatsoever, but I got over those facts pretty quickly. The simple joy of
propelling yourself across a beautiful lake will make the soreness of your
arms seem very unimportant. The water was beautiful, the forest was real,
and my camp-mates were all as appreciative of the beauty as I was. No, I
won’t pretend everything was ideal. Our feet got wet getting out of the
canoes, the packs are heavy and the canoes were awkward to carry, at
first. In the end though, the work only made the rest sweeter.
no idea what to expect. I was out of shape and had no experience
whatsoever, but I got over those facts pretty quickly. The simple joy of
propelling yourself across a beautiful lake will make the soreness of your
arms seem very unimportant. The water was beautiful, the forest was real,
and my camp-mates were all as appreciative of the beauty as I was. No, I
won’t pretend everything was ideal. Our feet got wet getting out of the
canoes, the packs are heavy and the canoes were awkward to carry, at
first. In the end though, the work only made the rest sweeter.
Our trip began with a fourteen-hour van ride that commenced at five o’clock A.M. We
arrived at the main campgrounds in time to set up tents, eat, get to know people better,
and crash. The next day was occupied with canoe lessons more getting to know people,
and packing up. I wandered off with a small group to explore. We paused to take pictures
and watch the sunset over the water. It was wonderful. I believe that was where the
happiness of the trip really began for me. I have never before had the joy of being around
so many others who love the beauty of nature as much as I do. In that sunset I caught a
phrase of Olson’s singing wilderness.
arrived at the main campgrounds in time to set up tents, eat, get to know people better,
and crash. The next day was occupied with canoe lessons more getting to know people,
and packing up. I wandered off with a small group to explore. We paused to take pictures
and watch the sunset over the water. It was wonderful. I believe that was where the
happiness of the trip really began for me. I have never before had the joy of being around
so many others who love the beauty of nature as much as I do. In that sunset I caught a
phrase of Olson’s singing wilderness.
That first day set a rhythm for the rest of the trip. By the end of
that day, we were already used to the people we were with. We
learned the basic routine and time slowly ceased to matter. We got
further out from the main campgrounds and the feeling of
wilderness became more complete. Suddenly, the small things
around us became the prominent ones. There was time to sneak
away, sit on a surprisingly comfortable rock, and just look. That’s
when it kicked in. Nobody would hound you to do some menial task,
no alarm would go off, and no phone would ring. Surrounded by the
quiet company of my companions, I found peace.
that day, we were already used to the people we were with. We
learned the basic routine and time slowly ceased to matter. We got
further out from the main campgrounds and the feeling of
wilderness became more complete. Suddenly, the small things
around us became the prominent ones. There was time to sneak
away, sit on a surprisingly comfortable rock, and just look. That’s
when it kicked in. Nobody would hound you to do some menial task,
no alarm would go off, and no phone would ring. Surrounded by the
quiet company of my companions, I found peace.
I heard the music later on both our second and third days immersed in the
wild. We spent hours after sunset just gazing at the bright, bright stars.
There was no light to distract from their glory. As we lay there on the rocks,
listening to the lake noises, there were moments when we felt no need to
speak. Those where the moments when the wilderness’s song came
rushing in. That’s the tricky part to hearing the song. It comes only when
there is no other noise you must be silent and listening. These are the
moments when all else seems to fade to unimportance and the song takes
hold.
wild. We spent hours after sunset just gazing at the bright, bright stars.
There was no light to distract from their glory. As we lay there on the rocks,
listening to the lake noises, there were moments when we felt no need to
speak. Those where the moments when the wilderness’s song came
rushing in. That’s the tricky part to hearing the song. It comes only when
there is no other noise you must be silent and listening. These are the
moments when all else seems to fade to unimportance and the song takes
hold.
There were many times during on the trip when I heard the silence of nature’s song. Notes came during portages, and I heard brief
measures out on the lake. It is always a joy to hear, and once you know what to listen for, you will know how to find it again. My greatest
joy on the trip was finding others who were willing to listen for the song. They are people who know the value of saying nothing at all.
measures out on the lake. It is always a joy to hear, and once you know what to listen for, you will know how to find it again. My greatest
joy on the trip was finding others who were willing to listen for the song. They are people who know the value of saying nothing at all.
I truly believe that the singing is something you will know
when you hear and feel it. It may be found in the haunting
call of the loon or the north wind through a small stand of
trees. Wherever it is, it runs through you and in you,
redefining much of what you think and know. Olson never
gives a concrete definition for it in his book, and I don’t
believe there is one. Everyone must go out to a quiet place
and see if they can find it for themselves. I believe that is
different for every person. So if you are willing, go and
listen. Put aside the daily rhythm and don’t say a word.
Perhaps you will find a silence full of song.
when you hear and feel it. It may be found in the haunting
call of the loon or the north wind through a small stand of
trees. Wherever it is, it runs through you and in you,
redefining much of what you think and know. Olson never
gives a concrete definition for it in his book, and I don’t
believe there is one. Everyone must go out to a quiet place
and see if they can find it for themselves. I believe that is
different for every person. So if you are willing, go and
listen. Put aside the daily rhythm and don’t say a word.
Perhaps you will find a silence full of song.
