First Landing

By Liz Hattemer

We circled Hull Island looking for a spot to land. A serious quiet came over all of us when we first glimpsed the edges of this remote island. The logging boat slowed, and the daunting image of what was to come, hit us all. The perimeter of this island looked impenetrable. There was nothing less than 45 degrees of barnacled rocks outlined with seriously strong cedars barring our way. How to get all our gear (more than 3000 lbs) off the boat and onto the shore? And then, how to actually get into the island? How to carry our gear through that thick wall of cedars? Will we even be able to pitch a tent?

We had seen bears on our way, turning over small boulders looking for crabs. Boulders just a little bit smaller than the size of our coolers full of one week's worth of food for eight...we had such a romantic idea, such a vision of what an island was all about. We'd pitch our tents, build a campfire, play the guitar, singing our joy at being out in the wilderness. Free from all civilization.

The quiet in the boat was stupendous. Most particularly after our captain informed us about the serious fire ban in the area. Oh, yeah, fires are a serious threat, and the Canadian authorities will spot you from their planes and they will shut you down. No fires allowed. "I had some friends cooking steaks on a butane stove that got themselves fined," said our captain ominously. I glanced back at the two coolers carrying what was most likely the equivalent of a small herd of cows and swine, and quietly panicked. We had nothing but meat and matches...Our fearless leader, Jon, was on the paleo diet.

As we rounded the northeast end of the island, we saw what soon would become the heart of our island adventure. Unbeknownst to all of us, the two large boulders in this image (above) were soon to become Hull's Kitchen, where we would learn to fall in love with the mystique of being on our own in an untamed, unknown wilderness. Where we would build the most perfect fire with the least amount of smoke to keep away all Canadian authorites from shutting us down. Where we would eat our meat and drink our coffee with glee. We didn't know it at the time, but this was truly the birth of Hull Island. This is what we all remember when we picture our adventure. Those beautiful, amazingly protective and supportive rocks.

The boat left at full speed after we unloaded all our gear. Astonishingly fast, from my point of view. We had maybe four hours to figure things out. The tide was rising fast and the edge of the cedar forest came closer as the waters moved in visibly towards our pile of human gear. The two boys in our group pulled out machetes, swinging them eagerly, seeing only the fun of promised manly adventure, unaware of the dangers and challenges ahead.

How the heck are we going to do this? Those coolers weigh a ton. The gear is overwhelming and we are all exhausted before we've even begun. And more importantly, where can I pee at this very moment?

The quiet was pretty astounding. Not a bird nor a human said anything. And then Andy reminded us all that swinging machetes on slippery, barnacled rocks on the edge of a wild untamed island was not the best of wilderness practices...and Matt, timing it so perfectly, read aloud the law of the woods, as we stood catching our breath, on the very fringe of our wilderness adventure.

The Law of the Woods
Beauty:
Be clean- both yourself and the place you live in.
Be strong- understand and respect your body. It is the temple of the spirit.
Protect all harmless wildlife- and be ever ready to fight the wild of the fire in the woods.
Truth:
Speak true- word of honor is sacred.
Play fair- foul play is treachery.
Be reverent- worship the great spirit and respect all worship of him by others.
Fortitude:
Be brave- courage is the noblest of all attainments.
Be silent- it is harder to be silent than to speak, but in the hour of trial it is stronger.
Obey- obedience is the first law of the woods.
Love:
Be kind- do at least one act of unbargaining service each day.
Be helpful- do your share of the work.
Be joyful- seek the joy of being alive.