To really stand a chance at shedding some pounds it requires putting that boat on the back and heading off on the portage trail, the longer the better. Even then the additional food eaten to stave off hunger pains and maintain stamina keeps the weight on. The only time I ever lost any serious weight paddling was on a wilderness trip where we ran out of food. Add to that the ever-present dangers of sunburn, blisters, hypothermia, jet skis, power boats and drowning, and what comes up is a decidedly risky venture. Except for the latter, most of it fits into the category of fitness for the mind.
Nothing can be a better prescription for health than time spent in the wilderness.
A week in a beach chair in Jamaica doesn't even come close. The land is harsh, the weather is unpredictable, and in no other place will you feel so insignificant as you will in the barrenlands. Wilson is author of several Canadian guidebooks. Skills are required, and the right attitude and temperament will outlast any hyperborean wind, deluge of biting insects or feeling of total isolation. The Land of Little Sticks glows with a primal beauty, fresh and alluring, and it will capture your soul and change the way you view your place in the wilderness.