I take a cab from the campground back to town. When I get home I call my girlfriend, Christy, who says she was worried I was never going to come back from this hike. She had called the Park Service to tell them I was missing, but they won't start looking until a person's been missing for a full day. She says she was worrying about me all day and wants to see me. While she's on her way over, I take a hot shower. It feels beautiful after being cold and damp. I lie in bed with Christy for a long time, telling her about all of the madness I'd just been through. It's ironic that after putting so much effort into getting away from civilization that I should be so glad to return. It's good to get away from it all sometimes, but on the other hand, civilization's got a lot going for it: Showers, beds, heaters, good food, Christy...

I lie in bed I with my legs feeling numb and wonder how I could walk on them for so long. How could I convince myself to keep on going like that? I hadn't eaten much that day. Where did I find the energy to keep on trudging through the bush? I could remember so many times in my life when I'd given up at something. Where did I find the willpower to make it out of the forest that night? When watching programs on television about wilderness survival I had always heard them say that man's strongest instinct is his will to live. I never quite understood what this meant until the day that I was lost beyond Indian Ridge.

I'd been on many hikes before, but this was the first that tested the limits of my mental and physical endurance. One might think that something like this would scare me away from backcountry hiking altogether, but I only feel more confident after being through this ordeal. In fact, if I ever end up in Jasper again in the summer I might be tempted to visit my lake. I've learned some lessons from this adventure. First off, always bring plenty of food, water, and a source of fire when you go hiking. Second, if you think there is a chance you won't make it back before dark, bring a tent and sleeping bag in case you're forced to stay outside overnight. Third, if you're making your own trail in the mountains, stay above the treeline. Bushwhacking for hours on end isn't much fun. The fourth and final lesson is that one can make their body do surprising things if they put their mind to it.