Beyond the Trees is a nonfiction story Adam Shoalts tells of his journey alone across Canada’s arctic. He wrote it after the documentary that was made which tells the same story which I watched before reading the book. I discovered that he had written books about his adventures after watching the documentary, so I decided to get his most famous book and give it a read. After finishing it, I have concluded that it is one of my favourite books I have read. I found it very captivating, interesting, and full of adventure. Some parts even made me chuckle. The story goes through his mission of travelling on foot and canoe across Canada’s arctic. He starts in Whitehorse, Yukon, and finishes at Baker Lake, Nunavut. It took him nearly 4 months to complete. He weaved through ice floes, faced bears and muskox, and portaged across rough terrain. As the title suggests, he is above treeline, in the arctic tundra. Parts of his journey actually crosses north of the arctic circle line. With little human interaction throughout his journey, he keeps himself company by talking to his canoe and the amazing wildlife. Some of which had never seen a human being. There were many hard times such as inclement winds, treacherous terrain, and ice blocks. I came across the following quotation in the book which is an example of how he overcomes difficult times.
My pants and socks were drenched, but there wasn’t time to dry things out. I just wrung out the socks, put them back on, and kept going. Discouraging as having your waders flood with frigid waters can be, I always found that there was some little thing to cheer me up: the sight of robins hopping along the banks, or a lone wolf wandering the shoreline, or an eagle soaring overhead. Sometimes it’s the little things that make all the difference. (p. 201 – p. 202)
I agree. Sometimes it is “the little things that make all the difference.” I found this passage meaningful because it highlights his perseverance and ability to enjoy the little things, that are often overlooked, by changing his point of view. Instead of focusing on the negative, like his soaked clothes, he chooses to focus on the positives by finding joy in the small things and natural world around him. This shows great mental strength, and I think everyone should try more to find things to be grateful about, even if they’re small. It’s our outlook on life and the situation that shapes our experience more than the circumstance itself.