The wind was howling. Darkness was descending rapidly, as was the temperature. 24 degrees and rain. The worst possible conditions in the mountains. I‘d take snow any day. You can just brush it off, no harm, no foul. But freezing rain is a real problem, leaving a growing layer of ice on everything, and increasing the likelihood of hypothermia exponentially. It was an 8-mile day and I had three out of twelve men still out on the trail with my “sweeper”, whose sole job was making sure everyone got in camp. As the lead guide and first in camp, my job was to get a fire going and warm these men up.
The conditions weren’t exactly favorable to fire-making.
I asked a newbie to assist me in the process. It was his first time backpacking, but not his first time to be tested outdoors. This guy was a triathlete. And not just any triathlete. This guy was the best of the best. He’d done the Ironman several times, a grueling trio of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, finishing with a 26.2-mile marathon run. You have to be in crazy good shape to complete one of those bad boys.
We crouched over the icy firepit, creating a human wind block in hopes of getting a small fire going. Once we got it going, we could slowly feed it more and more wood until we had a roaring campfire, a fire that would warm the men up and lift their spirits considerably. Hands trembling from the cold, he held the firestarter against the wood, while I cupped a small lighter with just enough flame to ignite one edge. As he leaned in, he said, “This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
I couldn't help but smile. Mission accomplished.
At the end of that trip, all the men gathered at a local pub and recounted the “highs and lows” from the trip. Over and over again, each man said their low and their high were the same thing. Surviving the ice storm. And the smile on every man’s face told the same story.
We did a thing.
In his excellent book, “Wild at Heart” author John Eldridge argues that in the heart of every man lies a question. “Do I have what it takes?” And the only way a man can really answer that question is by being tested. By overcoming adversity, removing obstacles, getting out of his comfort zone and taking risks. And there’s nothing like the backcountry to test a man.
It’s why I started Born 2 Be Wild back in 2003. Take a few good men into the wilderness; away from the office, away from family, away from news and sports, and no cell signal. Take them on a journey into the unknown and create an immersive environment where they can connect with God and each other. My hope is we begin the journey as strangers, but end as a band of brothers.
I love the challenge and camaraderie that the outdoors fosters, but I also love that it creates space for people to work together. Things like setting up camp, gathering firewood, filtering water, and cooking meals are easier and faster when guys work together.
But I also love to see men help one another when there’s an injury, or someone is struggling physically. I just finished an 18-mile backpacking trip with 10 men on the Appalachian Trail. The first day was a brutal 8-mile day with 3,700 feet of elevation gain. Late in the day, one of our guys got super sick, couldn’t keep food or water down, and was wondering if he could make camp. But without a word from me, other guys jumped in to help carry his pack up the final mountain. On day two, we had a young man struggling with leg cramps, so several other men took a bunch of his stuff and divided it among their packs to lighten his load. The trail has a way of bringing out the best in people.
If you’re up for a little adventure, join me in Patagonia for my last EPIC trip of 2026! We'll be hiking the iconic W-Trek on November 7-14, 2026. The Torres del Paine W Circuit is a 5-day "glampacking" tour (you only have to carry a daypack.) The tour includes everything necessary for you to just show up and enjoy this amazing experience: transfers from Puntas Arenas to Puerto Natales, 2 nights of accommodation in hotels, 4 nights of accommodation in the park, incredible 5-star meals at backcountry lodges, (breakfast, lunch and dinner), and catamaran tickets to ferry us back to civilization. November is the Spring season in Patagonia and brings out wildflowers, waterfalls, and snow on the peaks! Let's go trekking in Patagonia! Get all the information and register at: born2bewild.net.
I also do private trips. I took a group of father and sons on the Appalachian Trail last year. If you have at least 6 guys that want to do a thing, reach out to me at bruce@born2bewild.net and we’ll set up a custom-made adventure for you and your friends.
Do you have what it takes?
How to prepare for your journey:
1. Set intention
2. Pack light, but functionally
3. Journal
4. Learn about the area
5. Have goals