Maslow’s Hierarchy As It Relates To The Wilderness

I was doing some reading recently, in an effort to move through a hard situation, which inevitably turns into some visualization of backpacking on a trail…being in the woods, navigating etc.  I think you get the picture.  This is the visualization that always pops up for me, which is what landed me in leading backpacking retreats.  I was reading about Maslow’s level 2 needs which centers around safety.  The writer had framed it as “adventure” to include “fun, freedom and uncertainty”.  So, after some thinking, I appreciated the paradox and again went back to that same visualization, except this time I wasn’t alone on the trail, but with the bad ass women that I love being out in the woods with.  I was thinking back to our planning meeting for Dogwood Healing Pathways from last week, and how each of us on the team contributes such unique skill sets. Out in the woods, each skill set brings connection and confidence within the group. So back to the woods…I think the paradoxes of safety vs fear, comfort vs. discomfort, easy vs challenging do exist simultaneously.  Situations from the past that come to mind are water crossings when the temperature is just that much too cold and knowing that it’s going to hurt.  Negotiation and navigation is key.  Thoughts like, yes, this water is going to hurt my feet, but I can see the other side of the riverbank and a campfire is in my future.  So yes, I can hurt and be uncertain and also sure of safety on the other side.  There’s fear on a new trail, with a new group, in inclement weather…what’s inside of me is what moves me through these situations.  I evaluate to see that I have what it takes to get me through the uncertainty and unknown of the wilderness.  And times when it’s a little more scary and more than I bargained for, then I have my community, that team of badass women to fall back on. That’s the beauty of resilience, the inner- and the outer- of empowerment, during times of vulnerability.  Vulnerability is not weakness during the uncertain times. The paradoxes can exist at the same time and there can be acceptance and growth in that. 

By Dana Martin, MSW

First of series of Maslow’s Hierarchy as it relates to the wilderness