July 5th PM

I ate dinner with Kristi outside on the beach back at her place. We talked the history of this land since her family bought is in 1954. After dinner I interviewed her and she took me through a story of fighting Breast Cancer, embracing her passion over 45 years as a potter and the determination to create pottery in her cabin on the shore of Lake Superior. I absorbed the lessons of kindness, honesty and relationships as she talked. Kristi found the center of her work, and her self, after being diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

After connecting with Kristi I met up with Jessi Nicholson at her solar powered cabin in Hovland. I listened intently as Jessi told the story of discovering acupuncture after being confronted with mental health diagnoses. Jessi talked from her heart about living on the Gun Flint Trail and learning about the beauty and balance of nature. Jessi told me the story of self discovery, her root in the woods of Cook County and the decision to become a healer. Jessi shared a powerful story of accountability to oneself.


After the interview Jessi drove me back to my tent at 2am. As we drove down the drive way to where my tent was, we saw a wolf duck into the woods and head in the direction of where I was to sleep that night, Jessi mentioned she’d been seeing this pair of wolves in the area. I had never seen a wolf before, let alone ever thought about camping with one.

Freaked out, I waited in the car a few minutes before heading to my tent. I rationalized that the wolf would be more scared of me than I was of him. And although I was scared, I smiled remembering that this whole trip is about facing fear.

My gut was telling me the wolf wanted to be more of a sign for me to trust the journey I was on, than a threat to my safety. I was scared to spend the night alone, and I figured this was a great opportunity to push myself. Jessi drove off and I spent the night alone in the tent and I asked the wolves to protect me. I am glad I did. I had a peaceful night and I got a little further over my fear of nature.