Exploring Remote Places: From Milford Sound to Calera
The concept of what makes a place 'remote' can be quite subjective, depending on where you start and what you consider as 'distance'. It ranges from modern cities to wilderness hardly touched by human hands. For me, the closest land to my antipode is Papatowai in New Zealand, and while I have visited Melbourne, it doesn't quite fit the picture of a remote destination.
From Modern Cities to Natural Wonders
Someone living in Puerto Mont, Chile, might think of Lerwick in the Shetland Islands or Naxos in Greece as remote and exotic. Alternatively, the windswept and dangerous Fells of Cumbria in the UK, just a few hundred kilometers from where I live, are considered uninhabited. These places could be seen as remote for different reasons, each offering a unique experience.
Unmatched Beauty: Milford Sound, New Zealand
The landscape of Milford Sound in New Zealand is a prime example of natural beauty that can transport you to a world far from modernity. Despite its proximity to Queenstown as the crow flies, reaching it by road can take hours. The journey is not only scenic but also challenging, with tunnels and mountains often wreathed in blanket cloud.
The road through the sound is lined with towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls, creating a dramatic and misty atmosphere. This natural wonder emits a sense of adventure and discovery, much like an untainted postcard come to life. The constant rainfall adds to the mystical ambiance, with the well-known promotional videos perhaps understating the true grandeur and sometimes gloominess of the place.
Nature's Wrath: Inside the Caldera of Mt St Helens
For a completely different kind of remote experience, consider the inside of the caldera of Mt St Helens in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The site of a major volcanic eruption in 1980, this area is now home to a stunning natural wonder. After being dropped off by a small lightning-caused fire in the River of No Return Wilderness, we were only a two-day bushwack from the nearest hiking trail, then a 3-4 day hike to the trailhead.
Access to the area is further complicated by 4 hours of single track dirt road to the nearest paved road. This journey, while physically demanding, was rewarded with a unique and untouched wilderness. The area's rugged beauty, now cloaked in lush vegetation, stands as a testament to the resilience of nature. This experience was raw and uncompromising, offering a profound sense of isolation and the raw force of natural elements.
Both Milford Sound and the caldera of Mt St Helens exemplify the incredible variety of remote places that one can explore. These destinations, whether through natural beauty or the raw power of nature itself, offer experiences that you will carry with you long after your journey is over.