Chris Townsend > Quotes

“Walking with a companion is very different from walking solo. Even when apart and silent, there is always an awereness of company. Alone, decisions can be made on impulse. I sometimes find myself stopping and sitting down without consciously deciding to do so. I may find a lovely irresistible campsite after a few hours, I may walk well into the night, but with no one to consult, no-one else's needs, desires, or tiredness need to be taken into account. There is also, I find, much more importantly, a closer connection to the land and to nature when there's no-one else to respond to, and it's that connection that lies at the heart of long-distance walking for me.”
― Chris Townsend, Along the Divide: Walking the Wild Spine of Scotland

“I wasn’t lost, because I didn’t allow myself to think I was. Being lost is a state of mind.”
― Chris Townsend, The Backpacker's Handbook

“Compared with walking on trails, cross-country travel is real exploration, both of the world around and of yourself. To appreciate it fully you need to be open to whatever may happen. Distances and time matter far less once you’ve shrugged off the trail network. What matters is being there.”
― Chris Townsend, The Backpacker's Handbook

“I don’t mind not knowing exactly where I am—sometimes I enjoy it. There’s a sense of freedom in not being able to predict what lies over the next ridge, where the next lake is, and where the next valley leads. I enjoy the release of wandering through what is, from my perspective, uncharted territory. I never intend to lose myself, but when it happens I view it as an opportunity rather than a problem.”
― Chris Townsend, The Backpacker's Handbook