Jessica Heck gets it:

There is something sobering about stepping onto a trailhead knowing you will not see your car again for days. Everything you need is on your back. Shelter. Food. Water filtration. Layers. Light.

You either have it or you do not. […]

I walked into the woods with three days of gear and realized I am good. I can problem-solve. I can manage discomfort. I can be alone without feeling isolated. I can wake up sore, make coffee in the quiet, and move forward anyway. […]

You learn quickly that self-reliance is not bravado. It is a responsibility.

And strangely, it is freedom.