Article and photography by Sean Hootz

After a successful summer of backwoods camping with my friends, I was eager to head out on an overnight solo-trip in the familiar wilderness of Duck Mountain. It's late October, well into autumn and there has already been a snowfall or two, but I'm ready for it. My bag is packed with everything I need. The camera is set to shoot a time-lapse from the back seat, and my dog is already making a mess of my back windows.

The two hour drive to my destination has gone by unusually fast as the familiar barricade at the end of the road comes into view. I waste some time shooting the first bits of video, throw on my pack and start walking. My jacket is already wet from the sleet that had been falling since I left Kamsack. I had built up a bit of an ego from our previous adventures, but when I step past the barricade, I can't ignore the feeling of self-doubt.