Hilary Sheppard - What This Class has Taught Me

When I first signed up for this class I had no idea what the course would consist of. I feel as though I've gained a lot of knowledge pertaining to wilderness as a sacred landscape. One of the major things I have learned from this class is that a sacred place doesn't have to be a religious location or even a place that is known as sacred. You could be walking through the woods and come upon a rock and for some reason experience something there that makes that rock sacred to you. To go along with that idea, I believe that Lane's four axioms will stick in my brain forever when thinking of sacred place because they explain exactly how a sacred place can come about and I don't think people realize what exactly a sacred place is, just as I didn't before the course. The course has also inspired me to one day try to hike for more than just a few days. The idea of communitas on the trail is truly inspiring, and I don't know how someone could not be inspired to go hiking after taking this course.