What did you do for fun?
Well, I didn’t really have a lot of extra time for the first couple of years until I started to get a rhythm going. I would usually just swim or hike, trying to find new areas. I also used to carve pieces of spare wood into little figurines. I remember one of the squirrels I used to feed extra berries to would be afraid of the little Darth Vader statue I carved and wouldn't come near me till I took it down.
What made you leave?
I can't really tell you what brought me back specifically. One thing was I broke my arm and the winter was coming up and I couldn't chop enough wood. Then, as if things couldn’t get any worse, there was the largest storm I have ever seen. I was sitting in my workshop area I made next to my tree house since the tree would sway in the strong wind and make me throw up. Long story short the tree house and food storage didn’t make it and was destroyed and with my broken arm I just had enough. So the next morning I packed my stuff and headed towards my aunt's in Missoula, Montana, hoping she still lives there.
"People these days really underestimate the power that french fries carry."
Is there anything you miss?
Hmmm… I would say the quiet
What was one thing you took from the wild?
Physically, a grizzly hide and, mentally, peace and quiet.
What is your favorite food?
People these days really underestimate the power that french fries carry.
Would you ever go back?
Honestly, I don't know. I got what I needed at the time, a place to clear my head and find myself. I won’t say it was perfect all the time, but there are times when I sit in line at the bank that I do miss it. I have talked about it with my wife and she is skeptical about wiping her a** with leaves, but I think I could convince her. My final answer though is we will see in time.
I knew the moment I sat down with Matthew this was going to be a good interview, but that's just the way he is, always having something worth listening to. I hope you took something from this interview, whether it be a lesson, just a cool story or maybe a nugget of inspiration. Personally I can say I got out much more than I put in this interview, but that is just Matthew as a person. His teachings did not end in the classroom, but just started once we left it. I want to thank Matthew for opening up his life and sharing. He made something worth sharing.
Seen above one of Matthew's most recent carvings called Ms Nat