Early settlers saw the continent's forested wildlands as a fearful challenge. Today people seek nature to recharge their urbanized souls Nearly 5 percent of U.S. land has been designated wilderness but how it is used managed is far from settled

A dozen times a year Pacific storms the underwater topography of Maui's north shore combine to create monster waves called laws. Only a handful of surfers even try to ride the Hawaiian behemoths

After pack ice trapped their ship explorer Ernest Shackleton his men abandoned their dream of crossing Antarctica on foot began a 20 month struggle to survive