We all (HEART) Wilderness

[Ol'TrailDog]

Dang, I should know better but cut'r loose:

I read an opinion piece in issue #49 about Wilderness Areas. As a wilderness manager I am compelled to respond to the article and this seemed like the appropriate place to do so.

I missed the original thread mentioned in the article because I have decided the political forum is too hot to handle for individual such as myself who are given to hyperbole, passion, and have a hard time remaining dispassionately reasonable and articulate- when a well tossed verbal jab seems in order and more on the tips of my fingers, so to speak. Consequently, I decided to disengage from debates in the political forum, at least until the next presidential election.

Part of the objection to increasing Wilderness areas raised was that “very few of us can use wilderness land now”. The first statement in the 64 Wilderness Act is “In order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas within the United States” That is, it was understood our natural bent is to go everywhere by any means. Given that understanding, Congress, via your vote, recognized the value of setting aside special areas that wouldn’t be occupied and modified.

The author states that horses or a “very young, healthy body that loves mountain backpacking” are required to enjoy wilderness areas. To the contrary, I am often amazed and inspired to see folks more grey bearded, hoary headed, and wizened than myself backpacking in Wyoming and Montana Wilderness Areas. Sure it takes gumption, a fervent desire, and usually a dedication to maintaining a modicum of physical fitness. Am sure these folks, as well as I, have changed and adapted their Wilderness pursuits to accommodate their aging earthen shells.

The article suggests that “Closing existing two-track mountain trails would further prevent access by 99+% of us to our federal lands.” I find this statement especially surprising coming from someone from Nevada, which is #2 in percentage of Federal and State lands at 87%. Wilderness accounts for 15% of Federal Lands and 4% of the U.S. land base. Thus it appears there are plenty of access opportunities to federal lands, especially in Nevada.

Key to understanding why “us” or “we” as voting Americans decided to establish the Wilderness Preservation System comprehended these areas would have values that far exceeded personal utilitarianism. Examples of these values from the Wilderness Act include “outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive or unconfined type of recreation”, or “may also contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value”. In other words there are research, watershed, air shed, ecological, or geological aspects of Wilderness Areas that exceed the value of a recreation opportunity.

Congress even provided for commercial services, such as outfitters, to be offered in Wilderness Areas just so folks who do not have the knowledge, equipment, or ability to enjoy these areas on their own.

Tomorrow I turn 54. This year I broke my foot peeling off a face and hitting a bulge at the Wild Iris. Consequently, I hobbled around like a very old man for a good portion of the summer. Pretty much ruined a bunch of plans for the summer festivities. Happenings like this are given to help us recognize our mortality (the wife might say stupidity, but we would go there, neh?). As much as we push the envelope there are just more mountains than any mortal man, or chick for that matter, can climb in a lifetime. There comes or will come a time in our lives when we recognize it is time to hang up the mantle, there is yet much undone, and hand the baton to the younger folks to take up the challenge. Wilderness Areas are about saving a small fraction of our country for the young-at-heart to challenge and be challenged by.

Heck, I could even say that I hate those *&^(%^ ATVs, dirt bikes, mountain bikes, and snow machines ripping up Mother Earth and the beautiful countryside and it’s wildlife that PaPa God gave her. But then that would be an example of the hyperbole I’m often given to. So I won’t.