Off the Beaten Path?
Venturing into the backcountry is a great way of getting away from it all. But just how far away is "away?"
This map from the U.S. Geological Survey's Road Indicator Project shows the average distance to a road from any point in the country. Dark green shows the wildest areas — 20 kilometers or more from the nearest road — while yellow shows dense urban areas where you can scarcely turn around without stumbling into traffic.
I think this map is a pretty good argument for protecting our few remaining roadless areas from encroaching development and off-road motorized recreation. They're not many and they're all we have left.
In the western U.S. many of these roadless areas are managed by the National Forest Service. To learn more, check out the Wilderness Society's roadless initiative. In the East, our few roadless lands are a patchwork of federal, state, local, and private ownership. Contact your local land trust or state land management agency to find out what's being done to protect roadless areas near you.
Source: http://rockyitr.cr.usgs.gov/rmgsc/pdf/factSheets/fs2005-3011.pdf
Comments
This really hits home for me. This summer I've visited several of the officially-designated Wilderness Areas in California.
On one hand, I'm afraid the officially "Wilderness" designation attracts -more- people to the area. I have read that this has been the case in at least one area.
But on the other hand, I'm seeing signs that make me really glad we have these areas designated, and I think we should do everything we can to expand them and designate additional areas.
In three specific areas I've visited this summer, I've seen logging activities, either VERY close, or literally right up against the wilderness boundary. If these areas weren't designated as official Wilderness Areas, there'd be no stopping the logging.
It worries me to see the logging going on so close to these areas - our wild spaces are shrinking! I'm really glad for our designated wilderness areas.
Post a Comment
This post has been locked and is not accepting new comments
