3:29 p.m. on September 12, 2007 (EDT)
Trailspace
Administrator
Joined: Mar 14, 2001
Posts: 441
Off the Beaten Path?
This thread is for comments on the article "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
...
Full article at
http://www.trailspace.com/blog/2007/09/12/off-the-beaten-path.html
11:15 p.m. on September 13, 2007 (EDT)
bheiser1
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 10, 2007
Posts: 150
Re: Off the Beaten Path?
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.
