[pct-l] the Solitude Log - anyone?

[Donna "L-Rod" Saufley]

Jon,

While I don't disagree with your statements, loving the wilderness does simply come naturally to people who have never spent time in it.  In fact, most people who don't spend time in the wilderness have an inherent fear of it and the perceived dangers within it.  One only has to listen to the non-venturer's questions, such as "you mean, you went alone?", or "did you carry a gun?", or the litany of questions about bears, big cats, and snakes, believing that the threat of imminent death lurks behind every rock. 

Ignorance of the wonders of the wilderness and exclusion from enjoying it will do nothing to encourage protection and preservation efforts.  If it means nothing to people, or worse, they're both ignorant and afraid of it, there will be no outcry or attempt to defend it when threats arise, and the threats today are many.

I don't know where the balance is.  It would be handy if there was some sort of entry test to ensure that those who do venture into the wilderness would tread lightly upon and revere it, but alas, that's not the case even among all PCT thru-hikers.  

L-Rod



-----Original Message-----
>From: Jon Danniken <danniken at comcast.net>
>Sent: Jun 14, 2007 9:54 AM
>To: Tortoise <Tortoise73 at charter.net>, ke <sunshinenhugs at yahoo.com>
>Cc: Brett <blisterfree at yahoo.com>, pct-l at backcountry.net, cdt-l at backcountry.net, "Wallace, Mark S." <MWallace at Stutman.com>, Appalachian Trail <at-l at mailman.backcountry.net>
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] the Solitude Log - anyone?
>
>Wilderness does not exist, nor was it created, as a recreational commodity. 
>As such, it does not depend on any human interaction to maintain it's 
>status.
>
>As far as human interaction, the more people go on a trail, or into a 
>wilderness, the less of a wild experience it becomes.  One only has to look 
>at the "drunken partygoer" mentality of some certain individuals who 
>backpack certain trails to bear this out.
>
>Jon
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Tortoise"
>>
>> If only a very, very few of us go into the wilderness or the back
>> country; then we will have a very difficult time persuading legislatures
>> and the populace that trails, back country, wilderness is important.
>
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