[pct-l] Ruining the wilderness experience??

[Dennis Keis]

Doug Carlson wrote: I was on Isle Royale NP (one of the great 
backpacking gems in the us).  High overhead- no sound could be heard, 
just a plane way up there invoked a very negative, "Planes should not 
be allowed to fly over National parks- it ruins the wilderness 
experience."  I just looked at him and thought, "man, its not the 
plane that has ruined your day and  you."  And moved on.

As I chuckled it brought to mind my hike last year. In July 2012 just 
north of the Rae Lakes in California a hiker went into a diabetic 
coma. Hikers searched for Rangers with radios or other hikers with 
SPOTs. Eventually help was summoned and a helicopter flew in. When we 
arrived at the scene the hiker was still being attended to and as we 
proceeded past we met the helicopter pilot who was walking toward the 
scene from his landing spot. We were astounded when, at the end of 
the conversation and out of the blue, he said "Sorry for flying in 
and ruining your wilderness experience." Still wondering what brought 
that on, was he serious, brought on from past encounters with hikers 
or did I miss an eye-wink and slight grin? We assured him he hadn't 
ruined anything, happy he was there. Then we also moved on, happy 
knowing a fellow hiker was in good hands.

Dennis