[pct-l] Europe's wilderness

[michaelgosnell@hotmail.com (Michael Gosnell)]

On the subject or Northern Scotland:

  Just returned from Scotland(my sister-in-law lives in Findhorn-1/2 hour
east of Inverness)and it's a shame how much forest has been completely cut
away.  Sometimes it seems as if they've cut almost all of it down.  Much of
the landscape is totally barren and it used to be completely covered in
forest.  My sister-in-law just shakes her head and says, "They didn't think
ahead at all."
  It does have its own rugged sort of beauty, but to see how much they cut
down is heartbreaking.  If anyone thinks the US is bad when it comes to
cutting down forests(we are!), they should see Scotland:(

Can't wait to do my first Munroe on my next visit!

Michael G.



  I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual. It is
surprising how contented one can be with nothing definite-only a sense of
existence...no run on my bank can drain it, for my wealth is not possession
but enjoyment.

             Henry David Thoreau





>From: Saskia Daru <saskia.home@wanadoo.nl>
>To: pct-l@backcountry.net
>Subject: [pct-l] Europe's wilderness
>Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2002 12:15:32 +0100
>
>In response to Mountain Dave's message about Europe:
>
>We come to the US for its wilderness, so I won't disagree that it is
>harder to find in Europe. But still: there are enormous areas in
>Scandinavia that are very wild. And you won't see many lights in the
>north of Scotland, even from a satellite. And if you want to really
>hike in places where there are no huts or anything else, try Eastern
>Europe, e.g. Romania or Russia. Even in the Alps or Pyrenees you can
>find solitude, anywhere where there are no big trails or well-described
>national parks. In any valley you find a village, but the heights are
>'free'.
>
>Still: the best of a trip to Europe is the mix between culture and
>wilderness. The lands are not set apart as they often are in the States
>(to our delight) but used for low density grazing or other things. The
>trek along the huts is more like the Appalachian Trail, I guess. The
>special thing of for example the GR5 route that goes all the way from
>the Netherlands to the Mediterranean (through France) is that you walk
>all day in woods and meadows and end your day with a nice glass of wine
>in a medieval (yes, there is a lot of culture to see dating back before
>the Renaissance) village.
>
>One of the great things for us on the PCT was that it was 'wilderness
>made manageable'. We felt reassured by the trail, amidst the wilderness
>areas. It led somewhere, others had taken it, we knew where there would
>usually be water and food, where a bail out route could be taken etc.
>
>Saskia
>
>
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