Now, the National Park Service is at the center of a controversy over whether limits should be imposed on motor-powered vehicles. Many conservationists think this doesn't go far enough. But park officials say a variety of activities are appropriate on public lands. We're not saying you should put snowmobiles and cross-country skiers on the same trail. What this nation needs is more trails.
Environmentalists generally argue for the reverse.
The Forest Service has of late been limiting new roads and closing old ones. Still, there is no consensus on whether it's less harmful to sensitive species to spread out or further concentrate recreational use. Some challenge whether any foray into the wild should be motor-powered. But these ecosystems have a right to exist beyond their value to humans. As for the attack on Vail, Kintz says she does not condone it.