Date: 2015-08-01
From: Manchester Center

To: Manchester Center
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: few clouds

¢Wilderness, sure, but common sense, please.¢This is the complete text of the sign that I object to.   The sign is in my pictures. Quote¢¦..The Lye Brooks Wilderness is part of our National Wilderness Preservation SystemWilderness is managed to provide primitive recreation opportunities and to allow natural forces to dominate the character of the land.   Be prepared to meet increased challenges on this and other wilderness trails. Trail brushing and trail blazing is limitedTrees may be left to step over across the trailSigns are less frequent, and usually do not show mileages. Carry a map, compass or guidebookTravel in small groups and in numbers less than 10Leave no trace. Pack it in/Pack it outRescues may take longer due to primitive conditionsIn a popular area, select a campsite which is well established. In remote, pristine areas, camp on a unused site that preferably has a durable surface. ¢¦.unquoteI took so much time writing about Wrong Way Madison that I can¢t spend as much time on this one.   And this is not a story, but just my opinion.   Standing firmly on my soapbox¢¦..I value wilderness. Always have. My daughter is finishing her PHD in Environmental Science. I believe in saving the earth.   But the wilderness can be too wild for humans.   Is the point to keep humans out? I wonder.   Or take it to the extreme.   Why not obliterate the entire trail, and let people bushwhack through the wilderness.   That would be true wilderness. Here is the problem.   Hiking and backpacking 20, 200 or 2000 miles is so difficult that 1% or less of people have the required energy, skill and equipment to do it.   Now with the wilderness designation, they want to make it even harder. So less people do it?Trail brushing and trail blazing is limited; Therefore the trail will be so difficult that far less people will attempt to walk this trail; Therefore people will lose the trail and have to be rescuedTrees may be left to step over across the trail; Therefore people will make new trails going around the downed tree. Signs are less frequent, and usually do not show mileages; Therefore people will lose the trail and have to be rescued. Rescues may take longer due to primitive conditions; So don¢t plan on breaking your leg. The other items make sense and I agree with them, pack out your trash, hike in small groups. I was an adult when the Boundary Water Canoe Area became the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness. Motor restrictions on boats and canoes I was and am fine with, other than I have learned to keep my canoe off of large lakes, or I may be stranded (or worse) during a windy day or storm.   But I saw them take away the perfectly fine portage signs (Angel Lake, 50 rods), and remove the canoe rests. What was wrong with them, other than they were man-made?   They made it easier for more people to see the wilderness.   Granted, the number of people using the BWCAW has not decreased. But what I have seen, is that more people in the BWCAW portage in 2-4 portages and then setup base camp. Versus going far into the BWCAW. Perhaps they find it too difficult?   So is the point of wilderness to keep the people out?   If so, even less people will get into the wilderness, so less people will experience the value of wilderness.   Less people will support wilderness. Don¢t get me wrong, I like the woods.   The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has spent over $200 million to purchase the land next to the AT. Had they not done so, I would have seen an endless series of cabins, condominiums, and even McDonalds and Burger Kings.   (Not that those wouldn¢t be welcomed, once in awhile).   I also don¢t want to see people drive their 35 foot RV into the woods and call it camping.   I was at the Minneapolis camping show last February, and walked though the RV¢s with full-size refrigerators, recliner chairs, built-in gas fireplaces, and 45¢ TV.   That¢s not camping.   The Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway has degraded the AT in those sections of Virginia. I heard loud Harley Davidson motorcycles too much in that section. So I value the woods, and wish to see them preserved. But I also wish to make it more possible for people to walk through them.   The Kekakabic trail in the BWCAW as well as the Pow Wow Trail are examples to preserve. But, use common sense and use motorized chainsaws and brush cutters to clear them. And keep them flagged or well marked.   The Kekakabic trail has such a fearsome reputation because 10 years ago two ladies were rescued when they became lost, and 20 years ago a hiker died after getting lost. So I would never go on that trail without others more experienced than I.   Yet the Sierra Club and others object to use of power tools to clear the trails.   I do know that, after a blowdown on the Sioux Hustler trail, the forest service had common sense and used chainsaws to clear away the downed trees. Good for them.   For once, common sense prevailed. OK, enough of that.   Hope you enjoyed it.