The BWCA and the 1964 Wilderness Act
Just a quick comment on the 1964 Wilderness Act, and why I think it is one of the best environmental laws ever passed. The 1964 Wilderness Act set aside a number of wilderness areas in the US, including the largest eastern wilderness area, the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area (the BWCA). The BWCA is 1 million acres, and the adjacent Quetico Wilderness area in Ontario, Canada is 1.1 million acres. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of lakes connected by rivers, and portages. A paddlers paradise! The BWCA is popular, particularly in July and August when the scout troops, church groups and big family groups descend on the BWCA - but the permit system and designated campsites keep everything manageable and even during those times, if you push back in far enough or into some of the smaller lakes, you can still experience the wilderness qualities. We've settled on September as the best time to visit, primarily for fewer folks and no/low bugs. I love the water and this area has become one of my favorite get aways.
Over the years a large number of additional areas has been set aside as wilderness in the US, and even though I'll never visit most of them, I love that they are preserved for all time. The BWCA is almost 50 years "old" now, but it feels the same as when I first went there back in the mid 1970's. Out west I have mostly backpacked in wilderness areas, and its the same there - so peaceful, far from the maddening crowd, incredible night skys, spectacular vistas, wildlife, etc. The National Parks are great too, and a real showcase of the best of the best, but they tend to be a bit crowded compared to most wilderness areas, so if you can visit these during the off season, they can offer some of the same qualities as the wilderness areas.
Backpacking, canoeing, sea kayaking on a week long trip, they all share the same qualities, which is getting back to the basics - that routine of setting up camp, pumping your water, preparing your meals, hunkering down in bad weather, glorying in the good weather, the solitude, the quiet, carrying everything you need for a week on your back or in your canoe, no cell phones (people always ask me - "well you take your cell phone so you can be reached in an emergency - right?" - wrong - cell phone service is almost always not available in the wilderness - you're on your own - a minor gamble with the fates - a good tradeoff for all of the positive qualities the wilderness offers - this is not free climbing Half dome, which is basically an inevitable tragic death if you pursue it enough times - you don't get a second chance for those thrill seeking experiences - most likely you do get a second chance in the wilderness, unless you are unlucky enough to have a massive heart attack or emergency appendectomy when you are 15 miles back in the wilderness)
So put me down in the category of the long view, - give me by spots on my apples but leave me the birds and the bees (thank you Joni Mitchell).
Over the years a large number of additional areas has been set aside as wilderness in the US, and even though I'll never visit most of them, I love that they are preserved for all time. The BWCA is almost 50 years "old" now, but it feels the same as when I first went there back in the mid 1970's. Out west I have mostly backpacked in wilderness areas, and its the same there - so peaceful, far from the maddening crowd, incredible night skys, spectacular vistas, wildlife, etc. The National Parks are great too, and a real showcase of the best of the best, but they tend to be a bit crowded compared to most wilderness areas, so if you can visit these during the off season, they can offer some of the same qualities as the wilderness areas.
Backpacking, canoeing, sea kayaking on a week long trip, they all share the same qualities, which is getting back to the basics - that routine of setting up camp, pumping your water, preparing your meals, hunkering down in bad weather, glorying in the good weather, the solitude, the quiet, carrying everything you need for a week on your back or in your canoe, no cell phones (people always ask me - "well you take your cell phone so you can be reached in an emergency - right?" - wrong - cell phone service is almost always not available in the wilderness - you're on your own - a minor gamble with the fates - a good tradeoff for all of the positive qualities the wilderness offers - this is not free climbing Half dome, which is basically an inevitable tragic death if you pursue it enough times - you don't get a second chance for those thrill seeking experiences - most likely you do get a second chance in the wilderness, unless you are unlucky enough to have a massive heart attack or emergency appendectomy when you are 15 miles back in the wilderness)
So put me down in the category of the long view, - give me by spots on my apples but leave me the birds and the bees (thank you Joni Mitchell).
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