[at-l] Dinner, Dessert, and Wind Farms

[rickboudrie@hotmail.com (rick boudrie)]

>Seems Lord MacKaye thought dams were a good idea.
>

Someone once said that "The truth is more important than the facts".  I 
couldn't agree more.

I am not sure about the facts regarding MacKay and frankly am disinclined to 
find out more.  But I do think there is a fundamental truth in what R n R is 
saying about the need to promote the wild aspect of the trail.

As a community, hikers almost universally embrace the LNT ethics.  I find it 
remarkable how easily we accept errosion of both the wild character of the 
trail, and the wild nature of the areas around it.  When I say we, I mean 
backpackers.  As an example, I am thinking of how the news of the White 
Whatever Landing in the 100 Mile Wilderness was recieved (positively), or 
the surprisingly acceptable idea that view shed protection is no big deal, 
or that a cooler with soda's along the path is a good thing.

I am probably just thinking throught my typing fingers, but sometimes it 
seems like backpackers are less interested in the big-picture issues of view 
sheds and protecting the wild characteristics of the AT, than is the ATC 
board.  So I guess I am wondering if that is a fair characterization.

I hope that's not the case.  But I was wondering.  In any event, I do think 
that the current ATC board seems to have thier priorities in the right place 
considering the nature of the ATC institution and its age.  From the outside 
looking in, anyway.

Rick Boudrie




_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.