[at-l] Re: Modern Devices, etc.

[ellen at clinic.net (Bob C.)]

>"...The Baxter ban has nothing to do with philosophical anti-cell feelings,"
>thinks TJ.

The incident TJ mentions may have triggered the rule, but he is wrong when he
says the ban has nothing to do with philosophical anti-cell feelings. The rule
is lumped with other electronic gear. "Audio devices such as radios,
televisions, cassette players, or cellular telephones may not be operated within
the Park."

This suggests to me a desire for wildness preservation is part of the thinking
of park managers.

TJ repeats a common fallacy that because the park doesn't  "remove all the
cabins and refrain from using two way radios, generators, passenger cars,
snowmobiles, chainsaws, etc." it has no concern for preserving wildness.

The management of public facilities everywhere is a compromise between the ideal
and what is politically possible. The management of the Baxter park is more and
more concerned with the protection of wildness. Snowmobiles were once permitted
everywhere. They are now restricted to a perimeter road. Motorcycles and large
motor homes are banned. Facilities have been removed from the edge of streams
and the major dam at Katahdin Stream removed.

Baxter isn't perfect, but it is the closest thing to wilderness available in the
northeast.

Weary