Re: [CDT-L] [cdt-l] - Is it too late to save the CDT?

(Karen Berger wrote)

> I really liked your musings.
>
> As a writer, the issue of impacting what we love is one I consider quite
> often. When Dan and I wrote WtWD, people in the hiking community seemed to
> think it was a real service because so little was known about the CDT. But
I
> know that in the years since, as more and more people complete the AT and
the
> PCT and inexorably funnel onto the CDT, the trail will inevitably change.
And
> perhaps by writing about it, and encouraging people to go on it, my
writing
> will have an impact I didn't intend. I guess all I can do is try to write
> responsibly and encourage minimum impact camping. I will say that there
are a
> number of places I haven't written about precisely because I didn't want
my
> work to be responsible for their overuse. It's a hard call to make
sometimes
> -- but you'll never see my byline under an article called "The 10 quietest
> most pristine backcountry spots!!!" (unwritten subtitle: come and ruin
them
> NOW!)
>
> And there is the argument -- a good one, in my opinion, that trails that
have
> constituencies have voices for their protection. Which I think is a good
> thing.
>
> Karen

Karen,  I really think your touching on a very important area in
wilderness/trail preservation: the possible unforseen consequences of life
(however well intended)choices.  When I graduated from Western Colorado
State College in 1975 my friends and I could smell money in the air.
Crested Butte was building out, Telluride was rapidly moving from concept,
the Black Canyon of the Gunnison needed fishing guides; everywhere was
opportunity for a seeming righteous "wholesome" lifestyle.  Also, everywhere
wanted to become a destination of choice so the ride probably would never
end.  I didn't know the cliche "you kill the things you love", but as gazed
out I felt it strongly.  With intent I moved out of Colorado for a life and
became a paramedic with the Oklahoma City service coming on duty well before
the Edmond Post Office massacre and leaving after the Murrah federal
building bombing.  When I retired a few years ago we came back to (with a
pension check!) Colorado.  Again with intent we didn't move "up in the
pines" but rather onto a long subdivided piece of windswept praire in the
SLV.  Each person is entitled to their own point of view, I feel that I've
earned mine, yet I also believe we must be very careful that ,like the well
intended Dr Frankenstein , we try not to build monsters or become "Egors"
fetching the body parts of destruction  Sorry to sound preachy.

Happy Trails
Mike



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