The Wilderness Act of 1964 will be 50 years old in 2014. Will our community celebrate?
Beginning in 2014, the San Juan and Rio Grande national forests will require mandatory registration for all recreationists who enter the Weminuche Wilderness. Even though the areas reported to be in poor condition are along the Animas River, where the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad provides easy access, and Cave Basin near Vallecito Lake, the managing agency thinks it’s necessary to blanket the entire half-million acres with this requirement. What has been a voluntary registration now will be mandatory.
If the Forest Service is comfortable to make this big leap rather than nip it in the bud where the trains stop, it’s reasonable to believe we are one small step from permits and fees. The effects cited are high campsite densities, denuded vegetation, damage from firewood collection, soil sterilization from illegal campfires, impact to lakeshores and wetlands, degraded water quality from improper disposal of human waste, overcrowding and less opportunity for solitude.
If you can’t find solitude in a half-million acres of rough country, then look downstairs in your basement.
Our community has volunteered diligently the last 20 years to care for public lands. We’ve helped maintain trails, pack out messes, attend planning meetings, secure grant money to boost agency projects and educate others about leave-no-trace principles. Apparently, this effort has not made a difference.
Wilderness has been described to be a place a person can go and leave the trappings of man behind. Now, 50 years later, to avoid citation from an enforcement officer, you will need to have a completed form that is carried in a visible manner during your entire wilderness outing. Try to have fun and not worry that your horse will eat the grass and you use dry sticks that lay everywhere to burn in a campfire.
We should expect the same thing will happen to the Hermosa if wilderness legislation is enacted for that area. Put up a wilderness sign, and people will come. Let’s leave good enough alone.
Sandy Young
Durango
