Wilderness News

Washington » Nearly 90 members of Congress want the Interior Department to protect 9.4 million acres of Utah public lands from development while lawmakers consider a measure to set aside the areas as wilderness.

Led by Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., the members of Congress wrote to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Tuesday asking him to use his "considerable authorities" to protect the millions of acres until Congress can act.

A federal bill seeking to make the Big Sur portion of Los Padres National Forrest a separately funded unit and expand protected wilderness areas in Monterey County was introduced Friday.

If signed into law, the bill from Rep. Sam Farr, D-Camel would redesignate the Monterey Ranger District of Los Padres as a separate management unit.

Currently, the forest, which is about 2 million acres stretching from Big Sur to Los Angles County, is divided into five ranger districts that share federal funds from the Department of Agriculture.

Gov. John Baldacci is calling it a "landmark achievement" and a "wonderful legacy." Two conservation groups today announced their purchase of a pair of ecologically sensitive parcels of land in northern and western Maine. Both will be permanently conserved as part of a broader development and conservation plan. And the protection of the larger of the two tracts is considered a "missing link" in a special corridor between Moosehead Lake and Baxter State Park.

AUGUSTA, Maine - A dream long held by conservation and environmental groups to permanently protect land stretching from the Moosehead Lake region to Baxter State Park has become reality with the purchase of the Roach Ponds tract by the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Connectivity is a key word in the conservation movement these days: As land becomes more fragmented because of roads or subdivisions, environmental groups are looking to ensure large tracts of protected land are linked together.

I agree with Ray Ring that Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns are on to something with the idea that public lands and "resources" ought to be reserved for the public and not allowed to be a source of enrichment for private individuals (HCN, 9/14 & 9/28/09).

On a recent weekday, I made the rigorous 11-mile hike to Mount Cammerer in the Smokies. During the hour my small group of hikers were enjoying lunch and the views, at least 40 others hikers showed up.

Running into so many people detracts a bit from the "wilderness experience." Don't get me wrong - I enjoyed the experience immensely, shared as it was. But the episode raises the question of whether the demand for wilderness is outstripping supply.

In fact, I often choose to hike in nearby designated wilderness areas to avoid the crowded trails.

Editor:

The year 2009 marks the 40^th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. Oct. 30 marked the 25^th anniversary of the Tennessee Wilderness Act of 1984, which permanently set aside some of the truly wild places in the Volunteer State. Today there is a citizen's movement to create additional wilderness areas within the Cherokee National Forest.

Plans to pay for the Big Sur portion of Los Padres National Forest separately, add more than 2,000 acres to the Ventana Wilderness and prevent dams on some local rivers are all part of legislation submitted to Congress on Friday.

Under the bill by Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, Congress would take a closer look at management of the federal portions of the Big Sur coast.

Funding Big Sur independently of the large Los Padres National Forest would allow for spending decisions to happen locally, supporters said.

As I walked past the "entering wilderness" sign with my hunting partner, Zach, I couldn't help but smile. We were going to spend the next few days hunting elk without the sound of old trucks rattling down the road or ATVs zipping up the trail around us. With only our bivvy sacks, sleeping bags and bare essentials, we headed up the mountain knowing that a few miles of designated hiking and elk trails will lead us into the middle of some of the best elk country in the West.