Humans have made the Adirondack Park feel quite small. I often think about this phenomena when I am on trails in what I consider the backcountry. On a good day in the summer, deep in the High Peaks region, I can go all day without seeing more than five people. This seclusion makes me feel as if the woods are, and have always been, mine to discover and explore. In reality, there are 2,000 miles of hiking trails meandering through the 6 million acres
of the park. Though this does not seem like a lot, over half of the park is inhabited by permanent residences.
I have always imagined exploring a "backcountry" area with nothing more than a map, compass, and a sense of wonder, blazing my own trail through unmarked territory. In reality, in a place many consider as "wilderness", the Adirondacks are anything but remote and isolated. The only thing a map is good for in a place riddled with well-marked trails and descriptive trail signs is to reorient yourself during a blizzard. The park managers have done a spectacular job at ensuring these maps are not needed unless you want to bushwhack your way to the heart of the park.
The accessibility of many areas of the park is is one reason why so many people flock to its high peaks and meandering rivers. While I do agree organized trails concentrate human impact on a smaller area, so waste and resource consumption do not spread throughout the environment, I also think more areas of the park should be kept remote. Isolation is a precious commodity in our industrialized world, and it should not be piecemealed in order to benefit the tourism industry.
Sources:
http://visitadirondacks.com/recreation/hiking
http://www.adirondack.net/hiking/
I found your position on seclusion to be very interesting insofar as it enables our internal exceptionalism to feel at home in woods that “are, and have always been, mine to discover and explore.” Accessibility obviously plays a big role in the maintenance of this illusion but I would be more hesitant to recommend fewer markings and more isolation-especially taking into consideration the two other blogs written this week about rescue attempts. Whether we like it or not, the Adirondacks are a state park and open to a varied collection of people with varied level of skill, the safety of whom should be the first priority.
ReplyDeletePersonally I would much rather hike (and fish) in quiet isolated areas as well. It was mentioned in class a number of times how choosing a slightly shorter mountain will basically grant you that trail to your self. The same thing happens back home where two nearly identical streams run through the heart of my town. One is stocked and well known for its great fishing while the other one slips under the radar and is still above average. Nine times out of ten I choose the less busy one and won't see a person all day.
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