Re: [Paddlewise] Saturation Point

> Dan Hagen wrote:
> 
> [megasnip]
> > I do not think that it is merely selfish to keep quiet and to discourage
> > growth of the sport. Wilderness *is* being loved to death. Those who
> > actively encourage additional use are part of the problem. To paraphrase
> > Matt, once use of a wild area increases significantly we are screwed,
> > whether we allow unchecked growth or whether we start to regulate use.
> > The latter is the lesser of the two evils, but the best alternative is
> > not to encourage increased use in the first place. Again, no one is
> > talking about "banning" new entrants into the sport, or whether they
> > have a "right" to join us. That simply misses the point. If paddling or
> > wilderness travel required more initiative, fewer people would do it and
> > there would be less pressure on sensitive areas. Most people who have a
> > love of wilderness do not use it actively, but rather appreciate it from
> > afar. As active use rises, however, wilderness is threatened.  People
> > who make it easier for others to visit sensitive areas are having the
> > effect of degrading these areas. They have a right to do this, but that
> > does not make it a wise course of action.


Well said.  Since everyone has equal right to go into the wilderness the
only way to keep people out is to keep it remote.  Remoteness, both
physical and lack of information, is what kept people away in the past
and is what will keep people away in the future.  (that an lousy weather
or otherwise adverse conditions.)  So, aside from regulation, our best
hope is to restrict development.  That's hard.  How do you get
individuals to not start guide services?  Not offer water taxi service? 
Not run ferrys?  Not write guide books and make maps of areas?  Not
write stories about their trips and publish on the web or in magazines?

We can't regulate that either.  

Tom Unger
Seattle.
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************