Re: [Paddlewise] Commando Camping

Nick Schade wrote:


>I have mixed feelings about the watertrails concept. I am a member of the
>Maine Island Trail Association, the originator of the idea. I see the
>service they provide as getting permission to use private islands.
[snip]

I agree completely with all that Nick said.  I too am a supporting member of
MITA, and I think they are doing good work.  They aren't really "selling"
anything -- the membership fee is a mere $15 or so.  (They depend primarily
on voluntary contributions of much larger amounts.)  One of the most
important things they are doing, IMO, is to promote the idea of voluntary
member self-management.  I suspect there has been some . . . discussion
within MITA about more closely regulating island use, or requiring advance
reservations, permitting, things like that. . . but these ideas have
apparently been rejected in favor of voluntary self-management.  I like
that.  People should feel more "connected" to the islands if they feel some
responsibility for them.  Instead of creating an "other" in the form of a
regulatory or management body, to which one must "apply" for "permission" or
something like that, MITA is promoting a notion that integrates its
membership into the process.

I think this parallels a trend within the environmental movement (or some
sections of it) that would remove the conceptual "barriers" between us and
our planet that have, in a sense, been created by the movement itself (for
example, challenging the concept of "wilderness" as distinct from the rest
of the planet, which distinction in itself may more readily allow
degradation of the rest of the planet, and thus may be a harmful way of
thinking. . . ).  (The fascinating magazine Orion seems to be on the cutting
edge of this.)  I don't know that much about it at this point, but I do find
it interesting, and at any rate I am pleased with MITA's philosophical
stance and will continue to support the organization.

I don't know anything about any other "water trail" organizations, and so
can't comment on them.  I did read an interesting article in a recent ACK
about a water trail project through Maine lakes to New York.  My biggest
concern about these things is that they will result in heavier usage, and
naturally I want it all to myself <g>.  . .  .  Of course, heavier usage
*can* be good, if properly done, as it brings more people closer to the
earth they live on and thereby *may* help save the place. . . .

Mark


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