How do YOU define "Wilderness"?

[dvbl]

What is your definition/description of "wilderness"? Not per the dictionary, forest service, Congress, or any other entity. Just your definition. If people are honest about it, it will vary widely. For some people, a night at Hermit Lake Shelter fits the description. Some people (sadly, many of whom are full of **** and are just trying to blow smoke up your skirt) don't consider it wilderness unless they're x amount of dozen miles from the nearest man-made structure and they don't see another person for 10 days. I suspect most of us fall somewhere in between. But is it just about geography, or is it also about what we carry with us? Person A camps alone in the Pemi with no tent or sleeping bag; he is accustomed to sleeping on the ground without shelter; he drinks out of the streams, and carries minimal food and supplies. He navigates by the sun and the night sky. He doesn't walk on trails. Person B camps with three others in the Alaskan backcountry with tent, sleeping bag, inflatable sleeping pad, and sets up camp within a portable electric bear fence. They carry a full supply of food, water, first aid, etc. They navigate with map, compass, and GPS.

Which of these two people is in more of a wilderness? Which campsite is more wild? The particular details of each example above can be debated to death, but the general concept of the two hiking/camping styles is more to the point.

 

[cushetunk]

I think you should be clear if you are asking about the camping style, or how people define wilderness. The latter would be a far more interesting question.

 

[marchowes]

I'll take a stab at this:

A WOODED place where I don't hear cars, a place where I don't see houses (at least not close by), antennas, modern roads (old tote roads and the like are ok). A place where human influences are subtle but not necessarily non existent. Blazed trails are okay. After all, most of the time in the woods if you are 100 feet from the trail you don't even see it (unless you are above the treeline!!!).


I used to live next to the Hawley State forest in WMASS (near the more popular Savoy Mountain state forest) and to me that is wilderness even if old roads criss cross here and there and cellar holes are abundant.

I suppose the impression of being far out there is really the most important aspect.

 

[giggy]

not a peak or area that is less than 10 miles from a major road. the only wilderness that I have seen in New England is in Maine.

I don't crave wilderness though - its all about getting a good hike in and partying with freinds after. if it were up to me, we would have disco night and full bar service at the AMC huts.


just my opinion tho - just like dupa's - everyone's got one

 

[cbcbd]

Less people, remoteness from civilization and ammenities. I like hanging out with friends... but when you don't see anyone for a long time (and a long time in the NE could be as much as a day) it's just a great feeling.

 

[sleeping bear]

Ha! This is what I was thinking for my thesis!

 

[Jaytrek57]

Unit 35 of Denali and/or the group site of a KOA...

For me "wilderness" is a state of mind. Lots of posts about the "physical" aspects....location, equipment, etc...Another way to look at it is comfort level and how one deals with that comfort level.

YMMV

peace.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Wildness: Partying with Giggy at a hut with a full bar.

What? Oh, you said wildERness... my bad.

Tim

 

[Kevin Rooney]

not a peak or area that is less than 10 miles from a major road. the only wilderness that I have seen in New England is in Maine.

You're about to experience another - the area around Mt Adams (WA) in the Gifford Pinchot NF/local Indian tribe (Yakima?) is very isolated ... keep your bearings (I speak from experience!)

Kevin

 

[Grayjay]

wildduhness

"Although we are accustomed to seperate nature and human perception into two realms, they are in fact indivisible. Landscape is the work of the mind.Its scenery is built as much on strata of memory as layers of rock."
--Simon Schama, Landscape and Memory

This kinda says it. Another way would be to say that nothing exists without an observer.

 

[Artex]

Definitely not the top of Mt. Washington during the summer!

 

[sapblatt]

I really like it when I cannot hear traffic (although at the end of a death march, the highway sounds are like music) and when I cannot see man made stuff (besides blazes and trail signs)...I am not a hardcore no trails/bushwhack only type - but I definitely like getting away from "it" all when I hike...

 

[arghman]

oh boy, the W word again...

A place where human influences are subtle but not necessarily non existent.

I agree. I've had more quality time alone in the woods in my own town or here in less-developed areas of "heavily-developed" southern NH, than I have in the Whites where I usually run into people.

 

[marty]

if it were up to me, we would have disco night and full bar service at the AMC huts.

Disco? Say it ain't so! Give me an 80's New Wave Dance Party any time

Marty

 

[giggy]

Disco? Say it ain't so! Give me an 80's New Wave Dance Party any time

Marty

was literally listeing to a self made new wave mix this morning -

big county, depeche mode, new order, cure (early stuff only!), seagulls, etc, etc.....

I have real soft spot for that stuff.

 

[cbcbd]

I have real soft spot for that stuff.

That soft spot on your head? That explains it...

 

[MattC]

"Although we are accustomed to seperate nature and human perception into two realms, they are in fact indivisible. Landscape is the work of the mind.Its scenery is built as much on strata of memory as layers of rock."
--Simon Schama, Landscape and Memory

This kinda says it. Another way would be to say that nothing exists without an observer.

That's about what I'm thinking. The interesting thing about wilderness is that it can't exist w/o a human to perceive it as wilderness. It's just an idea-the creatures that actually live in the mountains, woods, desert, ocean, etc. don't think of it as wilderness. So I think by definition, wilderness is about human perception.

I know of places on the humble Shawangunk Ridge where I can get the illusion of wilderness.

Matt

 

[albee]

To me, wilderness simply means the woods. It can be a path through the woods on the far side of my town, or a trail-less peak far from the nearest paved road. I don't seek out especially wild or undeveloped places, but I don't feel uncomfortable when I'm deep in the woods and far away from civilization, either. I don't mind seeing historical structures or even maintained facilities in the wilderness. Private residences would be a bit too much, of course. I don't like having to comply with a myriad of regulations on the use of wilderness areas, but I respect them and follow them as best I can with the thought of preserving the experiences of others.

 

[RoySwkr]

A place where you are pretty much exempt from rules and can do as you please.

Due to lax enforcement, commercial forests are ofen closer to this than official "Wilderness".

 

[giggy]

That soft spot on your head? That explains it...

I will send you straight to hell focker.....