Wilderness
is an indispensable part of American history. People have held various
perspectives of wilderness throughout time. Historical events and articles,
pamphlets, stories and books authored about wilderness and the environment tell
us a story of shifting perceptions. During European settlement of America, wilderness was something to be
feared. One settler in the early 1600s stated, "Wilderness is a dark and dismal place where all manner of wild
beasts dash about uncooked." Indeed, early settlers struggled
to clear and cultivate natural lands as a way of civilizing wild America. In contrast to this utilitarian
ideal, three centuries later, an American author stated, "[wilderness] is the ultimate source of health,
both terrestrial and human." Slowly, public views of
wilderness have shifted more towards a protection orientation emphasizing
sustainable development and balance and harmony with nature.
The United States was the first country in the world to define and designate wilderness
areas through law. Subsequently, countries around the world have protected
areas modeled after the Wilderness Act. In 1964 our nation's leaders formally
acknowledged the immediate and lasting benefits of wild places to the human
spirit and fabric of our nation. That year, in a nearly unanimous vote,
Congress enacted landmark legislation that permanently protected some of the
most natural and undisturbed places in America.
The
Wilderness Act continues to be the guiding piece of legislation for all
wilderness areas. The Act describes wilderness as follows:
"...lands designated for preservation
and protection in their natural condition...""...an
area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man...""...an
area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and
influence, without permanent improvement or human habitation...""...generally
appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the
imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable...""...has
outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of
recreation..."
The National
Institute for Wilderness Safety is…
A group of authors, practitioners, and experts of varied
vocations that first came together in 1994. Members of The National Association
for Search and Rescue, Civil Air Patrol, Appalachian Mountain Search and Rescue,
American Search and Rescue, Amateur Radio operators, and the Everglades Search and Rescue Team joined
with a group of outdoor writers and wildlife enthusiasts to establish a brain
trust of knowledge aimed at keeping greenhorns safer on their initial trips
into the wild. The Institute is more than a “Think Tank”, it is people who walk
the walk......... on the Appalachian Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Pacific Rim Trails, as well as
the million miles of relatively flat trails in the mid-west.They are joined by mountain bikers, ATV
riders, Equestrian riders, and campers, who freely discuss and share their
knowledge toward building less painful experience by new-comers to the wild.
National Institute for Wilderness Safety