WILDERNESS/RECREATION

~Presented by USDA Forest Service, Mt. Baker Ranger District

What is Wilderness?

The word "wilderness" means different things to different people. For the federal agencies responsible for managing public lands and resources, the word has a special meaning. It refers to those areas within National Forests and Parks, the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that have been designated by Congress as Wilderness.

The idea of preserving certain areas of land in their natural state dates back to the mid 1800's. Conservationists like John Muir, Robert Marshall, Aldo Leopold and others sought through the years to gain support for wilderness preservation. In 1964, Congress passed the Wilderness Act and it was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

The Act calls for the establishment of a National Wilderness Preservation System, to be composed of federally owned areas designated by Congress as "wilderness areas". These areas are to be managed for the enjoyment of the American people in such a way that:

? Leaves them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness
? Provides for the protection of these areas
? Preserves their wilderness character.

Within the Act, Wilderness is defined and recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. It is further defined to mean in this Act an area of undeveloped Federal land which:

? Retains its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation
? Is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural condition.

Wilderness in Whatcom County

Since the passage of the Wilderness Act in 1964, over 91 million acres have been added to the Wilderness Preservation System. In Washington State, over 4.25 million acres (10% of the State) are in designated wilderness.

In Whatcom County Wilderness areas are managed by both the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service. The Mt. Baker Wilderness and the Noisy-Diobsud Wilderness cover approximately 130,000 acres in Whatcom County and are managed by the Forest Service. The Stephen Mather Wilderness, managed by the North Cascades National Park, encompasses approximately 281,413 acres in Whatcom County.

The Role of the Forest Service

The Forest Service is responsible for ensuring that these areas are taken care of so that future generations will be able to enjoy the wilderness. At the same time, managers strive to attain a high level of primeval character and allow natural processes to operate freely within these areas.

To accomplish this numerous approaches have been developed:

? No logging or road building is permitted in Wilderness areas.
? Trails provide access into the areas and they may be steep, rough and difficult to follow.
? Where bridges do not exist creeks may have to be forded.
? Fallen logs from winter storms may have to be crawled over.
? There are no cabins or shelters.
? No motorized equipment (cars, snowmobiles) or mechanical transport (bicycles) are permitted.
? Conditions within the Wilderness are monitored so that the "health" of the area can be determined.
? Overused campsites may be closed and restored, allowing them to return to their natural condition.
? Wilderness Rangers patrol the area and talk to people making sure regulations are being followed.

How do we take care of it?

Although federal agencies are legally responsible for managing Wilderness areas, everyone has a role and responsibility. In order to keep Wilderness wild, we all need to minimize our "impact" on the Wilderness environment. "Impact " refers to changes visitors create in the Wilderness, such as trampling of fragile vegetation or pollution of water sources, which diminish the wilderness experience of others. As visitors, our behavior and actions should be appropriate. Following the simple Leave No Trace (LNT) principles shown below allows visitors to enter and enjoy the Wilderness without damaging it or leaving any sign or trace of one's stay.

? Plan Ahead and Prepare
? Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
? Pack It In, Pack It Out
? Properly Dispose of What You Can't Pack Out
? Leave What You Find - Avoid damaging live trees and plants
? Minimize Use and Impacts of Fire - Carry a cook stove and use it

A day on the trail in the Wilderness

For the Whatcom County 6th-Grade Conservation Tour, a Forest Service Wilderness Ranger will meet each class at the Wilderness Entrance sign at the beginning of the station and lead the class along a trail in the imaginary Mt. Baker Wilderness. Discussions and activities during the hike are interactive and students are encouraged to participate.