Proclamation reinforces importance of Wilderness

I have fought for wilderness since 1965. Jerry Dixon

Though my husband and I have been to almost all of the parks in the west, our best experience was several years ago. We applied for employment in Yellowstone and were fortunate enough to be hired for the entire season from April to October. To have the free hours and days off to visit the entire 2.2 million acres of the park was such a thrill, especially since we were witnesses to the many changes the various animals went through as the seasons and weather changed. We were able to see the baby animals in the spring and see their parents teach them as the year progressed. The weather changes, from still snow occasionally in April and May, to the ice on Yellowstone lake finally break up and go crashing over the two falls going into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, to the buffalo with frozen steam on their fur near the hot springs, etc. It was an experience we will never forget, and hope to do again.

In the late 1960's and early 70's, recently discharged from the Army, and living in New York City, I travelled to and through Wyoming's northwest (Jackson Hole, and Moose, to be exact), where I would spend a month at a time every summer hiking and camping. It was an experience that not only cleaned out the City tensions, but opened my eyes and soul to life in the greater outdoors (which, ever since then, I've called "Paradise"). In 1983, I returned to my native Colombia (South America), where I remained 20 years, married, had a daughter, and forged a very successful life for myself as translator/interpreter for multinationals. When the civil war there made it imperative that wife, baby and I emigrate, I brought them to Idaho, very near that "Paradise," instead of moving to any of the more urban settings. I told my wife, who did not know the West, that we'd be happy here. We visited Wyoming, where our daughter had her first pony rides, and we trekked down some of the trails I had known years before. Some of it remains just as it was then. Other parts (as mentioned in these pages) have been razed and are now dominated by strip malls and tourist garbage. It's not so much "Paradise" anymore, unless you go nway out of the beaten path (which some of us, for safety's sake, will not do anymore). I'm now approaching 65, my wife's 55, and our daughter, 11, may never know "Paradise," but that is the price we have to pay for the passage of time and the imprint of man. It is, however, good to know that there are still millions of acres (in Alaska and the Lower 48) that are available to our younger folks. I pray that this will always be so. Thanks, Wilderness Society (and all the people involved in preserving our natural heritage)!

When I was in my early 20s, I had my first visit to Yosemite with my dad. We stood on Glacier Point looking out at the results of geological upheaval and I had my first "smallness" experience. All my 20-something angst dissolved in the realisation of what big changes REALLY meant.

Suddenly my problems seemed pretty manageable.

There were several travels to Yosemite with my father and many with friends, all of them special. The park is still one of my favourite places on the planet.

I've been a city girl all of my life, but whenever I've been able to get away it has been a rare treat. I feel like it's nourishing my soul. I love the slow pace & quiet, not to mention the beauty of the country. I hate to have to come back to the city again. The people in the city don't respect the natual enviornment like they do in the great outdoors. Even where the poor are out there it doesn't look any worse.

I remember horseback riding around a mountain in rural California, seeing the Grand Canyon in Arizona, & Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. I also recall Dad catching a Blue Marlin bigger than him in Vancouver, Canada & him driving us along the west coast of Baja California where we turned to see Bottle-nosed Dolphins jumping out of the water & keeping pace with the family car.

These are all some of my fondest memories growing up.

On March 27th of this year, one of my ferrets escaped from my home. On May 1st, she was spotted 1.2 miles away, crossing a road into a forest preserve.

Since then I have spent every day tracking in the forest, looking for my ferret. For a few months, her prints were discernible in the soft sand along the freshwater creeks. This preserve is only 48 acres and it is almost in the middle of the city of Gainesville, Florida, the home of the University of Florida. But it is the densest, most impenetrable and often inhospitable forest I have ever seen.

My ferret met up with a mother and baby raccoon a few days after her entrance into these woods and she tracked with them for over a month until the mother was killed by a dog or coyote. In the middle of Gainesville. I found the scuffle marks, the dog/coyote prints, the mother raccoon prints, the drag marks, the baby raccoon and ferret prints leaving the area, and the mother's body.

I was told that raccoons would never adopt a ferret, they were "natural enemies," and the raccoon would be more likely to kill her. But I tracked them for four weeks.

In this forest, I found two American Burying Beetles. Nicrophorus beetles use carrion as repositories for their eggs. They wrap the dead animal in saliva and bury it for their babies to eat. The ABB is listed as an endangered species and although north central Florida is listed as the southern tip of the ABB's historical range, there is no recorded date of its last sighting.

There is nothing like tracking an animal. You never are only following footprints. The animal, the creek, the sand, the dirt, the plants, the forest all merge and speak to you with one voice which you gradually learn to hear and understand. It is a language unlike any other and comes through your mind in a different way than human words or actions do. You cannot analyze or critique it. Logical and critical thinking as we know them are pointless, for it does no good to question nature's reasoning. It just IS ... and the most you can do is get inside of it and find its rhythm and flow.

Those who say they find peace in nature may not understand how harsh and dangerous it can be. The forest in north central Florida is not a kind or fun place to wander in. Mosquitoes relentless and vicious. If those don't get you, chiggers are likely to -- and they are far worse. I've also had my share of nasty spider bites. Poison ivy or oak is abundant, as well. Thorns, swamps, snapping turtles, snakes, even alligators all thrive in these woods.

For a ferret, the woods is even more dangerous. Predators such as hawks, owls, coyotes, foxes, and raccoons abound. Only minutes from downtown that way and the Mall this way.

It's possible, even likely that my ferret is dead now -- five months since she got out. Although I loved her and grieve her loss, I am grateful for the special gift I got through searching for her in these amazing woods for it gave me a greater understanding of wilderness and wildlife. We are not just talking about preserving "things" (plants or animals) but about our connection to all things in the universe. Our sense of this connection can only be found by going into the wild places.

I have been to several national parks in the United States and all of my experiences have been great. My two greatest experiences at Denali National Park in Alaska on 8/26/09. I was hiking on the strenuous Mt. Healy and I saw two Grizzly Bears from a distance. After taking several pictures I decided to leave because I did not desire to become lunch (I started climbing down a high hill). While I was in the process of leaving I met two young ladies from Israel (they are sisters) and they asked me how close the bears were. I informed them that I was not about to find out. In response they asked me if I would come with them. I reluctantly agreed to climb back up the strenuous hill to view the bears. After climbing up they wanted to go even closer. I was not too thrilled about it and I did not have to say anything because I made things clear with my facial expressions. The older sister informed me that I did not have to go toward the bears with them if I didn't want to. I told them that I did not want to get too close to the bears and that I wanted them to climb back down the hill with me. I also gave them a speech on how they have relatives back in Israel who want them to get home safe. Fortunately they agreed to leave with me. We made it back to the Denali National Park Visitor Center safely and I would like to say that I might have prevented two nice young ladies from becoming bear food.

While I've enjoyed many wonderful wilderness moments, one of the most unforgettable came about 40 years ago when my husband, 4 kids and I, and our faithful Great Dane Fred were making our way from New York to California, and stopped overnight somewhere in Pennsylvania. We'd let the kids and dog out of the mini-bus to run and work off stored-up excess energy, when we smelled a familiar odor. Sure enough, the dog had been "blitzed" by a skunk! We didn't have many resources to deal with this emergency in the wilderness, but for some unknown reason had tomato juice in the cooler, which we used to bathe the dog as best we could, and also used most of the water available. Poor Fred smelled a little rank for the remainder of the trip, and was really quite humiliated by his situation. Who can blame him? We all survived to enjoy many more camping adventures together.
Carolyn K.
Silverdale, WA

It was more than I expected while on my walk . The sun was shining, and my family had gone for the day, so what better chance to explore!

I usually walk to the pond down our road, or up the road to enjoy the wild areas there., but this time I decided to walk up the mountain from across the street of our home.

The hill looks like a rural painting from the 1800's. The kahki grasses are mixed with golden rod , red clover and queen anne's lace. I boldly walked through them to reach the heights I never walked before. The Sun shone over the nearby forest. My aim was to follow the Sun and cut through the woods to get to the beautiful apple orchards. These orchards I can see from a distance, but seemed too far for anyone to venture.

As I cut through the woods, my home no longer visible-- I marvelled at the beauty all around me. I was in a different land I had never known existed so close to my road.

The Sun still shone through the trees, and I could see the farmland and orchards some ways up past the forest. Sun shone on the freshly cut hills and sparkled like diamonds through the leaves. A cat bird sang his songs while hopping on the branches and the squirrels were running here and there foraging freshly fallen acorns. I found some nice large pieces of bark to cover my next Fairy cottage I will be making .

How beautiful that there is a place like this for the wild birds and animals. Thank God there are still SOME wild places left on Earth for them!

Walking back, the Sun was resting above the mountainside, and patches of light were still evident over the apple orchard up yonder.

I dropped onto the grass on the hill and watched the remaining Sun shine through the Queen Anne's Lace near my face. I was awestruck at the birds swooping over the tree tops - tucking themselves in for the coming night and the sky.. Wow, the Sky was pure bright cornflower Blue!
On that hillside, I could see for miles to other mountains, and the Valley below. Clouds floated over there .

This must be what the Native Americans saw as they passed by here hundreds of years ago. They didnt hear lawn mowers, -- just the birds.

Sitting there on that mountain field, I soaked in the beauty of my Woodland family--trees, birds and the Whole of Nature.

The Best things in life really are free!

Trip to Yellowstone YEARS ago. Never forget it. Camped outside of East Entrance on Shoshone river. Four-year-old nephew in full cowboy regalia complete with black hat. (Parents and grandmother found it cute).

Searched for firewood in woods. Two minutes…nephew wandered off. I call to him, then drop all and look for him. Find nephew moments later standing still in clearing in woods only 100 feet away, looking up.

I step into clearing...then notice what nephew is looking at: a moose. A 'small' one, youngster, I thought perhaps 5 or 6 months old; it still towered over him. Head urged forward, snout only 3 feet from my nephew's face, lips quivering, nostrils flaring. Nephew frozen solid, like a little mushroom in the middle of that clearing.

Then I see mom behind the calf. She’s watching very carefully. My eyes are ripped open too. These were gigantic creatures compared to my nephew, who had yet to achieve a height of three feet. I continue into clearing slowly toward my nephew, still talking, pretending to look around - "whoa, whatcha find there?" and, "Nice moose" and "Wow, you guys are really big, aren’t you?" and “Beautiful day today, isn’t it?” and, “So, how have you guys been?” and “Just passing through, excuse us” and “Well, we have to go now”…in as pleasant tones as I could, talking mostly to the moose mom, because I did not want my nephew to move. I did not want mom to think her baby wa in trouble.

I reached my nephew (after what seemed an hour, but it can only have taken several minutes) and took his hand. The calf just stood her ground, not moving. I could have reached out to pet her snout. I almost did, out of a powerful urge to thank her and her mom. Turning away I kept it up, "Thank you mom and little one! Hope to see you again!" etc as I led my nephew out of that magical clearing back to camp.

And I dreamed of deliriously happy spronking moose all that night. What? Moose don’t spronk? In my dream they did. And the little ones were MARVELOUS at it. In my mind (at least) they did their part in celebrating the world into which they've been born...and I noticed it - even if it was only a dream.

ALL ANIMALS. PLANTS. FUNGI. BACTERIA. EXTREMOPHILES. EVEN VIRUSES. Together they've had the original, er, 'corporate' operating procedure down pat for thousands of millions of years. No pinhead targeting, just good old-fashioned evolution through natural selection. Nature ALWAYS calls the shots.

But they are, all of them, our cousins. They must be included into the most intimate definition of "family". MORE: we are utterly dependent on them. They are our allies in the task of survival. We ALL TOGETHER used to make the world work, well before the conceits of civilization. Civilization can NEVER aspire to claim dominion over nature, which is a lesson that human civilization has yet to learn. Without our most valuable allies, we are skunked.

It's time EVERYBODY noticed it: The inhabitants of our ecological system, of the environment we share with them, ARE our foundation. Without them, we humans would not exist. We certainly cannot continue to exist without their health and welfare. They are our most crucially valuable allies in the common circumstance of survival. How could we ever forsake them without forsaking ourselves? What do we pretend we are - something "different"? Something "special" exempt from the laws of nature? Do we really know what we are talking about if our "information" comes from any other source than nature, or whenever we so blithelyt deny the science that reveals it with such unprecedented alacrity?

Can we ever achieve a consensus that our human population MUST decline to below a tenth of it's current value within the next century or two before current trend makes it so along a path that is unthinkably catastrophic? Do we have any idea what we are doing? What we are heading for? Are we REALLY any good at fighting idiocies cultivated by belief systems that don't understand anything other than how to convert (=snatch) a person with a pitch that promises a detour around death with a dispicable fear-mongering and cultivation of a selfish obsession in fairy tale hereafter? Who proclaim it is good to make as many babies as one can? Do we have to fight these idiots on top of everything else?

A few years later I had another dream: the moose weren't spronking. They were dazed and perplexed and downhearted at the prospect of inevitable oblivion. The humans couldn't seem to get their act together. And the wealthiest humans were able to laugh all the way to the bank...until the banks closed on them.

Throughout my whole life, I've spent time in woods and forests, both in and outside of parks. I've almost never left a park feeling like I've been drained or that I've missed out on something; usually the opposite. Walking on trails and looking around has inspired me to write, has calmed me down, and has cleared my head. I have found that I enjoyed being there. There was nothing specific that I enjoyed - no object, tree, animal, or smell - just the feeling that comes with the images of my memory, this uplifting, yet deep, feeling. When you think of the wilderness when you are not there, it is easy to leave this out; but when you are there, you remember.

When I joined the Wilderness Society, I became disabled and just knew I would never reach a dream of seeing my Polar Bears or Grissly's as I had seen the Blacks of my youth in New Hampshire. It seemed like the next day, but I'm sure it was longer, the Valdez incident happened, I just thought the World had gone mad and this was some kind of colossal heartbreaking bad joke. After I reolized that was not the case I remembered the last time I had those ominous feelings, those feelings were that day, known as Kent State. It was the ever presence of nightmarish ghouls invading my space again. I knew right then this was so huge and it is everyones responsibility to do whatever is possible for you to put on your plate. It's one of those investments that you may not see immediate returns on, or maybe none in your time, who knows, however, it is one of those duty's that true gentle men involve themselves with.

My family for over 50 years went camping at Big Basin Redwoods every year. I grew up going there every summer & I loved it. Those tall, towering trees were magnificent to me. Now that my children are getting older & getting to an age that I can take them to my beloved family camp grounds I hear that they may not still be there. I hear that it may be close to 70% of the state parks that will be closing in CA. If they don't close the Big Basin I love they might be selling off parts of it & other parts might be left in disrepair. I read stories like this all over but here in CA it seems really bad. It is really tragic & gives me little or no hope for my children growing up here.

- Kristina

My parents introduced me to National Parks and State Parks from an early age. Most of our excursions were close to home, enjoying the beauty of our local surroundings. We also traveled across the country to California from Indiana on occasion, stopping for the night at the many park campgrounds along the way. Being able to see the variety of wild areas firsthand that our country has to offer has instilled in me a desire to preserve wilderness all over the world for the next generations.

I have lived on the same piece of nature my entire life. Born in 1970 and moving to this spot on the map just before turning a full year of age , this is home to me. My father , a mason by trade a farmer by tradition , exposed my life to many aspects of nature. With 20 acres to explore as a child , there was never a dull moment. The natural springs at the back of the land was great to visit , to see the tadpoles and the dragonflies the size of saucers , the varieties of flowers and fauna , oh and yes the creepy swamp that took 2 acres to itself. All full of wonder and beauty. Not to mention the most crisp tastin' water you ever sipped. Now today , 39 years later I can still look out accross the fields and see the same tree lines bordering the antique property lines. Some of this land having lasted through 6 generations. Although through time some of the scenery has changed. I have seen the wild flowers like the Daisy and the Black-Eyed Susan diminish from the landscape. The Honey Bee is almost now non-existant. But I still have hope for this to improve. Each day I wake to chirping birds , soft breezes , and fresh air. This piece of the world I treasure and pray that through the efforts we make it will remain a wonderful slice of heritage and rural bliss for generations to come. Here's to another year of victory for life! Blessings

I don't have anything major to say, except that the wilderness is magical and adds a great deal to one's life, if one stops to look and open up to it's beauty. I have been lucky to have experiences in my young life as a camp counselor, always in the out-of-doors and being able to explore the wilderness as part of my job, gave me an appreciation to all the beauty it holds.

As I grew older, I was able to draw on these memories for strength and calming experiences and whenever I need to, I explore and walk through the wilderness watching for all the beauty it holds.

Long live our wilderness---I will always fight for it's freedom to remain.

One summer day, my two friends and I hiked to the top of the continental divide in the ,Pintlar Wilderness in July. Rising several thousand feet in elevation, we encountered multiple changes in sub ecosystems. When we reached the top and looked out over the western half of Montana, nature rewarded us with a herd of Rocky Montain goats and a severe sudden snow storm to remind us of our humanity. It was one of the best days and at the the same time allowed us to reflect on God's magnificent creation.

Tom

After I realized what I was up against, with single motherhood and eight children I knew if I didn't find some "Me" time to reflect and clear the cobwebs, I wouldn't survive. The wilderness is an essential human healing ground...

I waded through the East Bee Branch Creek in Alabama's Sipsey Wilderness and wrote this poem...

Wading Waters

Wading...
through the middle of a gravelly stream
Cleansing air about me...
in the middle of these forest’s trees
Illuminations, casting semblance
in the middle of enlightened darkness
and now,
the littlest fish are tickling my thighs

Wading...
through the middle of my shingly life...
Washing, as time goes by...
in the middle of my mused reflections
Alight in a water scene, I’m clean!
...in the middle of a gravelly stream
and then,
those little fish just swam away...

ALl Rights ReservedC2009
Kimmy Van Kooten

Watered, alone with nature, washing away all turbulence from my mind...at the end of my hike I sat down under Alabama's largest tree, a tulip poplar, which stands 150'tall and is 21'wide! If she could survive, surely I could too!

Everyone should spend some time in "Wading Waters"

KImmy Van Kooten

About five years ago now, I was in a very painful time in my life.....one where I was contemplating ending it.
It is about September when the choke cherries are on the trees in Northern Ontario, Canada. I had just recently become an amateur photographer and was always on the look-out for wildlife to appear in my backyard or in the little village I lived in. I so desperately wanted to connect with something and was yearning to ignite a passion within myself. I happened to be going by a window inside the house I lived in when I saw her! I saw a beautiful black bear mother with her two cubs following right behind her. I raced through the house and grabbed my camera. While everyone else in the neighborhood was running into their houses for cover, I was running outside to be with them! I knew enough to stay a fair distance away from her and give her plenty of space for her and her two adorable cubs. I also instinctively knew to get down low to the ground so that she did not see me as any threat. I still to this day cannot believe the sense of aliveness that I tapped into. I was completely calm, which was abnormal for that period in my life. I could not get over how at peace I suddenly was. I could've watched her and photographed her and her cubs for hours! I was totally in awe of this fascinating creature who before me, was taking her cubs up a tree and somehow balancing her weight on a thin tree branch to grasp at the choke cherries!
I am now dedicating my life to saving and protecting bears....it just seems like this is what I was meant to do. Afterall, bears have given me so much. They've ignited such a deep passion within me. Now I wish to 'gift' back to them.

I cannot possibly imagine not having wild, unspoiled, wild places to visit, or even to dream about. It is not only the issue of preserving Yosemite, Yellowstone, Sequoia and our other "flagship" National Parks, but also to have wild areas to visit, preserve and enjoy near to every city and town in the U.S.

Keep up your great work!

Marek Zalewski
Nordic Walking US

In May 1975 I was eight months pregnant and stationed in Alaska. One Saturday afternoon I was feeling great and decided to walk a steep trail up a nearby mountain. When I reached the summit lookout, the sun was setting in vermillion tones and colored a lake everyone called Cranberry Lake the deep color of that fruit before my eyes. It was spectacular! To this day I remember the vision of the lake nestled among the bluish mountains with the great orange sun tinting all the clouds just as clearly as if I were seeing it today. My whole appreciation of wilderness was deepened that day and continues to deepen whenever I visit a pristine area.

I was born in 1940 and grew up in New Mexico and even though there were a lot of wilderness areas around, most of them were not yet designated. I am grateful that the first wilderness area in the United State was in New Mexico, the Gila Wilderness and that there are groups working today to expand the wilderness areas. I enjoyed those wide open spaces as a child and now belong to the Great Old Broads for Wilderness because I want them to be preserved for my children and grandchildren.

As resident of the city of Los Angeles, I have noticed that every year we lose a great part of the green areas, due to the fires; which brings consequences such as: the bad quality of the air, less reserved water, wildlife loss, in general less space for people to recreate. As a result, LA city is more like a desert surround by a desolate landscape, with a lot of smoke, air pollution and drought everywhere.

I'm sorry I can't submit a joyous story. I continue to be deeply distressed at the prevention of Drakes Estero (the only potential wild estuary on the west coast south of Alaska) at Point Reyes National Seashore from having its final wilderness designation (it was designated "Potential Wilderness" in 1972, pending inclusion as wilderness in 2012) in 2012 because of Sen Feinstein's earmark to the pending Interior Appropriations budget, to keep an artificial oyster business in place by extending its forty year lease another ten years. The original potential wilderness designation was accompanied by a House report calling for eventually moving the business out, ie, giving the owner enough time to amortize loans, etc. The new owner bought out the business knowing of the 2012 end date but hired a lobbyist and enlisted Sen Feinstein in leading the charge to block final wilderness designation and benefit a private business that pays little in rent and has a significant profit for a luxury food business. The potential for further extensions exist. It is blatant private profit taking and if the extension is approved will undermine the Wilderness Act.