wfinley Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 A friend recently sent me this article written by a Denali Park Ranger. Basically the premise is that trip reports and Google maps may lead to overuse and impact in pristine areas. Full article below. Thoughts? GPS and the Internet Possible Effects on the Protection of Remote Areas and Wilderness Values Abstract: Humans have been sharing information about their travels through wildlands since the time that we could tell a story around a fire. For thousands of years we have passed on directions and destinations in this way, person to person, generation to generation. It is only relatively recently in our history as a species that we have begun to transfer this type of information in a more impersonal way by writing it down or making maps. The use of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and the Internet is changing how we as visitors communicate about and interact with wilderness. http://www.wilderness.net/library/documents/IJWDec07_Van%20Horn.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 the GPS and the internet are tools of the devil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 humans are a virus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashw_justin Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I gather that the point (if any) that the author wanted to make is that sharing precise backcountry route data is more likely to lead to the establishment of new, unsanctioned trails and camps, because everyone will take the same path. Unfortunately for his argument, humans have been following each others routes in the wilderness since the dawn of history (and before). The only difference is they used to use flagging, saws, axes, machetes, shovels, and pack animals to mark the trail. Luckily for the wilderness, that's not necessary anymore. Dude is just looking for a modern excuse to restrict backcountry travel, period (whether or not he even realizes it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineK Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Language is a virus 8bhldlJ0Aus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Conway Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 The authors fear of widespread wilderness travel is directly at odds with current usage statistics. Impact is being concentrated on a few choice areas/routes and usage of other areas is decreasing. This can be seen in the N. Cascades, the Himalaya (climbs of peaks <8000m are down, peaks >8000m are up), pretty much anywhere on the planet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 hopefully no one will find my secret crag Lat, Lon (wgs84) 47.44590, -121.45450 N47°26'45" W121°27'16" Lat, Lon (nad27) 47.4461, -121.4533 N47°26'46" W121°27'12" UTM (wgs84) 10 616515E 5255875N Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canyondweller Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 hopefully no one will find my secret crag Lat, Lon (wgs84) 47.44590, -121.45450 N47°26'45" W121°27'16" Lat, Lon (nad27) 47.4461, -121.4533 N47°26'46" W121°27'12" UTM (wgs84) 10 616515E 5255875N This is in Renton, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjd Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 http://wayhoo.com/index/a/wlist/state/WA/county/King/ftype/pillar/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobo Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Language is a virus 8bhldlJ0Aus Home of the Brave... I love that album Talk Normal :tup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineK Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Yeah I saw Laurie Anderson at the Paramount back a long time ago. She had Adrian Belew playing guitar and on one song wearing a sombrero that was about 10' in diameter. That was a good show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billcoe Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Dude is just looking for a modern excuse to restrict backcountry travel, period (whether or not he even realizes it). Bingo, it's all about controlling you, the user, and ensuring that they have these bullshit make work government jobs in the future. We should simply sidestep all this bullshit by firing them now and encouraging them to get real jobs and do real, (as opposed to government make work)work. Thats my thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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