The Graded Wilderness

Gary Sprung

This page presents an idea that is clearly infeasible in today's politics. It is meant to provoke thought. It builds on an article published in the early 1980s by Roderick Nash, author of "Wilderness and the American Mind." It addresses some current issues of wilderness management such as rescue, grazing, and mountain bike access, and it also puts forth the idea that we could declare some very special and limited areas completely off limits to human beings. To some people, that's REAL wilderness. For others, it expresses the idea that the Earth is not only for people, that the other critters we share this planet with have a claim, too. Whatever it is, it at least does not discriminate among recreation users.

Grades of Wilderness

Class 5: No human entry, ever

Class 4: Foot traffic only; no rescue, no new trails, no grazing

Class 3: Foot only, new trails allowed, rescue allowed, no grazing

Class 2: Foot, horse & bicycle traffic allowed; new trails allowed; grazing allowed

Class 1: Foot, horse & bicycle traffic allowed; new trails ok, grazing ok; some picnic tables, fire pits & outhouses allowed

No motorized vehicles in Wilderness, ever.
No buildings, roads, logging, mining, water projects, ever.

With credit to Roderick Nash, author of "Wilderness & the American Mind", for suggesting the grading idea.