Wilderness Sign Photo by Richard Elliott
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines wilderness as an “uncultivated and uninhabited region.” So, why would anyone go there? Most people go for recreation or to “get away from it all.” The wilderness has different types of recreational experiences for different types of people. To many people, like myself, the wilderness is a place to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life. Wilderness becomes a type of mecca for those seeking freedom, solitude, natural beauty, quiet and perhaps to have a nearly spiritual experience between man and nature.
This wilderness mecca can be a combination of places for recreational activities. Everyone has their favorite recreational wilderness area or areas, to strengthen their inner spirit or have a refreshing reprieve from work or study.
My solace comes from experiencing the wilderness either in the Sierra Nevadas, the deserts, or simply enjoying a day at the coast. Also, wilderness areas may present historic or cultural sites, such as old abandoned mines or American Indian relics.
The Wilderness Act of 1964 defines wilderness as land “protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions and which generally appear to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the impact of man’s work substantially unnoticed.”
Through the wisdom of others to protect and preserve wilderness, we are fortunate to have our national and state parks, national monuments and preserves, OHV parks, and other areas set aside for hobbies and outdoor sports, such as rock collecting or hunting, water skiing or fishing, dune buggy riding or 4-WD, horseback riding or hiking, and all the other outdoor recreational endeavors that each of us enjoy.
So, give me the wilderness unspoiled, silent, with starry skies, clean water, the rugged and gentle marvels of nature, all of which satisfy my soul and being, with beauty and solitude. Discover your reasons for enjoying the outdoors and wilderness lands in your own special way. Go! Enjoy your wilderness.
The enchanting Sonoran Desert of southwestern Arizona holds a nearly hidden secret–palm trees! Like a pair of protective cradling hands, Palm Canyon holds perhaps the last or only naturally growing palm trees in Arizona, deep in the Kofa Mountains. These trees, California Fan Palms, species Washington filifera, are believed to be descendants of palms having grown [...]
Throughout the Southwest desert and in her majestic, lofty mountains, the orchestra of howls, yips, and yelps are heard in response to the gradually setting or rising sun. This maestro of dawn and dusk conducts the chorus of the coyotes. For some people, the coyote’s songs are warming, nostalgic, and rewarding. Yet, to others not familiar with [...]
