The wilderness debate is still raging with pro forces pushing for more acreage to preserve as much of nature as possible in its original state. I would tend to agree from an idealistic viewpoint. But from the practical, I have many unanswered questions.
Such areas will not just "sit" there. They will have to be managed and their use regulated. Customers will be from all over the United States and will be from widely varying cultures and degrees of dedication to "nature."I have the following specific questions: Who polices each area and by what size force? How are the rarest of nature's treasures protected? Will there have to be manned stations throughout each area? What transportation system does the police force use? Will users have to be registered so that they can receive copies of pertinent regulations and their welfare can be tracked? How will emergencies be handled, including evacuation of sick and wounded when there are no roads and few trails? Will there have to be a helicopter pool and supporting mobile communications?
What about desecrations that will take place, littering of the trails and campsites, relieving of bodily functions? Is wilderness to be a seasonal thing requiring life-saving services in all types of weather? Who will pay the management force bill?
From these questions I have a conclusion: The larger the area and the more primitive it is, the greater will be the management headaches. As these problems increase with increased usage, the nature of the areas and the management structure required will approach that of our established national and state parks and campgrounds.
Harold O. Johnson
Salt Lake City