Since the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964, Congress has designated 41 wilderness areas in Colorado, totaling some 3.4 million acres ranging from desert sagebrush to alpine crags. In addition, other undeveloped areas and national parklands have been proposed for wilderness status. In its newly revised second edition, The Complete Guide to Colorado's Wilderness Areas continues to serve as the foremost guide to these magnificent wild places.
Arizona is known for its exceptional variety of topography and ecosystems. From stands of saguaro cacti and plunging canyons to high alpine forests, many are fragile areas in need of protection. All told, Arizona has some 92 wilderness areas, and author Tom Dollar provides informative descriptions for backcountry travelers wishing to explore those 65 areas accessible to the public. (Many areas are so remote they are virtually inaccessible.) This guidebook includes suggestions for hikers, along with insights into the unique natural history of such areas as Paria Canyon, Mazatzal, Organ Pipe, and Kachina Peaks wildernesses. Outdoor photographer Jerry Sieve's dramatic photographs illustrate each of the areas described.
This comprehensive guide to New Mexico's wild lands includes not only such well-known areas as the Gila and Pecos wildernesses, but also lesser-known regions such as Latir Peaks, Apache Kid, and Bisti De-na-zin wildernesses. It also provides an inventory of the state's more than 50 "wilderness study areas" -- the wilderness areas of the future. With text by New Mexico author Bob Julyan and illustrated with pictures by Tom Till, one of the Southwest's finest outdoor photographers, the book provides a richly colored portrait of New Mexico's wilderness heritage, including suggestions for hikers and insights into each area's unique natural and human history.
From the towering volcanic peaks of the Three Sisters Wilderness to the Wild and Scenic Snake River winding through Hells Canyon, from the Timberline Trail around Mount Hood to the gorges of Steens Mountain, this detailed guide takes you to outdoor adventures in both the famous and lesser-known of Oregon's Wilderness Areas. Learn about the natural, human, and geological history of these protected lands; climate; flora and fauna; and ongoing preservation efforts. Whether day-hiking or backpacking, cross-country skiing or boating, this book will help you to explore the variety of activities and natural treasures within Oregon's 40 designated Wilderness Areas. Also included are full descriptions of Oregon Cascades Recreation Area and Crater Lake National Park, not official Wilderness Areas but still major Cascade wildlands. In Oregon's Wilderness Areas: The Complete Guide, ecologist, writer, and photographer George Wuerthner brings the state's diverse wildlands together into one comprehensive, pack-along guidebook. Book jacket.
Drawing boundaries around wilderness areas often serves a double purpose: protection of the land within the boundary and release of the land outside the boundary to resource extraction and other development. In Drawing Lines in the Forest, Kevin R. Marsh discusses the roles played by various groups—the Forest Service, the timber industry, recreationists, and environmentalists—in arriving at these boundaries. He shows that pragmatic, rather than ideological, goals were often paramount, with all sides benefiting. After World War II, representatives of both logging and recreation use sought to draw boundaries that would serve to guarantee access to specific areas of public lands. The logging industry wanted to secure a guaranteed supply of timber, as an era of stewardship of the nation's public forests gave way to an emphasis on rapid extraction of timber resources. This spawned a grassroots preservationist movement that ultimately challenged the managerial power of the Forest Service. The Wilderness Act of 1964 provided an opportunity for groups on all sides to participate openly and effectively in the political process of defining wilderness boundaries. The often contentious debates over the creation of wilderness areas in the Cascade Mountains in Oregon and Washington represent the most significant stages in the national history of wilderness conservation since World War II: Three Sisters, North Cascades and Glacier Peak, Mount Jefferson, Alpine Lakes, French Pete, and the state-wide wilderness acts of 1984.
Continuing the work it began in Hotspots, Conservation International identifies thirty-seven vital wilderness areas around the world, including tropical rainforests, arctic tundra, deserts, and wetlands, using more than five hundred stunning color photographs to illuminate the rich diversity of each region.
This latest volume in The Mountaineers' popular Exploring Wild Areas series takes a look at the year-round recreational opportunities available in the Grand Canyon State. Whether you're a hiker, cross-country skier, climber, paddler, or back-packer, this handy guide will show you the best ways to explore these diverse wilderness areas. With detailed profiles on the state's forests, deserts, canyons, and meadows. Exploring Arizona's Wild Areas includes 84 area and trail maps, information on terrain and elevation, historical background, special tips for "keeping your cool" in warmer temperatures, and more.--Cover
