The Poverty Jet Set

Less Roads the Better

I’m a huge fan of Edward Abbey, of course, but particularly his book Desert Solitaire. In it, Abbey vehemently laments new construction of roads into Arches National Park in Utah while he was a Park Ranger. An outspoken advocate of keeping wilderness wild, Abbey hated watching the wilds over run by exhaust- and filth-spewing machines (see quote below).

This is a really shocking map graphic (click image to enlarge) from the U.S. Geological Survey showing how little of America remains truly wild - and roadless. It makes me very, very sad, and I’m sure Abbey is rolling in his grave. I’d tell you to go to the wilds now before they disappear, but I suppose that’d be advocating the very act that destroys wilderness. If you do go, remember to Leave No Trace! And maybe walk or bike there.

Just don’t be one of the “fat pink slobs who go roaring over the landscape in these over-sized over-priced over-advertised mechanical mastodons are people too lazy to walk, too ignorant to saddle a horse, too cheap and clumsy to paddle a canoe.” (Ed Abbey)

Thanks, Adventure Blog for pointing this out.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 18th, 2007 at 3:43 pm and is filed under books, sustainability, travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Frank 09/18/2007 08:18 PM 1 point
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Man, really amazing. I'm not exactly an Into the Wild guy, but I like open spaces. Not much left.

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Curtis Joe Walker 09/19/2007 12:14 AM 1 point
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The anti-car movement is gaining momentum at last. I'm even planning on dumping my car when I move to Chicago and relying on bike foot and public transit to get things done. When I need a car, I'll rent or borrow one.

I think that in many cities, having a car is a luxury, but in the rest of the country it is an unfortunate necessity. Pollution aside, cars are dangerous and expensive. They're also a status symbol.

It's a tricky thing to try and figure out. I try not to judge people for driving their cars, I just try to figure out a way to escape from having to drive my own, you know? As far as cars in national parks.... I think it's important to have good access to things. People who like nature are often old timers that don't get around too well. And families with kids. It's also bad to bring car noises and fumes into nature preserves, but as cars progress they emit fewer and fewer particulates. One park I went to in Croatia had it's own mass transit system, so that people could reach remote areas, but without having any of their own cars in the park. That's a nice compromise, I think.

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magdalenus 09/19/2007 09:55 AM 1 point
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Yeah, it's damn near impossible not to have a car, but kudos for tryin' Curtis. It'll be a lot easier in Chi-town, for sure.

As for National Parks... have you been to Zion yet? With their no-car policy and awesome bus service into the canyon? Awesome.

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taylor 09/20/2007 05:45 PM 1 point
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This just came in on Cool Tools today...
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001903.php
I thought of you and your adventurous spirit. Vacation time coming up? No roads!

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http://macandcheesereview.blogspot.com

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