Lost in the wilderness? Too bad, says USFS

Are inane restrictions on the use of technology endangering human lives in the wilderness? Perhaps. The New York Times reported about a month ago about rules governing official “wilderness” areas in the United States.

It mentioned a cross-county skier who died after getting lost. The U.S. Forest Service put up signs, but then failed to replace them when they needed replacement, saying they violated the wilderness designation of the land.

Op-ed contributor Ted Stroll said, “The result may be more pristine lands, but the agency’s zealous enforcement has also heightened safety risks and limited access to America’s wilderness areas.”

Indeed.

There will always be debates over what is and is not compatible with the “wilderness” designation of a piece of land. But to deny something as basic as life-saving signs is anti-human.