I read with amusement John Nelson’s letter regarding wheelchairs in the wilderness, not because of the wheelchair issue, but because of his obvious disdain for fluorescent kayaks (HCN, 1/23/06: Wilderness with horses, not wheelchairs). What will it be next? Objections to the color of one’s tent or polar fleece vest?

Public-land agencies such as the one I work for are strapped more and more each year for funding. Between regular operations, added edicts every year from above, increasing vandalism and so on, there are better ways to spend our meager dollars than patrolling wilderness areas with a color chart to ensure that nobody’s equipment is too bright.

Vicky Maclean
Helena, Montana