Regarding Erik Schultz’s column, “Wheelchairs
and Wilderness Can Co-exist” (HCN, 12/12/05: Wheelchairs and
wilderness can coexist): Erik and Congressman Simpson are to be
congratulated for the progress they have made in opening a
wilderness area to handicapped persons — be it ever so small.
I look from another perspective — that of aging
senior citizens. We have had to forgo the pleasures of backpacking,
exploring, fishing in seldom-disturbed lakes and streams, climbing
crags and snow-capped peaks, etc. Our numbers are growing, and we
have the power to influence the decisions made about public lands.
Many of us do not need wheelchair paths yet, but we could use some
access to those vast and scenic areas, now locked up for a very
small number of able-bodied and willing outdoor lovers.
Our national park system provides good access to much natural and
scenic beauty. On Mount Rainier, one can drive the loop, and there
are numerous trails of varying difficulty. Am I suggesting that
roads be sliced through the wilderness canyons and valleys of parks
like the Olympics? Hardly, though I shall never again see the
beauty of the Olympics’ interior.
Our national
parks are becoming more and more crowded and overused as population
swells. The impact on existing facilities and trails is taking a
heavy toll. More areas must be made available to our
ever-increasing population.
We have pushed up the
priority list of public expenditures to include the cost of making
our buildings accessible. Now, how about the rest of the country?
Donald W. Rea
Albany, Oregon
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Seniors want more wilderness access.
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