To all....I suppose that I have been doing the outdoors to some degree for all of my life...gardening, car camping, birding and botany, remote alpine and desert trips, paddling(all sorts) and the like. The endeavor has taught tons and enriched my life (and I hope the lives around me) in amazing ways-and I hope will do so for the rest of my life. The seagull/alpine escapade was the sixth "remote" evac. that I have been involved with to some degree-This doesn't included the car wrecks, arrests, and the like when I have to be a "city-ot"...I am struck once again with the quote of a canoe guide( check their website as it was recently posted), which worked for Sawbill Canoe Outfitters-I think it went something like this..."expect the unexpected"-been there for years...at least I think I have. No, I am reminded, that this is a hazardous space to be in-experience driven complascentcy -and this last evac. and my stumbling at the end will attest to that fact. So I continually reflect on "the expecting anything" not in the front of my mind...however. It is true that one doesn't need all the fancy dancy "gear" to experience "wilderness"...the dialog on the POD will attest to that...I think. BUt dang it...when the s#$% hits fan and the bacon is on the line( have no doubt it will sooner or later)-there may not be the serendipity in the situation to salvage it-and that is a pickle that bites-not the individual-but their loved ones-been there and done that too. So here I am having pulled multiple routes with just my son and myself-some "remote" with a poorly functioning sat phone and some busy as h#ll without the electronics...let me tell yah ...I am thinking seriously about a spot locator and going back to the remote loops after reading an article in the last BW/J and our Knife lake adventure. Ergo the inquiry regarding wilderness...Lord knows I dont want to shut the door for my son as it has given me so much...follow. The thing that I am confronted with is my definition of wilderness and how that is completed for me via independence on one facet; one of many..."If you make a mistake out here U own it". So ergo the querry regarding "wilderness"-as I know that I can learn something from all of you ;D

SO here it is again...."What is wilderness to you?"

NOw on the recent dialog in regard to Outfitters and their roll. Well, if I were one which I am not-have guided however. "You can lead a horse to water but you cant make them drink" The outfitters are the outfitters that's it....one layer in the nebulous system... but the final responsibility falls where it would on trail on the group or  finally on the individual...and I will leave it at that for myself ;) Heck this is a whole nother situation when one considers the Forest Service and there roll. Not trying to make waves here...folks doing evacs. should have more than basic first aide for so many reasons-I am glad they have basic first aide...but I would from my humble experiences say that that is basic and not best...and I am thinking about not only the patrons of the park-dysfunctional and functional-but also the workers and their future health. Maybe another step would be to convey the whole concept of "remoteness" and the like during the permitting process, maybe trough stories even....Lord knows rules and regulations occur in grosses these days as do nosy over baring self-riteous people that don't have a clue!-so I am mindful...of that. But wilderness is not evacs. for me, but " half baked catastrophy" nor is half burnt tin foil or 100's of yards of discarded mono....that's just me and who am I to attempt to get U imbibe my pond water. ;) Take what you want and leave the rest!  And for posterity I know my spelling sucks! :)