Shhh, what’s that beneath the high-tech hum? It’s a refreshing low-tech movement taking place across Colorado and spilling into surrounding states like Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico and Utah.

This is the Quiet Use movement. Some might consider it “cutting-edge,” others might call it “X-treme,” but in the end it’s just good old-fashioned human-powered recreation.

The goal: to preserve the ability to go hiking, fishing, wildlife watching, snowshoeing, bicycling or even just picnicking without the ever present sounds and smells of revving motors. What a wild concept.

---

---

Although the preferred forms of recreation continue to be quiet, meaning nonmotorized, the folks involved are not keeping quiet about this movement any longer.

They are trying to retain the places in our public lands like national parks and national forests where one can still go to get away from our high-tech society for a few hours or days and listen to the sounds of nature.

---

---

They are not against technology; rather they find that most folks just want places to go to have a break from it all, to have balance in life.

Unfortunately, these places are disappearing at an alarming rate as our wireless, and motorized society continues to consume all elements of our lives.

But there is still time to retain these quiet places. Just seek out the low-tech Quiet Use Movement on the high-tech Internet. See, everything in balance.

Aaron Clark

Southern Rockies Conservation Alliance

Superior