We are fortunate to have two congressionally designated wilderness areas in Summit County. Part of the Eagles Nest Wilderness extends into adjacent Eagle County, which also hosts the spectacular Holy Cross Wilderness and a portion of the Flat Tops Wilderness. Many popular trailheads into wilderness areas are only minutes from our homes and less than a two-hour drive from the 5 million people living in the Front Range – not to mention the 2 million tourists who visit Summit County annually.  

Easy access has its downsides. In Part 1 of this series, we addressed a major threat to wilderness areas — climate change. In Part 2 we will explore increasing population and the results of cumulative impact.

The National Wilderness Preservation System was created in 1964 “in order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas within the United States and its possessions, leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition … to secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness.”

In 1964, Summit County’s population was under 2,500. It is now over 25,000, a tenfold increase. In 1964, Eagle County’s population was about 5,500; it’s now over 55,000. Little wonder our wilderness areas sometimes feel crowded and wildlife seems more scarce.

Ecologists talk about the carrying capacity of an ecosystem. When talking about wilderness areas this can mean the amount of human use that can occur without degrading the area’s wilderness experience or fragile ecosystems. A few people walking through a meadow of wildflowers may not significantly disturb it, but what about a myriad, many with dogs?

How can we protect our wilderness areas while still enjoying them? It often comes down to being aware of, and taking personal responsibility for, the cumulative impact of our individual actions. With more visits, it means that we must each decrease our individual impact in order to preserve the area’s beauty and wilderness character. Individual actions may not seem harmful, but they are when added to everyone else’s.  

The U.S. Forest Service is responsible for managing our local wilderness areas.  They have the impossible job of dealing with ever-increasing usage while trying to preserve the wilderness areas we love and that serve as essential habitat for wildlife and plants. The Forest Service has suffered for decades from underfunding and the ever-increasing time and money required to combat wildfires.

The Forest Service enforces regulations for wilderness users not to be evil overlords, but to protect wilderness areas in the face of increasing use. These rules include prohibiting camping within 100 feet of lakes, streams or trails in order to preserve pristine, fragile shorelines and water quality.  Campfires are prohibited within 100 feet of streams and trails, and within one-quarter mile of lakes and treeline, because campfires intimidate wildlife seeking water, leave blackened scars and denude fragile high-altitude trees.

Equally important, dogs must be on a handheld leash (no radio collars) not to exceed six feet in length. Off-leash dogs intimidate wildlife and some people, and feces can sicken wildlife and pollute lakes and streams.

A roaring campfire, free-roaming dogs and off-trail travel might have been the norm 50 years ago. There are too many of us now, and we understand our impacts. Sadly, some of the worst offenders are locals who treat our wilderness area like their own private parks — and often their own private dog park.

So, tread lightly. Familiarize yourself with the federal regulations clearly posted at trailheads — they’re designed to preserve our amazing wilderness areas.

“Get Wild” publishes weekly in the Summit Daily News. Mike Browning is a volunteer wilderness ranger for the U.S. Forest Service and the Eagle Summit Wilderness Alliance.