This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The recent terrible deaths of three people on Bureau of Land Management wilderness land puts into clear perspective the fatal flaw of federal wilderness designation: the absence of roads and the ban on motorized transportation.
If there had been a road to the Wave, these people would be alive and well today. In addition, many more people, including the handicapped, aged and ill would be able to experience this marvel of nature.
The Apostles of Wilderness resent all of this. Even the placement of directional signs offends them. They can still have a fine "wilderness experience" even in the presence of a few roads and vehicles. A little sharing could hardly cause any harm. It is blatant discrimination to exclude significant protected populations from accessing and experiencing the best of our public lands.
Rainer Huck
Salt Lake City