Wilderness ethics

Guy Waterman died in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in February 2000. This new edition of his and his wife Laura's work, first published as a classic, reappears because readers have renewed their interest in his life, and it includes a fresh tribute to him written by Laura.

The book argues that protecting backcountry land means more than protecting its plants, animals and ecosystems. The Watermans contend that wild places also hold an intangible, easily damaged quality that is central to why people value them. They warn that management aimed at preserving the land can erode that quality, and that too little management lets crowds overwhelm the places they come to enjoy.

The authors examine concrete management questions: trailside huts and lodges, large groups hoping for a wilderness experience, government rules, and technology such as radios, cell phones, GPS units and rescue helicopters. Writing with humor and insight, they also ask readers to consider whether even environmentally minded values can change the wilderness experience, and to think carefully about what exactly they are trying to protect.