[Backpacker Joe]

[oosik]

With the hikes series, there used to be only one book for the whole state as published by the Mountaineers. As such it had the effect equivalent to a "best of" type of guidebook in that it concentrated people on routes specifically mentioned in the guidebook. I think some of the inspiration may well have been derived from the photo books that the Sierra Club were using to aid in the sort of "green advocacy" needed to get some of the wilderness areas and North Cascade Park set aside. Somewhere along the way, the authors and likely the Mountaineers too recognized the concentration power the limited number of hikes mentioned in only one book. They then took the debatable tactic of sub-dividing the region and publishing more books. They since have sub-divided those books even more. The premise is that by listing many places, the hope is that the impact is spread to multiple places with less impact being directed at any one particular place. It may have instead just made it such that everywhere now has people. The Beckey guides have had an impact on use patterns, though probably the most noticeable rate of change results in the first few years after publication. The intersection of mention in the Beckey guide and a few years later the publication of 50 Classic Climbs resulted in the increased use in Boston Basin that produced the camping restrictions we see today. Beckey's guides after all three came out were pretty exhaustive, but you could usually tell when Fred liked a route by the text (often written glowingly when it was a route on which he did the first ascent). The folks that gravitated to particular routes often found out about them by looking for the minute details in the book, but often were reinforced by word-of-mouth or the mentor ethic. Now that trend of trying to spread folks out by completeness is reversed with "Best Of" or "Selected Climbs" books. Those type of books, I think, have a greater impact now since folks use them as a "hit list" to the exclusion of the other routes that the more complete Beckey guides provide.

[#19]

[newdawnfades]

I guess these areas could have been overused but at least been infused with some semblance of protection OR they could have never been exposed and eventually logged because no one knew about them nor cared enough to offer them any protection. Backpacker I truly don't get your logic.

[Backpacker Joe]

[newdawnfades]

Well you are obviously looking at it one-sided. People hike in those places because they are beautiful and they obviously have an innate desire to preserve those places, even if their overuse does cause damage. Exposure almost always leads to protective measures. Not the case with areas run down by loggers or developers who can swoop into an area and do what they will because there was absolutely NO exposure and ensuing protection. I hope you get that.

[Backpacker Joe]

Yes fine but once those protective measures have taken place (wilderness areas designated decades ago) the books have zero positive effect on that environment. In fact they then lead and contribute to its demise!!! I hope you get that. Oh, and stop flipping me off already!

[Guiran]

What makes Wilderness designations set in stone?

[Malachai Constant]

I have never seen an area "destroyed" by overexposure.Social trails, fire rings, bare camps sites, yes but not destroyed. If an area is logged or strip mined however, it is destroyed. Yes I know the trees will grow back but I do not have 100 years to spend slashing though new growth.

[Backpacker Joe]

Ok maybe that was extreme, but the point still stands. The books are not a positive thing in the life of Washington State high lakes.

[Mike Collins]

Fred's brother, Helmy, enjoyed singing and relocated to Germany a number of years ago for professional opera singing. Fred's mother also was an operatic singer.

[polarbear]

Places will be discoverd, guide books will be written, people will seek adventure, that's just the way people are. After the first explorers (or second or whatever number they were) found America, they came back with.... ...maps! And more people followed, and better maps were made, and then more and them...pretty soon people were living in Seattle, and then...people started exploring local mountains....and then...guide books were written. I'm must glad the guide books were written by the Springs and Harvey and Fred Beckey, because they did a good job and they never said any thing like "10 feet from the bank of Lake Rabble is a minor depression in Earth, a perfect place for leaving your garbage behind and lighten your pack for the return trip." Read the front sections of all the guide books. There is a plethora of tips on minimizing your impact. By doing things right and promoting a good example, a multitude of people can see these places and they can stay relatively pristine. I think the overall impact of the guide books has been positive. More people enjoy the wilderness, they put on great slide shows, they post great photos and trip reports, they eat tasty mountain fish, they get to live on the edge hoping no one will discover their secret place. Everyone benefits.

Map of America, 1562 Map of a Mountain, 2005

[mike]

[#19]

[Tazz]

BPJ just a couple of questions not an attack. Do you own guide books? Do you use them? How did you learn of all these places you love so dearly? Do you only use maps and this forum? How did you learn about preservation from books, family, hunting trips, or all? I know most of the stuff you do is not in guide books but you had to start somewhere. on one hand I see your point (a little). On the other hand it is not the guide books that create these problems. If anything it is the opposite. They all inform you of how to help in preservation while enjoying the places you love so much. I personally think guide books are one of the main resources for educating the public about preservation and care for our beloved mountains.