[Brian Curtis]

[Riverside Laker]

With many thoughtless people spreading the word on the internet about way-cool places, we have a bigger problem now. At least those old guidebook writers checked with managers to help reduce impact in sensitive areas.

[Slugman]

What has hurt the Alpine Lakes is the fact that millions of people live within a one to two hour drive of most starting points. Guidebooks help spread people out if anything, especially now when the "100 hikes" series divides the state into 5 or more books, meaning there are hundreds and hundreds of listed hikes. People are going to hike, and if they don't go to one place, they go somewhere else. How come nobody thinks of themselves going somewhere as impact, only when other people go there? If anybody is so worried about impact, they should stay home themselves, that would be one less person sitting on heather at XYZ lake.

[Brian Curtis]

[Tom]

[#19]

[Jeff R]

All guidebooks have in them certain sections or, different hikes if you will. Now unfortunately, they list some, that are someones "favorites", and there is a reason that they are popular, this is what the majority of people want, and that is to enjoy the outdoors, and what one hopes to exsperience in a hike. Most people will even accept the hoards of other people there as just the price to pay, to see such a great place, even more as time goes on. We (society) has to live with this fact almost everywhere in life, what makes you think that the outdoors is immune to this "problem" as well ? If some one wants to really enjoy the outdoors, lets say go in a long walk, with lots of commitment, to some obscure place, you are still able to, and will be able to, for along time, and that is exactly what you will get out of the trip. And once someone has done as much as Fred Beckey has in the mountains, feel free to comment that his books have lead to the destruction of the wilderness, the ones the Mountaineers have marketed and saturated the public with, if it wasn't his books, it would be someones else's.

[Backpacker Joe]

I was going to write my own book. "50 remote hikes in the Alpine lakes" is what I was going to call it. There are more than enough of those to fill that book. I was going to include color photos and location and hike descriptions. People like Brian Curtis and Borank have helped me see the light. I wouldnt have been doing any good at all to/for the places I love so much. It would have been a financial and personal gratification, and not a love for the outdoors that shown through with a book like that. Im glad that I've been fortunate enough to know these men. They have helped me grow as a person and realize what's really important. Tom

[oosik]

[Malachai Constant]

I hafta agreewith BPJ, as much as I dispise such a move. I was going to publish a CD with maps of secret camps and hidden routes in the North Cascades bsed upon the Routes and Rocks series. I had it all made up with all the primo spots, est'e la vie.

[Jeff R]

I wish it was a perfect world too, where everyone enjoyed the outdoors only obeying the good merits of a few and left no trace, have you?

[Snowbrushy]

Usually a living person is not considered an 'historic person' until after he dies. This is The History Channel, eh? Fred is alive & well - just try to keep him away from your wives and girlfriends ..

[Backpacker Joe]

[wildernessed]

Who should themselves be the gatekeepers ? and having brought this duty to themselves, will they act any other way than history has shown those of high regard and privilege ?

[Alpenstock]

Check out this great photo!