[Tom]

Agree it's best to spread the impact around rather than concentrate hikers and backpackers. Places like TML are not the best candidates because they can't really handle the impact. How to spread the impact? Comes down to common sense. Not sure what the author (or individual that provided the image) were thinking. I would say the bar is much higher for posting in Backpacker Magazine. TRs here do have impact. I've always left it up to everyone's discretion. We've had this discussion many times. I go back to Carl Skoog's words of wisdom. I think he summed it up nicely: https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=131670#131670

[olderthanIusedtobe]

[kevperro]

The "good ole days" are over. The reality is that what we have known as wilderness will not ever be the same. There are increasing numbers of people wanting to experience the same things we want to experience.

[RumiDude]

[Ski]

Newer cellular phones record the GPS coordinates of the location a photo was taken, which can be easily found by right-clicking on an image and selecting "properties". The information is in the photo. the person posting on "Instagram" doesn't necessarily need to provide maps or post GPS coordinates. I have to wonder if people are even aware of this.

[Brushwork]

[Tom]

Those with a large following are unlikely to be shooting with a phone camera, and even if their cameras have a GPS I seriously doubt they would be naive enough to post EXIF info with the GPS coordinates to the extent they otherwise choose not to reveal location. They are likely to be highly skilled in post processing, know what EXIF data is, and what it contains.

[Waterman]

I first visited TMLs back in the early 80s. Tales of big fish was the draw. Went back last year for a 2nd visit. No one else was there. Very defined trail now. A few more fire rings not much trash, micro or otherwise. Most of what I have visited over the last 50 years I found by reading published material. Manning was the main source, it took awhile to discover Fred. He opened a whole another world once you learned to double his times and open your eyes. Its not hard to find solitude if your willing to sweat for it. People are finding these same places through new mediums. The question becomes how do you manage a rapid increase in public interest. Perhaps the solution would be to harden tent sites, ala what you see at cutthroat lakes up on Mallardy ridge. Land agency's would have to react quickly to impose day and overnight permits on areas that have caught the publics attention. Harden tent sites, patrol with volunteer groups. Problem is USFS or DNR or whoever are unable to react quickly. How do we go about enabling various land agency's to react quickly without alienating the public? Its not hard to get a mob reaction when the issue is government overreach.

[MtnGoat]

[moonspots]

[DIYSteve]

[MtnGoat]

MFK. Sigh.

[Malachai Constant]

[DIYSteve]

Yeah, closing the MFK Road past Dingford was a real loss. It provided access to numerous 2- or 3- day trips to cool off-trail spots with solitude. (The lousy condition of the road kept out the crowds.) Getting to those spots now requires and extra day or two. Personally, it's not a big deal because I'm semi-retired with time. But it's a shame access to the upper Middle Fork is now impracticable to families with younger kids. In a thread a few years ago, I opined that if the upper Middle Fork valley and high ground on either side were in all but a handful of states, it'd be a national park.

[RumiDude]