It is the Sierra Club's
aim to keep as many Wild Areas as possible from being logged, (Why?)
and ultimately to put a substantial number of them into permanent Wilderness
or other permanent protected status. The areas that can be clustered
via connectors with other nearby Wild Areas are particularly valuable because
potential wildlife and plant diversity increase with overall area size.
The Sierra Club hopes that you or your Group will be able to become familiar
with some of the Wild Areas.
To achieve protection
we need to know which areas are really worth fighting for. You and
your Group can help us inventory the assets of these Wild Areas.
You now have the opportunity to do some really great exploratory outings
while doing some real good.
A collection of
web pages has been assembled to provide information in depth on each of
the Wild and Roadless Areas in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests
in Western North Carolina. In total, it is more information than
anyone would want at one time, but the intent has been to arrange the data
in such a way that an interested person can go to a particular Wild Area
web page for information on location, a general map, and general information.
There are then, or will be, links to addtional pages with more detailed
information, like pictures or trail data. The goal is to make the
Roadless Area web pages a complete source of information, to be used as
a reference database, but arranged so the seeker only has to go as deep
as desired. To go directly to a Wild Area: Go to Wild
Areas List and then click on the Area desired.
You will find the
topographic maps issued by the USFS (and sold at ranger stations) more
useful than the USGS topos normally sold in stores. The USFS topos
are based on the USGS topos but show the national forest property lines,
roads and trails, usually updated to 1986. (The USGS maps often are 30
years out of date.) In some instances there are good trail maps put
out by the Forest Service or others.
Here are the kinds of data people
visiting each area should try to gather, in so far as they are able:
1. History of past use.
Evidence of railroad grades, old logging roads, mines, habitations, burns.
2. Present condition:
Diameter of trees (larger than 2 ft in diameter), diversity of plants,
any rare, or endangered species, extent of recovery
from past use.
3. Appearance:
Absence of works of man. Does it appear natural and undisturbed?
Erosion or landslide problems from roads?
4. Opportunity for solitude:
Noise from highways? Views of towns and roads?
5. Trails:
Degree of use and condition, Potential for future trails, camping
spots?
6. Physical features:
Peaks, cliffs, meadows, springs, waterfalls, trout streams, swimming holes,
general ruggedness, rock hound sites, vistas, etc., all the reasons visitors
would love the area.
7. Potential for logging:
Steepness, quality and size of trees, ease or difficulty of logging.
8. Access:
Closeness to all-weather roads, Applachian Trail, Mountains to the Sea,
Bartram, other major trails.
9. Animal and plant life:
Species, diversity, rare plants, birds, salamanders, etc.?
10. Visual impression:
Beauty. If the place is inspiring, give details of why that is so.
11. Your general rating:
Would you lie down in front of a bulldozer to save it?
a small dozer?
The best kind of trip report is one that keys your observations to
locations on a topographic map where you were when you made them.
A recording of the time when you make each observation helps identify where
you are on the map afterward, and this chronological record makes a good
trip report. But do the best you can. All information is welcome,
and we will need a large constituency for these areas if we are to be able
to protect them. The next major Forest Plan revision, when wilderness
must be reconsidered, is uncertain, but not before 2003.
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Cedar Mt, NC, 28718 |