Wilderness
for pleasure and recreation found its stronghold in the American
public through the creation of National Parks, monuments, wildlife
refuges and state and muncipal parks designated for protection by
activists of the early 20th century. In just a few decades-about the
fifties, Americans began to turn towards the wilderness for leisure
pursuits; a phenomena that had it's roots in the social and political
trends of the time. These trends arose from developments of new
technology, the rise of a prosperous and educated middle class and
the birth of the outdoor recreation industry.
In wilderness today, Americans
find an escape from the daily grind of work, polluted cities,
gridlock and and spend some time with their families or alone in an
attempt to rekindle their spirit of adventure. The rise of technology
in the 20th century has left many feeling swept up in a never ending
race to the future; in nature Americans find stability, peace and
timelessness. Many also turn to wilderness to test their strength of
character, endurance or physical ability. Companies such as Outward
Bound and Nols (National Outdoor Leadership School) encourage young
people to develop life skills and a sense of self-worth through
challenging courses in wilderness survival. Mountaineering clubs
abound all over the United States for adults who feel the need to
challenge themselves as well. Modern society reflects a need not only
for the wonder and beauty wilderness accords but the challenges that
it provides on a very individual level. Anyone who has ever headed
out to conquer a peak or hike farther than they've ever hiked before
knows the physical and mental gifts that come with outdoor
recreation. That is why we are willing to devote our savings to new
gear, our weekends to driving to the trailhead and our spiritual
selves to the cult of wilderness. Life takes on new meaning when you
find yourself on top of a mountain watching the sun set or cooking
dinner in the pre-dawn frigid air. It is a means to live in the
spirit of simplicity for a day or two, a catalyst for thought and
reflection and a landscape of inspiration.
