The organizers of the “Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act”, which was held at the Fairgrounds on Saturday, Sept. 20,  deserve great praise and thanks from those of us who were privileged to attend.  It was a wonderful chance to get a fresh look at the roles which many private and government entities play in the ongoing effort to protect and expand Wilderness in our area.

The highlight of the event was the keynote address by Stewart Brandborg, who worked alongside Howard Zahniser for eight years to pass the Wilderness Act in 1964.  He outlined the process that was followed to enact the bill, and challenged us to remain diligent in our efforts to continue the challenge to protect those remaining roadless areas that qualify for Wilderness designation.  It was truly inspiring to listen to Mr. Brandborg, and sense the “fire in the stomach” that he has for the importance of having Wilderness as a part of our natural environment.  I especially appreciated his emphasis on the fact that there is little room for compromise when it comes to the allowable uses in the Wilderness.  If we are to effectively preserve and expand Wilderness, those of us who have strong feelings about this issue must find ways to inspire our agency land managers to recognize the unique attributes of Wilderness, and encourage them to do whatever they must do to protect and enhance those characteristics.

In preparation for the “Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act”, a vigorous effort must be made to create a ground swell of knowledgeable individuals who recognize the critical importance of Wilderness to our human wellbeing, as well as to our state and national economy.

Edd Blackler, Bigfork