Video
The Zion Wilderness
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Transcript
Hello. I’m Melanie, an interpretive ranger here in the awe inspiring Wilderness of Zion National Park. Wilderness areas are places where humility and respect play a role in both individual and management activities. Visitors may hike, fish, camp, watch wildlife, or photograph in Zion’s wilderness. Most visitors will probably never enter it, yet we may all enjoy wilderness as a scenic backdrop to Zion Canyon. There are four qualities of wilderness character that we not only expect to notice while visiting Wilderness but are also legally mandated in managing it. The 1964 Wilderness Act continues to be our guiding legislation. First, wilderness is untrammeled. Simply put, untrammeled means "free of constraint" or "unhindered." Wilderness are places where a conscious decision has been made to let nature prevail. Wilderness is also natural. Natural processes are the primary forces acting upon the land, and the developments of modern technological society are substantially unnoticeable. Open space, watersheds, natural soundscapes, diverse ecosystems, our night skies, and biodiversity are protected resources. Third, wilderness is undeveloped. There are no roads out here! Motorized equipment, motor vehicles, mechanical transport, and permanent structures are also prohibited. Finally, Wilderness is solitude. In Wilderness one finds a greater sense of connection to the natural surroundings, evoking a sense of humility, a sense of being part of a larger community of life. Visiting Zion’s Wilderness requires increased preparation and self-reliance. Even with awareness, respect, and the best of intentions, we must still learn and vigilantly practice outdoor ethics in order to leave no trace. Your visit will be safer and cause fewer adverse impacts if you practice the following principles: Plan ahead and prepare Dispose of waste properly Leave what you find Respect wildlife by observing quietly from a distance. Never feed wildlife. Be considerate of others. Wilderness provides a sense of wildness, which can be valuable to people whether or not those individuals actually visit wilderness areas. Just knowing that wilderness exists here in Zion National Park can produce a sense of curiosity, inspiration, renewal, and hope.
Description
Discover the Zion Wilderness with Ranger Melanie, and find out what makes wilderness areas so special.
Duration
3 minutes, 12 seconds
Credit
NPS
Date Created
08/28/2014
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