ALPINE LAKES WILDERNESS CLE ELUM RANGER DISTRICT What is Wilderness?

What is Wilderness? Wilderness Regulations Permit Information Special Considerations Alternatives Maps Links Selected Readings Volunteer Opportunities Photos Contact Us Cle Elum Ranger District Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests 803 West 2nd Cle Elum, WA 98922 (509) 852-1100

The drive for Wilderness culminated on September 3, 1964, when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Wilderness Act (small-27kb Acrobat file), enacted by Congress "to secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefit of an enduring resource of wilderness." Wilderness provides: Protection of critical watersheds Naturally functioning ecosystems A place to experience adventure, excitement, and challenge An escape from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives A remnant of our cultural history Clean air and undisturbed views The Alpine Lakes Wilderness straddles the rugged Central Cascade mountains. The Alpine Lakes Wilderness was added to the National Wilderness Preservation System in 1976 through the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Act. It encompasses approximately 390,000 acres accessed by 47 trailheads and 615 miles of trail. 4 Ranger Districts administer the land on two National Forests: the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest East of the Cascade Crest, and the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest to the West. The very qualities that make the Alpine Lakes Wilderness a national treasure are jeopardized by its popularity.The Wilderness Act mandates that Wilderness areas be "administered for the use and enjoyment of the American people in such a manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness." Due to the character of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and its proximity to Seattle, it is difficult to manage under the guidelines of the 1964 Wilderness Act. Compliance with management standards is a constant challenge. Increasing demands on the area have caused physical, biological and social impacts on the resource. Many management actions to minimize the impacts of heavy use have been taken. These include, but are not limited to: Education and Information (inside and outside Wilderness) Clearing trails Revegetation and Restoration Regulations Wilderness Ranger Contacts The management actions have had a positive effect on the resource. Despite the successes many areas are taxed by the sheer numbers of people.

Wenatchee National Forest website