As volunteer caretakers, my wife and I have lived in the middle of wilderness areas around the world. Despite being a board member of the Adirondack Wilderness Advocates, a group dedicated to saving and promoting wild areas, I may be accused of hypocrisy. But I think not.
In each case, we were tasked with protecting the wilderness and wildlife. We lived on Protection Island off the coast of Washington State for 5 months. Protection is a bird sanctuary for eagles, auklets, puffins, and many other birds as well as harbor and elephant seals. Our main task—aside from cleaning massive amounts of bird poop off the dock every day—was to keep boats 300 yards offshore.
On Deal Island, located in the Bass Straight between mainland Australia and Tasmania, we were stewards of the 3,900 acre historic lighthouse district for Tasmania Parks and Wildlife. We greeted mostly sailboat visitors, supported invasive plant eradication, maintained trails, and protected the historic buildings. We were privileged to spend 3 months on 3 occasions. As on Protection Island, we were the only full-time residents with these wilderness areas.
Our most recent wilderness living experience was at McGraw Ranch, a center for summer science researchers, within Rocky Mountain National Park. The Ranch was purchased by the Park 35 years ago. Like some great camps in the Adirondacks, it was almost torn down to conform to wilderness requirements but was eventually preserved and became a historic landmark. As winter caretakers, we were the only residents living in the middle of pristine wilderness with beautiful, if lightly used, trails right out the door, amid signs of bobcat, mountain lion, mule deer, and elk.
We have learned to appreciate the delicate balance between pristine wilderness, history, and preservation.
Written by Board Director Tim Mount.
