- About Us About the Society
- Science Exploring Wilderness Management
- Scientific Perspectives
- A Journey Into the Gros Ventre
- A Retrospective of the Olympic Wilderness and Wilderness Management, Part I
- A Retrospective of the Olympic Wilderness and Wilderness Management, Part II
- At the Intersection of Wilderness, Fire and Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities in Wilderness Stewardship
- Breathe, Water. Breathe, Switchback. Breathe, Peak.
- Chair Dave Campbell on Wilderness Fire Science
- Christina Mills, Yellowstone Outdoor Recreation Planner
- Climate Change and Wilderness Areas
- Edward Abbey: Wilderness Firebrand
- Emerging Technologies in Wilderness DISCUSSION
- Howard Zahniser: Putting Ideas to Work
- Human Influence and Intervention
- Moose, Newts, Apple Trees and History
- Mountains Without Handrails: Wilderness Without Bikes
- Question: Everything
- SWS Board Member On the Public Lands Debate
- Solitude and Visitor Use
- Technology
- Tribute to Wilderness Leader Bob Lucas
- Value of the Land
- Wilderness Character: A Concept
- Wilderness in Fossil Ridge
- Wilderness Fellow Program
- Scientific Perspectives
- Stewardship Preparing and Convening the Stewards
- Education Teaching Wilderness Stewardship
- Membership Become A Member
Solitude and Visitor Use
The Wilderness Act’s provision for providing “outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined experience” requires that management maintain this aspect of wilderness character, an increasingly complex directive given a growing population, fixed land base, shifting visitor expectations, and variable definitions of solitude and satisfaction.
When agreeing to this phrase, was Congress indicating that 'solitude', 'primitive' and 'unconfined' were separate dimensions? Or were they suggesting that providing one of the three was satisfactory? Or were they using 'primitive' and 'unconfined' to describe necessary aspects of an experience of solitude?
Click here to read a policy analysis paper by Steve McCool on this question which is fundamental to wilderness stewardship, the character of wilderness, and to the ability of the federal agencies to provide opportunities for consistent and defined visitor experiences.