Who:
John Pacovich
Member
Where:
Washington, DC
I began my morning by waking up early and having some of my favorite coffee while reading a portion of Thoreau's Walden. Having had my morning cup of joe, I pulled out an assortment of trail maps and guidebooks for both Denali NP and ANWR, in Alaska. Plane tickets having been booked, ahead of me lies several months of careful planning and scheduling before I can visit one of the last great wilderness preserves in the world. Although my trip is still a year away, I'm already excited about having the opportunity to experience all the natural beauty and splendor that Alaska has to offer. Two weeks spent hiking the backcountry will not be enough time to experience the Alaskan wilderness and the niche variety of specifies native to the habitat there. Not even an entire month spent there would leave one with the confidence to say "I've seen everything."
Sadly, while planning what will surely be a glorious trip, I ask myself whether the Alaskan wilderness will be there for my children to explore. I see our elected officials making rash decisions in an effort to "save" the American people from higher energy costs yet those same politicians fail to address the true problem at hand. I can only hope that the pristine wilderness of Alaska, a symbol of our national pride, will not be plundered and desecrated as a result of our short-sightedness.
