Let’s ride in the paths of a few prominent
naturalists who led the way in protecting many of the public lands we enjoy today. In a time when equestrian-friendly trails are sometimes
in jeopardy, it’s refreshing to learn about some of the notable fi gures whose work established
the ideas behind many of the land conservation ideas and practices that help preserve our access to the trails and areas we hold so dear.
A NATURALIST’S VIEW OF THE WILDERNESS IN PWISCONSIN BY ROBERT EVERSOLE W E
e’ll start in Wisconsin, where the noted author, forester and scientist Aldo Leopold made his home. Chances are if you’re a trail rider, you’ll fi nd meaning in Leo- pold’s quote, “There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot.” Chances are you’ll place yourself in the camp of those of us who cannot live without the wild things and areas we love to explore. Many of the modern advances in wilderness conser- vation can be attributed to Leopold with his emphasis on biodiversity in the landscape.
A testament to Aldo’s profound impact in creating and conserving wild areas is Wisconsin’s Aldo Leopold Legacy Trail system, which is a system of 42 state trails stretch-
ing for over 1,700 miles across Wisconsin. T e trail system is heavily composed of former railroad beds, and where a century ago train whistles blared, the soſt sound of hoof beats has returned. During spring, summer and fall, these rails-to-trails areas
86 | June 2013 •
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