From time to time, someone who knows how much I love the Adirondack Mountains will ask me if I’ve been hiking lately. The regrettable answer has been “no,” though I hope to return to the wilderness before the summer gets completely away.
One reason I haven’t been to the mountains as often is because it’s been hard to find the time. But there’s another reason as well. In the last few years, the number of people traveling there from all over the country has rocketed to a level that is causing unprecedented stress to the landscape, and I don’t want to be part of the problem. The Adirondacks, and particularly the High Peaks Region, have fallen victim to social media. As hikers instantly post to the Internet pictures of themselves on the various peaks, people who’ve never heard of the Adirondacks suddenly become interested in replicating the experience for themselves.
Trail workers are finding it impossible to keep up with the increased erosion caused by overuse. The fragile vegetation in the alpine region that has been painstakingly brought back to health is now threatened on a daily basis by the carelessness of people who know nothing of the trail etiquette that has been instilled in more experienced hikers. In addition, rescue workers are spending more time and risking greater danger extracting people who have fallen, lost their way, dressed inappropriately, or failed to bring enough food and water. The Adirondacks are being loved to death. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say that they are being overrun by people who don’t love them, but regard them as just another consumable product providing adventure and entertainment.
The Department of Environmental Conservation and the Adirondack Club have been working overtime to mitigate the harmful effects of thousands of inexperienced hikers trampling through these protected woods. Legions of volunteers are offering orientations to first-time hikers, though their effectiveness depends on a willingness of newcomers to take the time to learn. One popular trail has been rerouted and nearly doubled in length in order to discourage overuse. Hikers are being encouraged to explore some of the wonderful trails outside the High Peaks region in this huge park. There’s even serious consideration of limiting access to the High Peaks by issuing licenses that would permit only limited use.
What’s happening in the Adirondacks is an illustration of the commoditization of life that is happening everywhere. This trend has been made infinitely worse by the explosion of social media, where nature, news, politics, and even personal relationships are being emptied of any higher – let alone sacred – sense of purpose. Even religion gets commoditized. Too many churches have allowed themselves to become dispensers of services or sources of entertainment rather than transformative communities.
That’s why it is so important that, as a congregation of Christ’s followers, we never forget that our primary purpose is to welcome, learn about, experience, and bear witness to the presence of God. We are inthis consumerist world, but we are not ofit (John 17:15-19). Surely, in this time, an important aspect of our mission is to nurture an awareness of the sacred as we gather in the name of Christ.
As you travel to different landscapes this summer, I encourage you to regard them, not as commodities designed for your consumption, but as part of God’s sacred gift of life. Give thanks and tread lightly!
©2018 by J. Mark Lawson
Well said. I share your sadness regarding this trend!!!
Posted by: Larry Boyer | 07/20/2018 at 04:33 PM