When does the backcountry begin to feel like the front country (pictured here)? In many national forests throughout the West, commercial outfitters have created massive footprints of impact in the backcountry. Now, with increasing recreation use the Forest Service has been accused of inadequately managing the incursion of  users and in some cases failing to stop the building of illegal trails. Critics say the Forest Service has little understanding of how wildlife is being impacted by cumulative effects.  Photo courtesy Deborah Lee Soltesz/U.S. Forest Service Coconino National Forest.
When does the backcountry begin to feel like the front country (pictured here)? In many national forests throughout the West, commercial outfitters have created massive footprints of impact in the backcountry. Now, with increasing recreation use the Forest Service has been accused of inadequately managing the incursion of users and in some cases failing to stop the building of illegal trails. Critics say the Forest Service has little understanding of how wildlife is being impacted by cumulative effects. Photo courtesy Deborah Lee Soltesz/U.S. Forest Service Coconino National Forest.