“Every day that I have spent walking in a forest or a meadow; climbing a hill, ridge, or mountain; or sleeping in a tent or under the stars has restored my soul and helped me to arrive at 83 years of age in good health.”

“Wilderness can serve as a place of respite from our life in the constructed landscapes of cities.”

“But what matters most to me about the wilderness experience are the people. Humans are a social species.… Every fireside chat, dry stacked stonewall built, and the conversations and laughter that did the heavy lifting – this is the specialness of wilderness.”

“As an ecologist, I see it as critical to maintain areas that are primarily influenced by nature, not by human disturbance. With the increasing numbers of people who want to see, enjoy, and visit wilderness, we need more and bigger wilderness areas to keep up!”