Back Country Horsemen Guidebook

2. Foreword

The lure of the back country is an intangible quality, generated perhaps by the pressures of our modem society. This lure affects us regardless of age or ability. Many of us have cherished the beauty and solitude of the mountains for years, while others have never had the opportunity to enjoy them. It is our fervent hope that this guidebook will provide the basic foundation for an inexperienced person to acquire the knowledge necessary for an enjoyable trip, and to instill an awareness of our responsibility to our environment. For those experienced, it is never too late to teach an old hand new techniques.

The back country is one of the few remaining sanctuaries for modern man. Away from everyday tensions a person can make an objective evaluation of oneself or a situation and gain a firmer sense of true values, Perhaps we need an occasional reminder of what insignificant creatures we really are when viewed in comparison with the magnitude of nature. Today’s young generation will be the guardians of the resources of tomorrow. We could offer them no finer course than a lesson from nature's classroom on a back country trip.

In our nation today, there has finally been an awakening to the true value of our resources and a recognition of our responsibility as stewards to preserve this wealth for our children and future generations. With the proper guidance and discretion, back country resources could last forever, but if neglected and misused, they may be only memories in a short time.

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