All wilderness visitors impact environment in some way

I can’t decide what enrages me more when I read Mr. Tweedie’s words, his omnipotence in proclaiming that other users’ (snowmobilers) interest in their natural surroundings “is nonsense.” Apparently all the time Mr. Tweedie has spent in nature has granted him the ability to divine the truth in his fellow man. He apparently no longer needs to listen to the words they use to describe the enrichment they receive through their chosen type of wilderness recreation.

Perhaps it is Mr. Tweedie’s arrogance in proclaiming “a lack of attention to winter value...” He needs to be clear that it is a lack of attention to his personal values that is of concern! He certainly does not speak for the values of many other winter wilderness users.

Perhaps it is the hypocrisy Mr. Tweedie blindly exudes in his actions that most upsets me. He certainly drove a vehicle from Lundbreck, releasing harmful emissions (exhaust and noise) along the way. He is entitled to snowshoe into the North Lost Drainage over two days (and one night), eliminating his body wastes into the wilderness, compressing the snowpack and vegetation in his path, consuming water/snow to maintain hydration (as even an extremely fit “elderly outdoorsman” likely would not carry in enough water from Lundbreck).

His travel certainly displaced wildlife, more so than snowmobiles in the winter as documented at

Note I have used factual, relevant information to back my argument as I lack the arrogance to simply declare my opinion as proof. For cooking and heat purposes, Mr. Tweedie very likely used a source of fuel (hydrocarbon-powered stove) or campfire made from resources available near his overnight camp (undoubtedly with the necessary provincial permit). And surely he started his fire with a bow drill so as not to release potassium chlorate and phosphorus from a match into the wilderness. And undoubtedly Mr. Tweedie left no trace of his presence in the wilderness, removing any odour (sweat/cooking/food) from his camp as it could attract a predator looking for a meal (that would constitute a tragic waste of energy reserves for any animal in the harshness of winter in the wilderness).

Perhaps Mr. Tweedie’s ideological views on “peace and quiet” recreation and enjoyment of the backcountry prevent him from understanding that other people also enjoy the wilderness in other ways, and that his impacts on the environment are every bit as tangible as those of other uses.

Russell Bruder, B.Sc.

Pincher Creek