Jim Mellen loves many things about the wilderness: the peace, the hiking, the beauty. But for him, the greatest gift of all is its irreplaceability. Once it’s gone, there’s no getting it back. That’s why its so important to save wild lands for our kids and grandkids.
“Wilderness is one thing that mankind cannot create — we can only destroy it,” Jim said.
There’s a lot to lose if that happens. Jim goes to the wilderness for an escape from the modern world. It’s a different ecosystem out in the wild — one where humans are a small part instead of a controlling force.
“I never feel more completely at home than in the wilderness,” said Jim. “I love to gaze at a stunning mountain landscape and realize that nothing I see has been altered by man.”
It’s like something out of a fairy tale. But for Idahoans and Montanans, that fairy-tale world is only a few minutes’ drive away.
“The fun begins where the trail ends,” Jim said.
Knowing that wilderness is irreplaceable makes it all the more precious. And it motivates people like Jim to fight all the harder for it. When it comes to saving wild lands for our kids and grandkids, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
“Future generations will thank us for setting aside some special places,” said Jim.
Do you have something about wilderness you value the most? Share your gift of the wilderness with us by emailing info@scotchmanpeaks.org.
