A few days ago I took an out of town friend to Wickett Pond. On the way I was telling her what a blessing it is to have the forest managed so that one could arrive at pristine wilderness on its excellent network of roads, no matter how old we got, by driving a car. I felt heartfelt gratitude for the forest service administration for the amazing privilege of bringing wilderness to an increasingly restricted population, the elderly.
I can not express my horror on coming to the Wickett Pond turn off, to find my way barred by a gate that forced me to stop half a mile away from the pond. I was outraged. The gate was a completely unannounced intrusion into my life. I had been shut out of the pond with no explanation whatsoever.
I turn 70 next year, and am fortunate enough to be in good enough shape to hike the half mile to the water’s edge. There I was able to share the view that for me symbolizes the low impact way we in Wendell dwell with wilderness. Deep in the quiet pond, beavers have a lodge that for me has manifest the untroubled harmony that the park offers all its beings, both human and animal. Till now that is.
Today the forethought and care of the park management was shattered, because it was clear that the unannounced gate was put in place to shut me out of the park. While I was there, a heavy duty truck hauling a long trailer clearly meant for hauling felled trees pulled up. The driver got out and offered friendly chit chat but I was unable to reciprocate, seized as I was with opposition for a forest administration that shut me out of my own park.
Fortunately my friend was able to hospitably negotiate my silence with the driver, but I find I am left with a question. Just who is it that owns the park?
Ilina Singh
Wendell