EXPLORE Act

[Paul Wagner]

This is good news. The new legislation (Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act, for those keeping score at home) generally funds improvements to our outdoor recreation infrastructure, from campgrounds to long-distance trails, as well as upgrading the permitting process and improving access to public lands for a wide range of people.

That’s great news–I hope President Biden will sign it soon.

Meanwhile, if you want more information about the whole thing, there is a nice article on The Trek website about it: https://thetrek.co/the-explore-act-has-passed-in-congress-what-it-means-for-backpackers/

While you’re there, you might also check out the other information—it’s a good website for those interested in through hikes, or just hiking in general.

Nice way to start out the year.

[Dan]

I think there have been previous threads on this topic, and IIRC the motivations of the act are not quite as benign and simple as you make it sound, especially for people who value preservation of actual wilderness. That article is oversimplified and rosy.

I do think it is very good news for businesses that rely on access to federal lands.

[Paul Wagner]

I volunteer quite a few hours each year to work on trails, clean up campsites, and generally try to improve the conditions (and minimize the impacts of visitors) in the wildernesses where I live.  I am hopeful that this funding will help with those efforts.

[Zero Flight]

Here’s the text of the act itself if anybody is interested.  My eyes glazed over pretty quickly but I also went straight to the Private/Public Partnership section.

 

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6492/text#toc-HC9560367C2834C9090C41A10BD8E3FAE

[Author]

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