Rachel Marsden

Dorothy started up the pass the next morning. The trail went up the face of a steep, rock-strewn slope. It did a switchback on the top of a cliff, where the quartzite gave way to crumbling beds of blue-green shale.

Dorothy started up the pass the next morning. The trail went up the face of a steep, rock-strewn slope. It did a switchback on the top of a cliff, where the quartzite gave way to crumbling beds of blue-green shale.

At one point, her horse slipped on the shale, almost tumbling over the cliff.

At one point, her horse slipped on the shale, almost tumbling over the cliff.

But in the end, Dorothy made it over safely. And she gushed about the whole experience.

But in the end, Dorothy made it over safely. And she gushed about the whole experience.

Several newspapers published Dorothy's story. Articles about the new High Uintas primitive area said all forms of business enterprise were to be excluded within its boundaries. But then, in fine print, they acknowledged cattle and sheep grazing would be allowed to continue. The principle of multiple use gave the Forest Service no other choice. A few decades later, in 1964, the U.S.

Several newspapers published Dorothy's story. Articles about the new High Uintas primitive area said all forms of business enterprise were to be excluded within its boundaries. But then, in fine print, they acknowledged cattle and sheep grazing would be allowed to continue. The principle of multiple use gave the Forest Service no other choice. A few decades later, in 1964, the U.S.

Congress passed a law called the Wilderness Act. It defined wilderness like this.

Congress passed a law called the Wilderness Act. It defined wilderness like this.

The new law allowed Congress to create wilderness areas. Wilderness lands were supposed to be places where the greatest priority was protection of the natural environment, and they were more permanent than primitive areas, which could be easily undone. The Forest Service immediately proposed protecting the Hyuintas as a wilderness area, but that pitch went nowhere for political reasons.

The new law allowed Congress to create wilderness areas. Wilderness lands were supposed to be places where the greatest priority was protection of the natural environment, and they were more permanent than primitive areas, which could be easily undone. The Forest Service immediately proposed protecting the Hyuintas as a wilderness area, but that pitch went nowhere for political reasons.

Western states that were home to most of the nation's public lands were often hostile to the creation of wilderness areas. Opponents accused conservationists of trying to kill off the sheep and cattle grazing industries. During the 1970s, several western states even tried to seize control of federal public lands, an effort called the Sagebrush Rebellion.

Western states that were home to most of the nation's public lands were often hostile to the creation of wilderness areas. Opponents accused conservationists of trying to kill off the sheep and cattle grazing industries. During the 1970s, several western states even tried to seize control of federal public lands, an effort called the Sagebrush Rebellion.

It failed, but the rebellion tends to flare up again every decade or so. The lack of formal wilderness designation didn't stop hikers and horse packers from pouring into the Uintas in ever greater numbers.

It failed, but the rebellion tends to flare up again every decade or so. The lack of formal wilderness designation didn't stop hikers and horse packers from pouring into the Uintas in ever greater numbers.

Long-distance hiking underwent a renaissance during this same period, as equipment became lighter and smaller. But going on horseback never went out of style.

Long-distance hiking underwent a renaissance during this same period, as equipment became lighter and smaller. But going on horseback never went out of style.

It took 20 years, but a Utah-specific wilderness bill finally made it through Congress in 1984. President Ronald Reagan signed it into law.

It took 20 years, but a Utah-specific wilderness bill finally made it through Congress in 1984. President Ronald Reagan signed it into law.